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Approaches to Learning: Research and Writing at ISU: MLA formatting and Works Cited

This guide supports teachers and students with common approaches to research and writing across subject areas in the MYP and DP at the International School of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

MLA-formatted templates

How and when to use in-text citations from Purdue OWL

This short video from Purdue OWL provides a clear overview of in-text requirements for several types of sources. It also explains why we use in-text citation and the information that should be included parenthetically. Note that it is adhering to MLA8 requirements; this should not worry you. There are no stylistic differences between MLA8 and MLA9--the latter simply provides more guidance on citing current source types such as Tik Tok videos and posts on other social media platforms.

MLA Formatting

Citing Generative AI Sources

 

 

For more information about citing uses of generative AI (including images, creative works and secondary sources), see the MLA Style Center page, "How do I cite generative AI in MLA style?"

Example 1: Paraphrasing Text

Paraphrased in Your Prose

While the green light in The Great Gatsby might be said to chiefly symbolize four main things: optimism, the unattainability of the American dream, greed, and covetousness (“Describe the symbolism”), arguably the most important—the one that ties all four themes together—is greed.

Works-Cited-List Entry

“Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

Example 2: Quoting Text

Quoted in Your Prose

When asked to describe the symbolism of the green light in The Great GatsbyChatGPT provided a summary about optimism, the unattainability of the American dream, greed, and covetousness. However, when further prompted to cite the source on which that summary was based, it noted that it lacked “the ability to conduct research or cite sources independently” but that it could “provide a list of scholarly sources related to the symbolism of the green light in The Great Gatsby” (“In 200 words”).

Works-Cited-List Entry

“In 200 words, describe the symbolism of the green light in The Great Gatsby” follow-up prompt to list sources. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 9 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

How to Use the Google Docs Citation Tool

MLA Style: List of Works Cited from Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)