MLA (Modern Language Association) style is a system of citation used in the field of humanities, particularly in the writing of research papers. It is a widely accepted method of citing sources within the text of a research paper and creating a list of works cited at the end of the paper.
Here is an example of how to cite a book in MLA style:
In the text of your paper:
According to Smith, "the use of technology in education has significantly improved student learning outcomes" (32).
In the list of works cited:
Smith, John. The Impact of Technology on Education. New York: Random House, 2010.
In this example, the author's last name, the title of the book, and the publication information are provided in the citation. The page number is included in the in-text citation, indicating that the information being cited can be found on page 32 of the book.
If you are citing a source that has multiple authors, you will list all of the authors in the in-text citation and in the works cited entry. For example:
In the text of your paper:
According to Johnson, Smith, and Williams, "the use of technology in education has significantly improved student learning outcomes" (32).
In the list of works cited:
Johnson, Jane, John Smith, and Bob Williams. The Impact of Technology on Education. New York: Random House, 2010.
It is important to correctly cite your sources in MLA style to give credit to the original authors and to help your readers locate the sources you used in your research. Proper citation is also crucial for avoiding plagiarism, which is the act of using someone else's work or ideas as your own without giving proper credit.
In addition to citing books, you can also use MLA style to cite articles, websites, and other types of sources. It is always a good idea to consult the MLA Handbook or a style guide for more specific guidance on how to cite different types of sources.
