Highland Middle School
Virtual Learning Center
Guide to Creating a Works Cited/Bibliography
The guide will help you create a works cited/bibliography using MLA style.
Remember, works should be arranged in alphabetical order by author's last name. Any time an entry is longer than a single line, the following lines must be indented (think of it as the opposite of a paragraph).
Choose the type of source you need to cite for the format and example:
| Print Source | Electronic Source |
Other Source
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Citation Generators |
Citing Print Sources
Author's last name, first name. Title of the book. City of publication: Publisher, year.
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Kids on Strike! Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999.
Book by Two or Three Authors
Last name, first name, first name last name and first name last name. Title. City of
publication: Publisher, year.
Allen, Missy and Michel Peissel. Dangerous Insects. New York: Chelsea House,
1992.
Book by More Than Three Authors
Last name, first name, et al. (et al means and others) Title. City of publication:
Publisher, year.
*It is also acceptable to give all names in full in the order in which they appear on the title page.*
Robbins, Chandler S., et al. A Guide to Field Identification of Birds of North America.
Racine, WI: Western Publishing Company, 1983.
Book with an Editor
Editor's last name, first name, ed. Title. City of publication: Publisher, year.
Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr., ed. The Election of 2000 and the Administration of George
W. Bush. Philadelphia: Mason Crest, 2003.
Encyclopedia Article or Article in a Common Reference Book
Author's last name, first name. "Title of Article." Title of Book. Year.
*If the article is unsigned (there is no author listed), start with the title of the article.
The title is what you use to alphabetize this item in your works cited/bibliography list.
Levitzky, Michael. "Whooping Cough." World Book Encyclopedia. 1999.
Journal Article
*What's the difference between a journal and a magazine? Journals are not intended for general readers but for professionals and students. Journals are scholarly in nature, presenting original research or interpretations of data.
Author's last name, first name. "Title of Article." Journal Name volume number.issue
(year of publication): pages.
Bernt, Phyllis W., Sandra V. Turner, and Joseph P. Bernt. "Middle School Students are
Co-Researchers of Their Media Environment: An Integrated Project." Middle
School Journal 37.1 (2005): 37-39.
Magazine Article
Author's last name, first name. "Title of Article." Magazine Name day mon. year: pages.
*If the article is unsigned (there is no author listed), start with the title of the article.
The title is what you use to alphabetize this item in your works cited/bibliography list.
Tyre, Peg. "Boy Brains, Girl Brains: Are Separate Classrooms the Best Way to Teach
Kids?" Newsweek 19 Sept. 2005: 59.
Author's last name, first name. "Title of Article." Newspaper Name day mon. year,
edition, section: page.
*If the article is unsigned (there is no author listed), start with the title of the article.
The title is what you use to alphabetize this item in your works cited/bibliography list.
Grano, Laurie. "Students Put Science Under Microscope." Chicago Tribune 24 Jan. 2000,
Lake County ed., sect1: p3.
Citing Electronic Sources
Web Site - Click here for the how-to guide
Author's last name, first name (if known). "Title of Page or Document." Title of the Site
of Larger Work. day mon. year of electronic publication or last update. Name of
any associated institution/organization. day mon. year of site visit <URL>.
*If there is no author, institution, or organization associated with a site, you should not use it as a source in your research.
Mussulman, Joseph. “Gate of Gold.” Discovering Lewis and Clark. Sept. 2006. LIAs Inc.
18 Sept. 2007 <http://www.lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=2768>.
Database Article - Article from a Subscription Service (EBSCO, Gale, FirstSearch)
Author's last name, first name. "Title of Article." Periodical Title Date of print
publication: pages. Title of Database. Publisher (if appropriate). Providing library.
day mon. year retrieved <URL>.
Silver, Michael. "Hitting the Big Time." Sports Illustrated 6 June 2005: 44-46. Student
Research Center. EBSCOHost. Highland Middle School LC. 19 Sept. 2005
<http://src3.epnet.com>.
Online Encyclopedia Article -Click here for the how-to guide
Author's last name, first name. "Title of Article." Title of Encyclopedia. Edition or
version. Date of electronic publication. Title of Database or Online Service. day
mon. year retrieved. <URL>.
Stern, S. Alan. “Pluto.” MSN Encarta Online Encyclopedia. 2007. Microsoft
Corporation. 18 Sept. 2008 <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562181/
Pluto_(astronomy).html>.
Wiki - Click here for the how-to guide
"Title of Page or Document." Title of the Wiki. day mon. year of electronic publication or
last update. Name of any associated institution/organization. day mon. year of site
visit <URL>.
“Plagiarism.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 18 Sept. 2007. Wikimedia Foundation.
18 Sept. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism>.
Sender's last name, first name. "Subject of message." E-mail to receipient's first name last
name. day mon.year.
Flinstone, Fred. "Types of Rocks." E-mail to Barney Rubble. 27 Aug. 2005.
Citing Other Sources
Title. Dir. first name last name of director. Distributor, year of release.
Searching for Bobby Fisher. Dir. Steven Zaillian. Paramount Pictures, 1993.
Interviewee's last name, first name. Personal interview. day mon. year.
Wyatt, Erin. Personal interview. 19 Sept. 2005.
Picture or Graphic - Click here for the how-to guide
Artist or creator last name, first name. "Description or title of image." Online image. Date
image was created. Database name or title of the site. Date of access <URL>
Tyson, Neil deGrasse. “A Manhattan Sunset.” Online image. 2001. Astronomy Picture of
the Day. 18 Sept. 2007 <http://apod.nasa.gov/ap060712.html>.