English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Understand a Works Cited entry (MLA 7th edition)
Understand a Works Cited entry (MLA 7th edition)
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the purpose of a Works Cited page in research writing.
Recognize the common elements (author, title, publisher, publication date) within an MLA 7th edition Works Cited entry.
Distinguish between different types of sources (e.g., book, website) based on their Works Cited entries.
Explain why each piece of information in a Works Cited entry is important.
Locate specific information, such as the author's name or the title of a work, within a given MLA 7th edition entry.
Understand that a Works Cited entry helps readers find the original source.
Ever wonder how detectives find clues to solve a mystery? 🕵️♀️ In research writing, we're like detectives, and a 'Works Cited' page is our map to finding where all the information came fr...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Works Cited PageA list, usually at the end of a research paper, that shows all the sources (books, websites, articles) you used to gather information for your writing.After writing a report on pandas, you'd have a 'Works Cited' page listing all the books and websites you read about pandas.
Works Cited EntryA single block of information on the Works Cited page that describes one specific source you used.Each book or website you used gets its own 'Works Cited entry' on the list.
MLA 7th EditionA specific set of rules or a 'style guide' for how to format research papers and cite sources, created by the Modern Language Association. The 7th edition was a common version.Just like there are rules for playing a game, MLA 7th Edition gives r...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Order of Information (Basic)
Most MLA 7th edition entries follow a general pattern: Author. Title. Publisher, Publication Date.
This rule helps you know what kind of information to expect first, second, and so on, making it easier to find what you're looking for. Punctuation (periods and commas) separates these parts.
Identifying the Author
The author's last name usually comes first, followed by a comma, then their first name, and then a period. (Example: Smith, John.)
This is how MLA 7th edition helps you quickly spot who wrote the source. If there's no author listed, the entry usually starts with the title.
Titles of Works
Titles of longer works (like books, movies, websites) are italicized. Titles of shorter works (like articles, chapters, poems)...
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Challenging
A student creates this Works Cited entry:
`*The Giver*. Lowry, Lois. Houghton Mifflin, 1993.`
Based on the MLA 7th edition rules for order, what is the primary mistake in this entry?
A.The publication date is incorrect.
B.The publisher's name is spelled wrong.
C.The author's name and the title are in the wrong order.
D.The title should be in quotation marks.
Challenging
Why is including the publication date essential for a reader trying to evaluate a source, especially for a research paper on a scientific topic?
A.It shows how long it took the author to write the source.
B.It helps the reader know if the information is current and up-to-date, or if it might be outdated.
C.It is only used to make the citation look complete.
D.It tells the reader what day of the week the source was published.
Challenging
You find an excellent article on a museum's website, but no specific person is listed as the author. How should you begin the Works Cited entry for this source?
A.Start with the name of the museum as if it were the author.
B.Start with the title of the article, in quotation marks.
C.Write 'Anonymous' in the author's spot.
D.Start with the date you accessed the page.
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