MLA Style Citations of Electronic Sources

Looking up MLA style citations probably isn't on your top 10 list of fun things to do, but we're here to make learning how to cite properly a cinch, so you can get back to choosing the Delta Sigma Theta Merchandise, or Greek Merchandise, to show off your Greek pride! Of course, we don't want you procrastinating, so stick to learning about MLA style citations, writing your paper, and then shopping for Delta Sigma Theta Merchandise. You'll be finished writing and citing before you know it!

Information Technology has revolutionized researching and writing papers and articles. It is so much easier to find what you are looking for on any topic. However, with new tools come new questions as students ponder how to cite the sources they are using. In past decades, the categories were limited to newspapers, magazines and film, but now there is such a diversity of forms of data that new rules are needed when citing sources.

The following are examples of how to cite electronic sources correctly for a college paper or an article.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Sites:

1. give the author's name (if it is listed)

2. the title of the paper

3. address of the FTP including the entire path for finding the paper

4. date of access

example: Metz Joseph. Finding Your Way. ftp.self.IUPUI.edu. pub/asb/papers/self-indy98. March 10, 1998.

World Wide Web

To cite files that can be viewed or downloaded on the Web:

1. authors name (if given)

2. title

3. title of the complete work if it is relevant

4. HTTP address

5. date visited

example: Metz Josef. Finding Your Way. Self Life. http://www.deepthoughts.com/home/lpb/self-life.html, March 28, 2008.

Telnet Sites

For sites available through the telnet protocol

1. author's name, if given

2. title of the work, if given

3. title of the full work if applicable

4. full telnet address with instructions to access

5. date of visit

Example: Metz Josef. Finding Your Way. Philosophy Today. June 1 1996. telnet lambda. parc. bewell.com 999@go #3456, press 15. March 29, 2009.

Synchronous communications (MOOS, MUDS, IRC and the like)

1. name of the speaker

2. type of communication

3. address if applicable and put the date in parentheses

example: Joseph_Metz. Personal interview. telnet.self.findyourway.net 5678. Dec 19, 2008.

GOPHER sites (using the gopher search protocols)

1. author's name

2. title

3. print publication data

4. gopher search path needed to access information

5. date the file was accessed

Example: Metz Joseph: Finding Your Way. Published in Philosophy Today, Dec 6, 1994. gopher/University of Smarties/Self Discovery/selected papers/Philosophy Today. December 15, 2007.

E-mail, listserv and newslist

1. authors name if given

2. subject line

3. address of the listserv or newslist

4. date

(for personal e-mail, address is not needed)

example: Metzinger. Joseph. Finding Your Way. philosophynow@grumble.IU.edu. December 15, 1998.

Database

1. place of publication or publisher

2. title

3.entire HTTP address

4. date accessed

example:

Philosophy Departments Worldwide. Philosophy Today. http://philosohpytoday.com/. March 8, 2008.

Electronic Publication

1. author

2. title of article

3. name of publication

4. date of publication

5. full web address

6. date accessed

Metz Joseph. "We Will Meet Again" Philosophy Today. March 5, 2007. http://Philosophytoday.com/. December 8, 2008.

Computer Software.

1. name of software including version number

2. Date software was issued

3. indication that it is computer software in brackets.

4. Place

5. Publisher

SuperSoftware 5.6 for Windows (1998). [Computer software]. San Francisco, California: Software Company.

Computer Games.

1. name of the game

2. date the game was issued

3. indication in brackets that it is a computer game.

4. Place

5. Publisher

Wowzee version 2.3 (1995) [computer software].