Correctly synthesizing and citing source information is critical for scholars, and the ability to reproduce formatting systems transfers well to professional settings. Within scholastic environments, understanding and using resources responsibly demonstrates credibility and banishes unintentional plagiarism.

Correct MLA usage is tedious but not difficult. This module adheres to the 7th edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers and focuses specifically on introducing the MLA style.

Outcomes and Objectives

The MLA Style Overview student module meets the following undergraduate goals and student learning outcomes:

• VCCS General Education Goals:
  • Communication 1.2 - [A]assimilate, organize, develop and present an idea formally and informally
  • Critical Thinking 2.1 - [D]discriminate among degrees of credibility, accuracy and reliability of inferences drawn from given data
  • Information Literacy 4.5 - [U]understand many of the economic, legal and social issues surrounding the use of information and access and use information ethically and legally

• VCCS Developmental English Redesign Student Learning Outcomes:
  • 8. Identify, Evaluate, Integrate and Document sources properly

Copyright and Usage

Unless otherwise noted, the content in this module and any suggested assignments or assessments are licensed as CC BY.

More Info About the MLA Style Overview Student Module

This module was developed by Emily Miller, Reading and Writing Center Supervisor for Annandale's LTR in September 2013, and revised in April 2016.

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Suggested Assignments and Assessments:

MLA Online Scavenger Hunt:

• The questions in this assignment created by the Annandale Reading and Writing Center, correspond with the resources linked to the student module. This assignment can accompany the completion of the module or be assigned later.
• Click here for assignment.

Use MLA Style Overview Student Module With:

• Academic Integrity module - research and writing (to introduce ethical, academic and legal considerations of information sharing)
• MLA Formatting module - introduce how to adhere MLA style when formatting essays
• MLA In-Text Citations module - introduce how to construct in-text citations that contain the correct information
• MLA Works Cited module - introduce how to construct works cited pages that contain the correct information
• Computers & Databases module - introduce research tools for finding sources
• Credible sources module - to introduce evaluating sources

Get More Help Using the MLA Style Overview Student Module:

Students needing more help with MLA formatting and faculty needing information on tutoring services, referring students, and requesting instructionla workshops should contact the Annandale Reading & Writing Center.

• Students needing help finding and evaluating sources should contact NOVA Libraries.

• Faculty can schedule an instructional session with a librarian using the Schedule Instruction link in the For Faculty section of the NOVA Libraries home page.