Citation

We will be using **MLA format** for this research project. MLA stands for the Modern Languages Association. MLA format is used for research on literature, foreign languages, and cultural studies. Even if your research topic is related to history or science, you will use MLA format because the topic is in the context of a foreign language.

(//If you are curious about the other two most commonly used citation formats, you can find out more information at these links: APA Style, Chicago Style)//


 * Citation is important for three main reasons:**
 * 1) Citing a source gives the original author credit for the idea or theory that you are using in your paper.
 * 2) Using citations from credible sources in your research gives your argument support and evidence. A clearly supported argument with a lot of evidence is more likely to make sense and be accepted by your audience.
 * 3) Citations allow your reader to find and review the sources on which you built your argument. If your research brings up an issue that interests the reader, they can look at the sources you used and do more research themselves with those sources.

All of the sources you reference in your research project will be compiled into a Works Cited page. Your page on this wiki will help you organize your references and will help in creating your Works Cited page. For every reference you cite in your research project, you will keep a record of it on your page, including the citation for the source. Many of the sources you will use for this research project will come from articles from an online database. Here is the **basic format for citing an article from an online database**.

Last name, First name. "Title of Journal Article." //Title of the Journal//. Volume.Issue (Year Published): Page numbers. //Database used//. Medium of publication. Date accessed.

Notes:
 * The medium of publication will almost always be Web or Print. If you access an article in an online database, the medium of publication will be Web, even if the article was also printed. Cite the medium of publication //you// used to access the article.
 * For the date accessed, follow the format DAY MONTH (abbreviated) YEAR. Ex. 14 Dec. 2011


 * Important Information!**
 * //The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers// is a book published by the Modern Languages Association and serves as a guide for everything related to MLA style and formatting. Copies of this handbook are available in the AAPHS Media Center.
 * The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University contains a very thorough and clear guide for how to use MLA style. This is a //free, online// resource. The website contains all the information you need on how to format your paper, how to cite various sources, and how to so in-text citations. **Click here for the Purdue OWL MLA site.**