Skip to Main Content
Westchester Community College Harold L. Drimmer Library

Prof. Dziuban - Eng. 101 - FALL 2024 : Citation: Elements of an MLA 9 Citation

Common Elements of an MLA 9 Citation

9 Common Core Elements

Rather than give strict format rules for different types of sources, the 8th edition of the MLA Handbook identifies 9 "core elements" common to most sources and provides flexible guidelines on how to reference them in your Works Cited list.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/accounts/1670/images/MLA_8th_large.JPG

(Commas separate details of the "container" or master work until all details are exhausted.)

Why We Cite

When you write a research paper, you use information and facts from a variety of resources to support your own ideas to develop new ones. You cite these sources for the following reasons:

  • To Give Credit to the original source by acknowledging experts and scholars for their contribution.
  • To Establish Credibility by demonstrating to your reader that your ideas are well supported. 
  • To Help the Reader by guiding them to more information about your topic.
  • To Help Researchers Organize and Share Information in a Standardized Way

If you do not cite your sources, that is PLAGIARISM. 

Note:  You must cite an author even if you paraphrase their words. 

Citation Help

Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence!

Westchester Community College provides accessible, high quality and affordable education to meet the needs of our diverse community. We are committed to student success, academic excellence, workforce development, economic development and lifelong learning.

MyWCC
Facebook Facebook Facebook Facebook Facebook

75 Grasslands Road
Valhalla, NY 10595
Tel: (914) 606-6600