MLA Citation Review

When citing a book in MLA format, which of the following is the correct way to include the author's name in a signal phrase?

Discuss: What is a signal phrase and what does it do?

• "The book says..." (Smith 25)

• According to Smith, "..."

• "...." (http://www.smith.com)

• "According to the book..."

Answer explanation

A signal phrase let's the reader know that a quote is coming. It's used to smooth the transition between the evidence used and your own writing.

Which of the following is the correct MLA in-text citation format for a website with no known author?

• (Title of Website)

• (http://www.website.com)

• (Author Unknown)

• ("Title of Article")

Answer explanation

When an online source does not have a known author, include the title of the source either in the signal phrase or in the parenthetical citation.

Which signal phrase is appropriate for introducing a quote in an essay using MLA format?

• He said that...

• Harper Lee, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird" states...

• I think that...

• The website stated...

Use the signal phrase "According to..." and construct a citation using the following quote and information provided.

Quote: "The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.

Author: Harper Lee

Page number : 140

Answer explanation

The correct answer:

According to Harper Lee, "The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience" (140).

What is the purpose of using signal phrases in an MLA-formatted paper? How does a signal phrase accomplish this?

• To highlight key points in the text.

• To guide readers to your evidence.

• To show the author's viewpoint.

• To summarize the main ideas of the source.

A correctly formatted Works Cited page includes...​ ​ ​ ​ ​

• Works Cited heading
• Hanging indent
• Title page, Footnotes
• Sources in alphabetical order

• Abstract, Page numbers

Answer explanation

A Works Cited page in MLA format typically includes the following key elements:

1. Heading: The heading "Works Cited" should be centered at the top of the page. It should not be bolded, italicized, or placed in quotation marks.

2. Alphabetical Order: Entries should be listed alphabetically by the author's last name or, if there is no author, by the title of the work. If the author's name is unknown, alphabetize by the title, ignoring any initial articles like "The" or "A."

3. Hanging Indentation: Each entry should have a hanging indent, where the first line of the citation is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches.

What is the correct format for a parenthetical MLA citation?

• (Smith 5).

• (Smith p. 5).

• .(Smith 5)

• (Smith, 5).