Technical Writing

Assignment Module Eleven
Introduction Main Page Samples Site Map

Read the Documentation Section of the "Guide to Research" starting on page 546 and the Documentation Guide (pp. 1-22).  See also the "Documentation" section at this website:  http://www.iavalley.cc.ia.us/~pcolbert/. 
Complete assignments (See "Assignment Specifics" below)
E-Mail Assignments 
Assignment Specifics

NOTE: ALL assignments must include your name and title of assignment. For e-mail, the SUBJECT line should reference the title of assignment.

Refer to the section of the "Guide to Research" that provides information on the MLA documentation style. The Documentation Guide covers the MLA style on pp.1 -22.

The MLA style uses parenthetical citations, with sources identified in parentheses after the text. The full list of works referenced in a paper appears at the end of the paper and is titled "Works Cited."

Please note that the information you use generally takes two forms: direct quotation and paraphrase. Both require documentation. (See p. 2 of the Documentation Guide for definitions and samples on pp. 3-4).

The Documentation Guide provides samples of four general types of Works Cited entries: books, *articles, electronic sources, and special sources. Take note of the format of each.

*Articles are contained in the following periodicals:
  • magazines, such as Time, that are written for a general audience
  • journals, professional publications that are written for a specialized audience. Journals use one of two forms of pagination:
    • continuous--subsequent issues of any volume continue pagination from the end of the previous issue
    • separate pagination--each issue of a volume starts on page 1.
  • newspapers, daily or weekly publication, such as the New York Times

Your assignment for this module is to complete the exercise below in order to experiment with the MLA style. Pay particular attention to the explanations and samples in the Documentation Guide for help in completing the exercise.

DOCUMENTATION EXERCISE:

Put these sources in proper MLA form:

1.  a textbook for any class you're taking (including this one)

2.  any article from a magazine (you choose the magazine)

3.  a website you may use for your report

4. an article from a professional journal in your major field

5. a film or television program

 

Assignment Description Details
Documentation

Exercise 

 Construct an MLA bibliography (Works Cited) using the sources listed above
  1. Follow the MLA format.
  2. E-mail me your assignment.
BONUS Define "plagiarism" NOTE: Be careful not to plagiarize your definition. 2 bonus points possible.

©  P. J. Colbert, 2001