2009+MLA+Handbook+Changes

// The MLA Handbook //, 7th Edition 9.20.09 Marty Knepper (Morningside College) The new //MLA Handbook// (New York: MLA, 2009) is the best yet. It has, for example, a stronger section on evaluating sources (1.6) and finding online sources (1.4). The changes are in the direction of greater clarity and simplicity. This edition also includes new forms of publication such as graphic novels (5.5.12) and a discussion of using human subjects (2.7.3). As in the past, the handbook discusses the process of writing a research essay (1.1-1.10), avoiding plagiarism (2.1-2.8), and specialized style manuals in various disciplines (Appendix B). This edition of //MLA Handbook// has an accompanying web site: www.mlahandbook.org. This web site requires an activation code that can be found on the back page of the print volume. The website has additional examples of citations, project narratives, sample papers, and additional resources 1. (3.6.2) Titles of books, films, periodicals, newspapers, etc. are now italicized, not underlined. EX: //To the Lighthouse// 2. (5.4.2) MLA no longer makes distinctions between scholarly journals that paginate each issue separately and those that continually paginate throughout the several issues in a volume. EX: //Critical Inquiry// 32.2 (2006): 288-340. 3. (5.2) MLA no longer views print as the default medium of publication. In all citations, the medium of publication needs to be indicated after the entry: Print, Web, E-mail, Audiocassette, LP, Radio, Film, etc. EX: Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr., gen. ed. //History of U.S. Political Parties//. 4 vols. New York: Chelsea, 1973. Print. (With web sources, the date of access comes after the indication of medium of publication.) 4. (5.6) Because of the growing sophistication of database searching, URLs are no longer required as part of the citation of online sources (except when they may be necessary to find the source). EX: Tyre, Peg. "Standardized Tests in College?" //Newsweek//. Newsweek, 16. Nov. 2007. Web. 15 May 2008. 5. (6.3) When making a second consecutive citation to the same source, it is permissible to cite only the page number in parentheses the second time. EX: (Zender 138) (141). The //MLA Handbook// indicates that is acceptable to use author's name and page in parentheses after the material cited from a source. The problem is that almost all the examples are a single sentence in length. We strongly recommend that you teach students to use signal phrases to indicate the beginning of the source material since students frequently cite more than one sentence, leaving it unclear where the borrowing starts. 1. Use a signal phrase to introduce your source material. EX: Smith and Jones state, "Literary vampires are often lesbians" (57). 2. Put all directly quoted material in quotation marks. See above example. 3. Put the page number in parentheses after the quoted, paraphrased, or summarized information. See above example. 4. Make sure that your source of information is included in your Works Cited. The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) now has the guidelines for the 7th edition of the //MLA Handbook// posted: [] Newer editions of Word have automatic MLA formatting under the "References" tab. Students should proofread their citations because the automatic formatting may contain errors or put the information in the wrong form. Various writing handbooks have updated, or are in the process of updating, their online web sites. Students need to check to be sure that the web sites they consult use the 7th edition of the //MLA Handbook//. Many online MLA web sites are notoriously error-filled. Students should use the //MLA Handbook// itself, a reputable writing handbook such as one of Diana Hacker's many volumes, or a reputable online writing lab such as Purdue's.
 * __Features of the new edition:__**
 * __These are the changes in the 7th edition of //MLA Handbook//:__**
 * __A Reminder about MLA Format:__** (7.5) MLA uses short forms for publishers. EX: Harcourt, 2009
 * __Advice on Parenthetical Citations from the English Department and the Academic Support Services Center:__**
 * __4 Rules for Documenting Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism:__**
 * __Online MLA Information:__**