Communication

Citations

 Learning Target(s):

  • Access information for diverse purposes and from a variety of sources to inform writing      
  • Use acknowledgments and citations to recognize intellectual property rights.



    English language arts traditionally use the Modern Language Association (MLA) format for writing citations and lists of works cited. The MLA format, when compared to others, is relatively simple to learn. Although, there are a few key details that must be remembered. It is important for writers to know that each type of resource (for example, a novel, an article, a Youtube video, or a website) has its own set of specific requirements when being cited. Therefore, it is vital to pause and carefully check that each citation is done correctly. The Owl Purdue website, created by Purdue University, has become the standard hub of information for these details. 

     You can access the Owl Purdue website HERE.  You'll see a list of different types of sources on the left.  Use this to navigate around and find the instructions for your specific type of source. Keep in mind that this website is created by an educational institution and is just one of many available sources.  However, the Purdue style-guides are known for their accuracy and reliability.  Using online citation generators such as bibme.org and easybib.com  and citationmachine.net can sometimes be effective, but it isn’t recommended.  

     Owl Purdue has produced a set of videos to help writers quickly understand the most common citation-related situations.