Citing Sources: A Quick Guide

Here are models of some of the most common sources you'll use when writing a paper. Note: These examples are for Work Cited pages only, in MLA format. Pay particular attention to what is underlined and how the entries are punctuated. Be sure to alphabetize your Work Cited page by author's last name! For in-text citations and APA formats, refer to the handbooks and other handouts in the Writing Center.

Book, One Author*
Sidel, Ruth
On Her Own: Growing Up in the Shadow of the American Dream.
New York: Penguin, 1990.

Edited Book*
Gates, Henry Louis, Jr., ed. Classic Slave Narratives.
New York: NAL, 1987.

One Work in an Anthology*
Des Pres, Terrence. "Poetry and Politics."
The Writer in Our World. Ed.
Reginald Gibbons. Boston: Atlantic Monthly, 1986. 17-29.

Reference Book*
Give the year of publication and edition number if the entry appears in a popular reference book. When encyclopedia articles are arranged alphabetically, omit page numbers.

"Multiculturalism."
Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. 2000.

Article in a Magazine*
For a magazine published every week or biweekly, give the complete date (day, month and year, in that order, with no commas between them). For a monthly or bimonthly magazine, give only the month and year. In either case, do not include volume and issue numbers.

Naughton, Keith. "Bring on the Junk Food."
Newsweek 10 July 2003: 44.

Review*
Begin with the name of the reviewer and title of the review article, if available. After "Rev. of," provide the title and author of the work reviewed, followed by publication information.

Annan, Gabriele. "Close to the Edge."
Rev. of Mr. Phillips, by John Lanchester.
New York Review of Books 29 June 2000: 18-19

Work of Art Online*
Kelly, Ellsworth. Sculpture for a Large Wall. 1957.
Museum of Modern Art, New York. 13 July 2000 http://www.moma.org/docs/collection/paintsculpt/recent/c467,.htm

* the above examples were taken from: Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers. 3rd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.