You've done the research, gathered your thoughts, and now it's time to give credit where credit is due. That's where the MLA Works Cited page comes in, especially when you've been digging around the vast expanse of the internet. It might sound a bit daunting, but think of it as a friendly handshake with your sources, letting your readers know exactly where you found that gem of information.
At its heart, citing web sources in MLA style (we're looking at the 9th edition here, the most current one) is about providing a clear roadmap for anyone who wants to follow your research trail. It’s not just about avoiding plagiarism – though that’s a super important reason – it’s also about showing respect for the creators of the content you've used and adding credibility to your own work.
So, what does a typical web entry look like? Let's break it down, drawing from the example of Lily Meyer's review of 'Checkout 19' on NPR. You start with the author, if one is listed. For Lily Meyer, it's "Meyer, Lily." Notice the last name comes first, followed by a comma, then the first name. If there were a second author, you'd add 'and' before their name. Three or more? You'd use 'et al.' after the first author's name. Simple enough, right?
Next up is the "Page Title." This is the specific title of the article or webpage you're referencing. In our example, it's "'Checkout 19' Follows a Life Tracked Through the Lens of Books." It goes in quotation marks, and you capitalize all the major words – think of it as giving the article its own spotlight. A period follows the closing quotation mark.
After the article title, you'll include the "Site Name/Publisher." This is the name of the larger website or organization that hosts the content. For Lily Meyer's piece, it's "NPR." This helps readers identify the platform where the article lives.
Then comes the date. You'll see it formatted as "02 Mar. 2022." Day, abbreviated month (with a period), and the year. This gives a specific timestamp to your source.
Crucially, you need the URL. This is the direct web address, like www.npr.org/2022/03/0.5 in 1083022903/clare-louise-bennett-checkout-19-review. It’s the key that unlocks the source for your reader.
Finally, and this is important for web sources, you include the "Date Accessed." This is the date you actually viewed the page, formatted just like the publication date: "30 June 2022." Why? Because web content can change or disappear, so this date tells your reader when you encountered it.
Formatting is also key to making your Works Cited page look professional and easy to read. Everything should be double-spaced, and each entry gets a hanging indent. That means the first line of each citation is flush with the left margin, and all subsequent lines are indented by about half an inch. It's a small detail, but it makes a big difference in clarity.
Remember, the goal is to be clear and helpful. While the specific rules might seem a bit rigid, they're designed to ensure that anyone reading your work can easily find and verify the sources you've used. So, take a deep breath, follow these steps, and you'll be citing your web sources like a pro in no time. It’s all part of the conversation of scholarship, and you’re an important part of it.
