What and Why Should You Document?
When writing, document all information gained from outside sources to give credit to the
source and avoid plagiarism, support your information with experts in the field, and allow
your readers to locate more information by referring them to your sources.
This is a brief summary of MLA style examples:
Books
Last, First M. Book. City Published: Publisher, Year Published. Format.
Smith, John. The History of Life. New York: Harcourt, 1995. Print.
Chapter/Anthology
Last, First M. Section Title. Book/Anthology. Ed. First M. Last. Edition. City Published: Publisher, Year Published. Print.
Melville, Herman. Hawthorne and His Moses. The Norton Anthology of American
Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 3rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1989.
Print.
Magazine
Last, First, M. “Article title.” Magazine Day Month Year: Page(s). Print.
Miller, Becky. "A New Era of Broadcasting." Newsweek 15 Sept. 2002: 18-19. Print.
Newspaper
Last, First M. “Article name.” Newspaper Day Month Year: Page(s). Print.
Smith, John. "A New Era of Peace." New York Times 11 May 2005: A6. Print.
Journal – two authors
Last, First M., and First M. Last. “Article.” Journal Name Volume.Issue (Year): Page(s).
Print.
Bharadwaj, Parag, and Katherine T. Ward. “Ethical Considerations of Patients with
Pacemakers.” American Family Physician 78 (2008): 398-99. Print.
Website
Last, First M. “Website Article.” Website. Publisher, Day Month Year. [date electronically
published] Web. Day Month Year. [date accessed]
Friedland, Lois. “Top 10 Natural and Wildlife Adventure Travel Trips.” About.com. New
York Times Company, 22 Sept. 2008. Web. 25 Sept. 2008.
Online Database (Journal)
Last, First M. “Article.” Journal Volume.Issue (Year): Pages. Database. Medium (Web or PDF file). Day
Month Year.
Edington, John. "Ecology in the Rockies." International Wildlife 15 June 2004: 14-18.
Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 July 2005.
TV / Radio
“Episode.” Contributors. Program. Network. Call Letter, City, Date. Medium.
“The Saudi Experience.” Prod. Mary Walsh. Sixty Minutes. CBS, WCBS, New York, 5
May 2009. Television.
Film
Title. Contributors. Distributor, Year of release, Medium viewed. [DVD, Film, etc.]
The Dark Knight. Dir. Christopher Nolan. Perf. Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and Aaron
Eckhart. Warner Bros., 2008. DVD.
Sound Recording
Contributors. “Song.” Album. Band. Manufacturer, Year. Medium. [MP3, CD, etc.]
Corgan, Billy, and Butch Vig. “Today.” Siamese Dream. Smashing Pumpkins. Virgins
Records America, 1993. CD.
Visual Art / Photography
Last, First M. Painting. Year created. Medium of work. Museum / collection, City.
Evans, Walker. Oklahoma Migrants. 1937. Photograph. Colorado State Museum, Denver.
Picasso, Pablo. Three Musicians. 1921. Oil on panel. Museum of Mod. Art, New York.
Lecture / Speech
Last, First M. “Speech.” Meeting / Organization. Location. Date. Description.
Obama, Barack H. “Inaugural Address.” 2009 Presidential Inaugural. Capitol Building,
Washington. 20 Jan. 2009. Address.
Interview
Interviewee. “Title.” [if any] Interview by interviewer. Publication information. [magazine,
newspaper, television] Medium.
Salazar, John. Interview by Your Name. 5 September 2006. Telephone.
Abdul, Paula. Interview by Cynthia McFadden. Nightline. ABC. WABC, New York. 23
Apr. 2009. Television.
Cartoon
Last, First M. “Title.” [if any] Cartoon / Comic strip. Publication information. [Magazine,
newspaper, book] Medium.
Scott, Jerry, and Jim Borgman. “Zits.” Comic strip. The Pueblo Chieftain 29 Sept. 2009:
4B. Print.
Questions?
Contact your instructor.
The PCC Library at libraryservices@pueblocc.edu
Off campus or after hours try:
“The Automatic Bibliography and Citation Maker” at EasyBib.
“The Owl” at Purdue http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/
Sources
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th edition. New York: MLA, 2009. Print.
“MLA 7 Reference Guide.” EasyBib.
Updated September 2010
Pueblo Community College Library