In-text citations are the little parentheses that you use in your paper in order to tell the reader the name of the person/source that you are citing. You need to use in-text citations when you are citing/using information from an outside source, and that information is not common knowledge. Include an in-text citation when you refer to, summarize, paraphrase, or quote from another source. For every in-text citation in your paper, there must be a corresponding entry in your reference list.
In MLA Style, referring to the works of others in your text is done using parenthetical citations. This method involves providing relevant source information in parentheses whenever a sentence uses a quotation or paraphrase. Usually, the simplest way to do this is to put all of the source information in parentheses at the end of the sentence (i.e., just before the period).
General Guidelines
Example paragraph with in-text citation
A few researchers in the linguistics field have developed training programs designed to improve native speakers' ability to understand accented speech (Derwing et al. 246; Thomas 15). Their training techniques are based on the research described above indicating that comprehension improves with exposure to non-native speech. Derwing and others conducted their training with students preparing to be social workers, but note that other professionals who work with non-native speakers could benefit from a similar program (258).
References (These would be listed in your Works Cited Page)
Derwing, Tracey M., et al. "Teaching Native Speakers to Listen to Foreign-accented Speech." Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, vol. 23, no. 4, 2002, pp. 245-259.
Thomas, Holly K. Training Strategies for Improving Listeners' Comprehension of Foreign-accented Speech. University of Colorado, Boulder, 2004.
To obtain more information refer to the MLA Style Center In-Text Citations Overview.
Another source you can use is Purdue OWL's In-Text Citations: The Basics.
The Works Cited page is the list of sources used in the research paper. It should be its own page at the end of the paper.
Center the title, "Works Cited" (without quotation marks), at the top of the page. If only one source was consulted, title the page "Work Cited".
Double space the entire list of sources.
Use hanging indention for each entry. Begin each entry flush with the left margin; indent all subsequent lines one-half inch.
Arrange entries in alphabetical order by the first term in each entry (the first author's last name or the title of the work when there is no author).
Continue with the numbering convention used throughout the paper by including your last name and the page number in the upper right-hand corner of the Works Cited page.
Below is a sample Works Cited page for you to use as a guide to assist you as you write your paper.
This information was found at Taft College's MLA Libguide
