Status
Available
Local notes
428.2 MLA
Collection
Genres
Publication
Modern Language Association (2009), Edition: 7, 292 pages
Description
The MLA Handbook is published by the Modern Language Association, the authority on MLA documentation style. Widely adopted in high schools, colleges, and publishing houses, the MLA Handbook treats every aspect of research writing, from selecting a topic to submitting the completed paper. The seventh edition is a comprehensive, up-to-date guide to research and writing in the online environment. It provides an authoritative account of MLA documentation style for use in student writing, including simplified guidelines for citing works published on the Web and new recommendations for citing several kinds of works, such as digital files and graphic narratives.--From the publisher.
Subjects
Original language
English
Original publication date
1977
Physical description
292 p.; 5.75 x 0.75 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member urania1
Unfortunately, the MLA Handbook only addresses the easy citation problems. For five editions, this hallowed organization has boldly ignored the more difficult bibliographic issues. And Internet citation anybody? Must we remain in such an extreme state of confusion about Internet citation? This
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problem is not difficult, guys if one actually looks at works being made on available the Internet. Show Less
LibraryThing member fodroy
A savior for anyone who regularly writes academic papers. Plus it has a shiny silver cover.
LibraryThing member killermuffin
For most writing "style guide" books, you can gauge how good it is by its usefulness and the applicability of its advice. The MLA Handbook isn't really one of them. You buy it, or any of the other books on writing research papers, because you have to write a research paper and you get points off
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for using the wrong style. Too bad professors don't usually consider winging it to be a style. What set this book apart from the rest of the herd for me is that the English department in my college chose this as its writing and citation resource. The writing in the book is dry and can be annoying, like most of its ilk. I've always preferred Strunk's implied "you idiot" method of communication. Show Less
LibraryThing member SatsumaHouse
Generally very detailed, with plenty of illuminating examples. But this 2003 edition has nothing on citing blogs and the like, and even the rules for newsgroups don't foresee the need for citing two posts by the same person and with the same title.
Also, the sixth edition "features" a change in the
The first of these complaints, however, is no fault of Gibaldi, who, like the rest of us, had no knowledge of blogs in 2003. And the second is of no concern for the majority of this book's target audience (to his credit, Gibaldi directs the reader to the Bluebook for more extensive guidance). Overall, this book has a very large job to do, and it does it well.
Also, the sixth edition "features" a change in the
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guidelines for citing judicial opinions. Whereas the fifth edition mandated the use of a case reporter, the sixth edition instead mandates using the case number. I suppose it's better in principle, since it's more "attached" to the opinion itself than a citation to another book is, but (a) every book and journal I've ever seen uses only the case reporter, and (b) unless you have the original slip opinion, or the opinion is from a jurisdiction that has adopted a public-domain citation format (that's one in which the paragraphs are numbered), you're offered no guidance for in-text citations. After all, if you can't cite a book, how can you have page numbers?The first of these complaints, however, is no fault of Gibaldi, who, like the rest of us, had no knowledge of blogs in 2003. And the second is of no concern for the majority of this book's target audience (to his credit, Gibaldi directs the reader to the Bluebook for more extensive guidance). Overall, this book has a very large job to do, and it does it well.
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LibraryThing member TheBooknerd
As an English major, this book was essential. I used it more than any other reference book, so much that I regret not purchasing it the minute I signed up for my first college class. This book had all the answers, even those to questions I'd never thought to ask.
LibraryThing member truth_of_spirit
It's really helping you a long way to correct citation style :-)
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
When I was in college this was the standard for research papers. And I'd agree it's much easier to use and more lucid than the Blue Book I'd later have to use for legal citations. It's true though that this edition, published in 1995 is probably dated. And given I've finished my higher education, I
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can't see a reason to keep it any longer on my shelves--but it sure gave good service during my college years--and if you're in or about to enter college--I'd certainly recommend getting whatever is the latest edition. Show Less
LibraryThing member Borrows-N-Wants
This book is incredibly easy to use with clear, precise examples. The table of contents is easy to search. This book is lacking in a few "special case" citation examples, so when using this I would occassionally have to look on the internet for help. In general though, this book is a great book and
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a staple to every college student's library. Show Less
Pages
292