Good research writing uses evidence from reliable sources. The first time you mention a source, use the first and last name of the author. Briefly include the author’s title, credentials, or experience—anything that would help your readers recognize the source’s authority.
SOURCE WITH NO CREDENTIALS
Jay Kesan points out that the law holds employers liable for employees’ actions such as violations of copyright laws, the distribution of offensive or graphic sexual material, and illegal disclosure of confidential information (312).
SOURCE WITH CREDENTIALS
Legal scholar Jay Kesan points out that the law holds employers liable for employees’ actions such as violations of copyright laws, the distribution of offensive or graphic sexual material, and illegal disclosure of confidential information (312).
When you establish your source’s authority, as with the phrase Legal scholar in the previous example, you also signal to readers your own credibility as a responsible researcher, one who has located trustworthy sources.
If you use the same source again, you may use the last name only and no identifying information, since you have already established the authority of the source. In a long paper, if you haven’t used the source in several pages, you may want to remind readers of the source’s identity.
Exercise: Integrating sources in MLA papers 1
Exercise: Integrating sources in MLA papers 2
Exercise: Integrating sources in MLA papers 3
Exercise: Integrating sources in MLA papers 4