Full citations are generally placed in this MLA citation format:
This article was co-authored by and by wikiHow staff writer, . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
There are cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 2,682,189 times.
Where an e-book looks like a printed book (usually PDFs) with publication information and page numbers - cite it in the same way as a printed book (above). Where specific pagination details are not available use the information you have e.g. %, loc, chapter/page/paragraph. Also add the DOI or web address to the full reference. Using a direct quote in your essay is a great way to support your ideas with concrete evidence, which you need to support your thesis. To select a , look for a passage that supports your argument and is open to analysis. Then, incorporate that quote into your essay, and make sure you properly cite it based on the style guide you’re using. The MLA Works Cited page is generally found at the end of a research paper or project. It contains a list of all the citations of sources used for the research project. Follow these directions to format the works-cited list to match the Modern Language Association’s guidelines. For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the . To cite a critical essay published in the same volume as a literary work, follow the . Traditionally all articles were published in print format in issues which then formed part of a volume and this way of citing them (giving volume, issue and page numbers) has been retained even though most are now available online. There is no need to include the DOI or web address for articles with volume numbers and page numbers or an article reference number even if you accessed them online.
If you use AI/ChatGPT during the pre-development process to help you narrow your topic or develop an outline for example, you should only include how you used AI in a disclosure statement at the beginning or end of your paper. You would not cite AI within the paper.
Using AI/ChatGPT to write any part of your paper for you is an example of plagiarism and academic dishonesty even if you cite it or disclose it. Do not use AI/ChatGPT in this way.
Here is an example of how to cite a tweet:
If the above list was paraphrased instead of quoted, you would remove the quotation marks and continue to include the citation information either in the sentence preceding the list (as shown below) or after the final item in the list (as shown above).
In a synthesis essay, you want to have more commentary than evidence.
Whichever format you decide to use, use the same format for all of your citations. If using the Citation Machine citation generator, the date will be formatted in the same way for each citation.
General rules for each MLA in-text citation:
To put a quote in an essay, incorporate it directly into a sentence if it's shorter than 4 typed lines. For example, you could write "According to researchers," and then insert the quote. If a quote is longer than 4 typed lines, set it off from the rest of the paragraph, and don't put quotes around it. After the quote, include an in-text citation so readers know where it's from. The right way to cite the quote will depend on whether you're using MLA, APA, or Chicago Style formatting.
Want more tips about how to cite sources in a synthesis essay? Then,
Sometimes an author of a book, article or website will mention another person's work by using a quotation or paraphrased idea from that source. (This may be a secondary source.) For example, the Kirkey article you are reading includes a quotation by Smith that you would like to include in your essay. The basic rule is that in both your Works-Cited List and in-text citation you will still cite Kirkey. Kirkey will appear in your Works Cited list – NOT Smith. Add the words "qtd. in" to your in-text citation.
How to Cite an Anthology in MLA – Works Cited
You want your essay to be easily read and understood by your audience. Using consistency in format enables your readers to focus on your content, instead of the presentation of your paper. Errors can distract the reader, cause misinterpretations, and make your work look less credible.
How to Cite an Anthology Selection MLA Example – Works Cited
It is also easier than trying to add references at a later stage of working on your extended essay.