MLA in Minutes – 9th Edition is a student resource guide to mastering MLA (Modern Language Association) formatting and citation. When preparing any academic work, from an essay to a discussion board post requiring MLA, this handbook will provide explanations and examples to help you navigate MLA in your academic writing.

Why MLA?

MLA style is widely used in the humanities, particularly in English, literature, and cultural studies, to maintain consistency and credibility in scholarly writing. By following MLA guidelines, you ensure that your work is professional, properly formatted, and free from plagiarism.

What You’ll Find in This Handbook

This resource is designed to break down MLA concepts into simple, easy-to-follow sections, including:

• MLA Basics: An overview of MLA style, when to cite, and an overview of citing generative AI
• Formatting a Paper: A comprehensive list of formatting requirements and a sample paper with visual labels
• Types of sources: Introduction to identifying types of sources for properly citing diverse research
• Integration of Research: Explanation and examples of correct means to integrate research into academic writing through direct quotes, paraphrases, and summaries
• In-Text Citations: Examples of how to properly integrate and cite sources within your writing.
• Works Cited Page: A comprehensive look at formatting and structuring a works cited page for various types of sources.

Acknowledgments

A Maricopa Community Colleges OER Development Grant funded the MLA in Minutes: 9th Edition project. The book was compiled and edited by Dr. Sami Lange, Dr. Vicki Brandenburg, and Leila Palis of Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix, AZ.

This work is made available through a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license unless otherwise noted.

Attribution

We want to acknowledge and thank the following authors/entities who have graciously made their work available for remixing, reusing, and adapting this text:

Kestler, Ulrike. “Why Do We Cite.” MLA Style Citations. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 2021.

Special thanks go to Paula Crossman and Paulina Post for copyediting, creating content, and formatting the Pressbook.

Special thanks to Sam Fraulino for making our book cover image.