MLA Citation: Essay #2, English 102

For this essay, the MLA citation is simple.

Remember that MLA Citation has two parts:
1. In-text parenthetical citations
2. Works Cited list at the end of the essay

These two parts work together to provide readers with all the information they need about your source.

In-text Parenthetical Citations
Your in-text citations should look like this:

1. If you name the author in the same sentence with your quote:
According to Sheehan, "The restaurant experience is an essentially isolating one" (202).

2. If you don't name the author in the same sentence as your quote:
The Restaurant dining experience is, after all, "an essentially isolating one" (Sheehan 202).

Notice that the period comes after the parenthetical citation.

Now, what happens if the quote comes in the middle of your sentence? Where should you put the parenthetical citation? At the end, like this:

Sheehan argues that "the restaurant experience is an essentially isolating one," even though diners are out in a public place (202).

Works Cited List
Each kind of text has its own "formula" for the works cited entry. You can find these "formulas" listed in your writing handbook and at many good websites, including http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/ (which has awesome information on MLA citation in general).

For this paper, we're using the formula of a "work in an anthology or collection," since our articles are part of a larger book. Here's an example:

Works Cited

Sheehan, Jason. "Mama's House." The Best Food Writing 2006. Ed. Holly Hughes. NY: Marlowe and Company, 2006. 192-198.

Note: the formatting is not showing up, but you should do reverse indentation, so every line after the first one is indented.