Libraries & Instructional Media

Citing Sources


In research writing, it is important to give credit to sources that the writer includes in his or her paper. For purposes of standardization Boise schools are using the MLA Association style of documenting sources used in research.

Please see your school website for citing sources information. Listed below are listed examples of the most commonly used types of references for the works cited (bibliography) portion of research papers. Please consult your school librarian and the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th Edition.

  • Use the title: Works Cited
  • Evenly double space entire document
  • List each citation alphabetically by the first letter of the citation
  • List the medium for each citation: Print, Web, DVD, Interview, CD, etc.
  • Use italics instead of underlining.

MLA Citation Style Guide

Courtsey of Les Bois Junior High
Based on MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th edition

  • Print Sources

    BOOKS:
    Last Name, First Name.  Book Title.  City of publication: Publisher’s name, publication  year.  Publication medium. 

    One author

    Salisbury, Graham.  Blue Skin of the Sea:  A Novel in Stories. New York:   Delacorte, 1999. Print.

    Multiple Authors

    Burnham, Robert W., Randall M. Hanes and C. James Bartleson.  Color, a Guide to Basic Facts and Concepts.   New York: Wiley, 2003.  Print.

    Unknown Author

    Blueprint for Life.  Alexandria, Va.: Time-Life Books, 2003. Print.

    An Editor

    Jones, Kenneth, Ed. A Work of Art. Cincinnati: South Western, 1999. Print.

    Pamphlet

    Culturegrams. Ghana. Orem: Proquest. 2005. Print.

    ARTICLES:
    Last Name, First Name.  “Title of Article or Entry.”  Book Title.  Edition Number.   Publication Year.  Page numbers. Publication medium.

    Encyclopedia

    Smith, Richard.  “Color and Light.”  Encyclopedia Britannica.  2nd ed. 2001. Print.

    Reference Book

    Pendergast, Tom. “MTV” Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms. 2002. Print.

    Magazine

    Vogel, Sam. “Reading in the Classroom”.  Wired.  8 August 2009. 45-53. Print.

    Newspaper

    May, Clifford.  “Religious Frictions Heat Up in Rwanda.”  New York Times. 12 August 2001, late ed. A1+. Print.

    INTERVIEWS:
    Last name, First name of person interviewed.  Kind of interview. Date of interview.

    Personal

    Goodkind, Mary.  Personal Interview.  4 Sept. 2006.
  • Online Sources

    WEB PAGES:
    Last Name, First name (if given). “Title of article or Description of site”.  Name of website.   Publisher or sponsor of the site (if not available use N.p),  Date published or Revised (if not available use n.d.). Publication medium.  Date of access.  <URL>.

    Web Page

    “Calvin Coolidge.” Our Presidents. The White House, 3 April 2009. Web. 5 April 2009. <http://www.whitehouse.gov>.

    Liu, Alan. Home page.  Voice of the Shuttle. Dept.of English, UC Santa Barbara, n.d. Web. 5 April 2009. <http://www.ucsb.edu>.

    ONLINE DATABASES:
    Last Name, First Name.  “Title of Article or Entry.”  Title.  Edition Number.   Publication Year.  Page numbers. Database Name.  Publication Medium. Access date. <URL.>

    Newspaper Article

    “Meeting Hosted by Eagle Mayor." Idaho Statesman.  24 July 2007: Custom Newspapers. Gale. Web. 16 Nov. 2007. <http://find.galegroup.com>.

    Magazine Article

    Mihaly, Mary. "Chillin' on Wheels." Current Health. 10 Nov 2004.  eLibrary. Proquest. Web. 16 Nov 2007. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com>.

    Encyclopedia Article

    Lal, Anil. “India, History of.” World Book Online Reference Center. 2008. World Book. Web. 6 May 2009. <http://www.worldbookonline.com>.

    eBooks:
    Last name, First name. Title. Edition. City of Publication: Publisher, year. Name of Database or Website. Web. Date of access. <URL>.

    Ebsco Nonfiction

    “Quick Facts about Cats”. Manx Cat (Jan 2003). EBSCO. Book Collection: Nonfiction. Web. 15 September 2009. <http://search.ebscohost.com>.

    Gale Virtual Reference Library

    Saari, Peggy and Shaw, Elizabeth. “Salem Town”.  Witchcraft in America. Detroit: UXL, 2001.  p33-44. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 23 October 2008. <http://go.galegroup.com>.

    OTHER WEB RESOURCES:
    See examples below

    Image

    Galaxy Centaurus Image. Amazing Space.  14 April 2003. Web. 14 August 2009. <http://amazingspace.stsci.edu/capture/blackholes/preview-centaurus.php>.

    Blog

    Smith, David. “Fishing in Alaska.” Dave’s Life & Times. 25 August 2009. Web. 30 August 2009. <http://daveslife.blogspot.com>.

    eMail

    Potter, Harry. “Life at Hogwarts”. Message to Dumbledore. 4 May 2007. E-mail.

    Interview

    Newmark, Sam. “ Why I Love Facebook.” Interview by Madeline Brand. All Tech Considered. 3 Aug 2008. Web. 4 Jun 2009. <http://www.npr.org>.