Understand how using MLA referencing avoids plagiarism. Plagiarism occurs when you do not acknowledge that words or an idea came from a source other than yourself. MLA format requires that all borrowed wording must be enclosed in quotation marks. If you paraphrase or summarize information from a research source, MLA style states that the paraphrased or summarized information must be put in your own words. Also, you must acknowledge the original author of the research. These steps eliminate any appearance of plagiarism in your paper.
Know how to create an in-text citation. You must acknowledge your research sources within the body of your paper. At the beginning of a sentence where you start to present outside research, signal that you are using another person's ideas by naming the author of the research. For example, you could say "In his ground-breaking study of the history of Shakespeare, literary scholar Joe Smith states . . . ." This wording lets the reader know that everything that follows is from a research source. Signal the end of the research by giving the page number on which the information can be found and enclose it in parentheses.
Create a works-cited page. At the end of an MLA style paper is a works-cited page. This page is a list of all the research sources used in the entire essay. Each source is given a separate citation. The citations are arranged in alphabetical order according to the last name of the author. Each citation includes complete publication information for the research source. This information is provided so that readers of your paper could themselves easily track down a source.
Refer to the MLA guidebook. Consulting an MLA guide is the best way to learn more about MLA referencing and to be sure you have used MLA citations properly. The Modern Language Association publishes the "MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers" by Joseph Gibaldi. The book covers all the aspects of writing a research paper, as well as how to properly cite many different types of research sources.