The reference page is an important component of any research paper. With MLA style, this page is typically titled “Works Cited” and includes full citations for all of the sources that were referenced within the body of the paper. Placing sources in a references list allows readers to easily locate materials if they want to learn more about the topics discussed. It also gives credit to the original authors of ideas and facts that informed the research.
MLA Style
The Modern Language Association (MLA) provides standardized guidelines for formatting reference pages in the humanities, including languages, literature, and cultural studies. When compiling a reference list in MLA style, it should be double spaced with listings arranged alphabetically by author’s last name. If there is no author, citations are listed alphabetically by title. References are usually indented half an inch from the left margin. Page numbers are not included.
References should provide sufficient information for readers to identify and locate each source. The basic elements included are:
Authors’ names. For a single author, list the last name first followed by a comma and first name. For works with two authors, list both last names separated by “and.”
Title of source. Italicize titles of complete works like books, periodicals, movies, etc. Put titles of articles, chapters or essays “in quotation marks.”
Publication information. For books – city of publication, publisher, year of publication. For periodicals – date, volume and issue number.
Medium of publication. Indicate format as print or web. For websites include access date. For databases include name of database.
Sample Reference Entries
Here are some sample reference entries in MLA style:
Book by Single Author
Smith, John. The History of World War II. New York: Penguin, 2009. Print.
Book by Two Authors
Jones, Mark and Samuel Brown. Anthropology: A Guide to Field Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017. Print.
Article in Academic Journal
Miller, Sarah. ” Women in World War I.” Journal of Military History vol. 55, no. 3, 2012, pp. 567-589. Print.
Website
“History of Vaccines.” CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 May 2018, www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/history/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2019.
Newspaper Article
Collins, Max. “Stock Markets See Steep Declines.” New York Times, 23 Mar. 2020. Print.
Essay or Chapter in Edited Book
Wilson, Tom. “Colonialism and its Impact.” In The World in the 20th Century, edited by Jerry Smith and Jane Roberts, Routledge, 2018, pp. 45-67. Print.
Report from Government Website
US Census Bureau. “Population Estimates.” U.S. Department of Commerce, 15 July 2019, www.census.gov/pop_estimates/2019/. Accessed 12 Aug. 2020.
Movie or Video
A Beautiful Mind. Directed by Ron Howard, performances by Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly, Universal Pictures, 2001.
Overall, compiling an accurate and consistent reference list is an important way to give proper credit to sources and allow readers to locate materials of interest. Careful adherence to MLA style guidelines ensures the paper is professionally presented and formatted. With practice, integrating citations into the text and compiling a reference list becomes easier.