Writing a properly formatted Works Cited page is an important part of any research paper or project. It is a comprehensive list of the sources that you have used while researching your topic, and it gives your readers the opportunity to find more information about the topic if they wish. This article will provide an overview of the formatting guidelines for creating a Works Cited page using MLA style citations. We will discuss what is included in a Works Cited page, how to format it correctly, and some of the most common mistakes to avoid.
By the end of this article, you should have a better understanding of how to create a Works Cited page that follows the standard guidelines for MLA style. Citing sources correctly is an important part of academic writing. In order to ensure that readers can easily locate the sources used in your work, it is important to format your Works Cited Page correctly. This article provides an overview of the basic rules for formatting a works cited page according to MLA style citations. The works cited page should appear at the end of your paper and should list all sources used in your paper, including books, journal articles, webpages, and other forms of media. The list should be alphabetized by the author’s last name or, if no author is given, by the title of the work.
Each entry should include the following information: author’s name, title of work, date of publication, and source (e.g., publisher, website URL). If available, include page numbers and/or date accessed for online sources. It is also important to note that each entry should be double-spaced and use a hanging indent (i.e., the first line of each entry should start at the left margin and subsequent lines should be indented).Below are examples of how to format some common types of sources:
- Books: Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book.
City of Publication: Publisher, Year Published.
- Journal Articles: Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, Volume Number, Issue Number (Year): Page Numbers.
- Websites: Author’s Last Name, First Name (if available). “Title of Webpage.” Title of Website, Publisher or Sponsor of Site (if available), Date Published/Last Updated (if available), URL.
- Films: Title of Film. Directed by First Name Last Name, performance by First Name Last Name and First Name Last Name, Studio or Distributor, Year Released.
Following the guidelines provided in this article will help you format your works cited page according to MLA style citations.
Common Pitfalls
It is important to note that there are some common pitfalls to avoid when formatting a works cited page. For example, be sure to include all necessary information such as authors’ names and publication dates. Additionally, be sure to use consistent capitalization and punctuation for each entry. Finally, be sure to double-check that all entries are formatted correctly according to MLA style. In conclusion, formatting a works cited page according to MLA style citations is an important part of academic writing.Understanding the basic rules and common pitfalls can help you ensure that your sources are properly cited and that readers can easily locate the sources used in your work. Taking the time to format your works cited page correctly is an essential part of creating quality, reliable research papers.
