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UWC Online Library Guide - MLA - Citing Electronic Resources 

With the proliferation of electronic resources and the changing nature of the internet, it has become difficult to find standardized documentation styles.  Individual instructors may require that you follow a specific style that differs from those shown below.  This is an interpretation of the MLA (Modern Language Association) Style that will hopefully meet the needs of UWC Online students in citing resources

* Note - When documenting sources, the first line should be flush with the left margin. Subsequent lines should be indented 5 spaces or ½ inch. If necessary, use the following abbreviations: N.p. (No place), n.p. (no publisher), n.d. (no date), and n.pag. (no page).

USE THIS GUIDE WHEN CITING FULL-TEXT PERIODICAL ARTICLES FROM AN ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE

Formula for Magazines:

Author’s last name, first name [if known]. "Title of Article." Title of Periodical [underlined] Date of  publication: Page numbers. Name of Database [underlined]. Name of Subscription Service. Name of Library, City, State. Date of access < URL of home page of Subscription Service>.

Formula for Journals:

Author’s last name, first name [if known]. "Title of Article." Title of Periodical [underlined] Volume. Issue (Year): Page numbers. Name of Database [underlined]. Name of Subscription Service. Name of Library, City, State. Date of access < URL of home page of Subscription Service>.

Note – Always list the volume number when documenting journals.  If the journal is separately paginated, or if it is impossible to tell if it is separately paginated, then list the volume and issue number.

Formula for Newspapers:

Author’s last name, first name [if known]. "Title of Article." Title of Periodical [underlined] Date of publication, edition: Section and pages. Name of Database [underlined]. Name of Subscription Service. Name of Library, City, State. Date of access < URL of home page of Subscription Service>.

Formula for Books in an Anthology in a Series (e.g., Opposing Viewpoints):

Author’s last name, first name [if known]. "Title of Selection." Title of Book* [underlined]. Editor.  Series. Place of Publication [if known]: Publisher, Year. Name of Database [underlined]. Name of Subscription Service. Name of Library, City, State. Date of access < URL of home page of Subscription Service>.

*Opposing Viewpoints calls this the Source Database .

PROQUEST DIRECT

Daykin, Tom. “Farm Equipment Makers Look to Reap Improvement in Sales.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 25 July 2003, final ed.: 1D. Proquest Newspapers. ProQuest. UW Colleges Online Lib., Madison, WI. 31 Oct. 2003 <http://www.umi.com/pqdauto>.

EBSCOHOST

Hawkins, Dana. “Cheap Video Cameras Are Monitoring Our Every Move.” U.S. News
& World Report
17 Jan. 2000: 52. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCOhost. UW Colleges Online Lib., Madison, WI. 23 Feb. 2000 <http://search.ebscohost.com/>.

Reis, Janet, and William L. Riley. “Predictors of College Students’ Alcohol Consumption: Implications for Student Education.” Journal of Genetic Psychology 161.3 (2000): 282-91. Academic Search Elite. EBSCOhost. UW Colleges Online Lib., Madison, WI. 3 Nov. 2000 <http://search.ebscohost.com/>.

WILSONWEB

Hoffman, Mark A. “Same-Sex Couples’ Right to Benefits Upheld.” Business Insurance 3 Jan. 2000: 3+. Business Full Text. WilsonWeb. UW Colleges Online Lib., Madison, WI. 23 Feb. 2000 <http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/>.

LEXIS-NEXIS

“Heart Disease Deaths among Women May Be Linked to Geography.” Star Tribune (Minneapolis) 16 Feb. 2000, metro ed.: A3. LexisNexis Academic. LexisNexis. UW Colleges Online Lib., Madison, WI. 23 Feb. 2000 <http://www.lexisnexis.com/universe>.

CQ RESEARCHER

Cooper, Mary H. “Employee Benefits.”  CQ Researcher 28 Jan. 2000. CQ Researcher. UW Colleges Online Lib., Madison, WI. 29 Feb. 2000 <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/>. 

FACTS.com

“Racial Disparities.”  Issues and Controversies On File 11 Jan. 1996. Issues and Controversies.  FACTS.com.  UW Colleges Online Lib., Madison, WI. 24 Apr. 2003 <http://www.2facts.com/>.

OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS

James, John S. “Combination Drug Treatments May End the AIDS Crisis.” Opposing Viewpoints: AIDS.  Ed. Tamara L. Roleff and Charles P. Cozic. Opposing Viewpoints Ser. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1998. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Galenet. UW Colleges Online Lib., Madison, WI. 13 Nov. 2003 <http://infotrac.galegroup.com/>. 

INFORMATION FROM NON-LIBRARY DATABASE WEB SITES:

Formula:

Author’s name [if known]. “Title of the Work.” Title of the Complete Work [if applicable]. Document date [if known]. Name of organization sponsoring the site [if applicable]. Date you accessed the document <Complete http address>. 

Chamberlain, Claudine. “Medical Mistakes.” ABCNEWS.com Health & Living. 9 Oct. 1999.  ABC News and Starwave Corporation. 29 Feb. 2000 <http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/living/medmistakes1009/>.

*Note – Follow standard indentation as described for databases above.

All of the above examples are for use in a Bibliography or Works Cited list.


Last updated August 4, 2006.

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