In a Works Cited page, sources are formatted according to specific citation styles, with MLA (Modern Language Association) being one of the most common. The structure generally includes the author's name, title of the work, publication information, and other relevant details.
Here’s a basic guideline for formatting entries in a Works Cited page in MLA style:
- Author: Last name, First name.
- Title of the Work: Italicized for books and plays, in quotation marks for articles or essays.
- Publication Information: Includes the publisher's name, year of publication, and, if applicable, the volume or issue number and page range.
- Medium of Publication: Not always required but typically includes "Print" for physical books or "Web" for online sources.
- URL or DOI: For online sources, include the full URL or Digital Object Identifier.
Example Entries
Here are some examples of how different types of sources might appear in a Works Cited page:
Book:
Smith, John. *The Art of Writing*. Penguin Books, 2020.
Journal Article:
Doe, Jane. "Exploring the Universe." *Journal of Space Exploration*, vol. 12, no. 4, 2021, pp. 123-145.
Website:
Johnson, Emily. "The Future of Technology." *Tech Innovations*, 10 Aug. 2023, www.techinnovations.com/future-of-technology.
** Edited Book:**
Clark, Anna, editor. *Essays on Modern Literature*. Oxford University Press, 2019.
Make sure to:
- Alphabetize the entries by the last name of the first author (or the title if no author is available).
- Use a hanging indent: the first line of each entry is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches.
- Follow specific formatting rules for different types of sources as outlined in the latest edition of the MLA Handbook.
If you are using a different citation style (like APA, Chicago, etc.), the format will differ, so it’s important to refer to the relevant guidelines for that style.