How To Cite Quotes From A Short Story Mla 2021

3 min read 23-11-2024

How To Cite Quotes From A Short Story Mla 2021

Short stories are a rich source of inspiration and textual evidence for academic papers. Knowing how to properly cite quotes from short stories in MLA format is crucial for avoiding plagiarism and demonstrating your scholarly credibility. This guide covers the essential elements and provides examples to help you master MLA citation for short stories. We'll cover both in-text citations and the Works Cited page entry.

In-Text Citations: Weaving Quotes into Your Essay

When incorporating quotes from a short story into your writing, you need to provide an in-text citation that seamlessly integrates the quote into your sentence structure. The basic structure includes the author's last name and the page number (if available).

Example 1: Quote within the sentence

"The narrator describes the setting as 'a desolate landscape, barren and unforgiving'" (Smith 12).

Explanation: The quote is smoothly integrated, with the citation immediately following. Note the use of single quotation marks around the quote itself.

Example 2: Quote as a complete sentence

The story's bleak atmosphere is evident in this description: "A desolate landscape, barren and unforgiving, stretched out before them." (Smith 12).

Explanation: Here, the quote is a complete sentence and punctuated accordingly. Note the placement of the period after the parenthetical citation.

Example 3: Short Story in an Anthology

If the short story appears in an anthology, you cite both the story's author and the page number within the anthology. If page numbers are not available, use paragraph numbers if available, but this is less ideal.

“The protagonist’s internal conflict is palpable: ‘He felt a deep sense of unease’”(Jones 145).

Explanation: The citation includes the author of the short story, Jones, and the page number in the anthology where the short story appears, 145.

Works Cited Page: Providing Complete Information

Your Works Cited page provides complete bibliographic information for all the sources cited in your paper. The entry for a short story follows this basic format:

Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Title of Short Story." Title of Collection (Anthology, if applicable), edited by Editor's Name(s), Publisher, Year, Page numbers.

Example 1: Short Story in a Book

Smith, John. "The Desolate Landscape." Stories of the Unseen, edited by Jane Doe, Penguin Classics, 2020, pp. 10-25.

Example 2: Short Story in an Anthology

Jones, Mary. "A Heavy Heart." Short Stories of the 21st Century, edited by Robert Brown, Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 140-155.

Example 3: Online Short Story

If the short story is from an online source (e.g., a website or online journal), include the URL and access date.

Brown, Emily. "Digital Dreams." The Online Fiction Review, 15 May 2023, www.onlinefictionreview.com/browndreams. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Note: Always double-check the latest MLA guidelines for the most up-to-date formatting rules. The MLA Handbook provides comprehensive details, and online resources offer helpful examples and updates.

Handling Different Citation Scenarios

No Page Numbers:

If your source lacks page numbers, use paragraph numbers (if available) and indicate this in your citation: (Smith, para. 3). If neither page nor paragraph numbers are available, consider using a different source.

Multiple Authors:

List multiple authors in the order they appear on the publication. Use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name.

Long Quotes (Block Quotes):

For quotes exceeding four lines, use a block quote. Indent the entire quote one inch from the left margin. The citation follows the last line of the block quote.

Beyond the Basics: Ensuring Accuracy and Integrity

Accuracy in quoting is paramount. Always double-check your transcriptions against the original text to ensure accuracy. Any alterations or omissions should be clearly indicated using brackets [ ] or ellipses (...).

By following these guidelines, you can confidently and correctly cite quotes from short stories in your MLA papers. Remember that proper citation demonstrates your academic integrity and strengthens the credibility of your work.