Hey guys! Ever found yourself staring blankly at a news article, wondering how to properly cite it in MLA 9? You're not alone! Citing sources is a crucial part of academic integrity, and getting it right can save you from accidental plagiarism. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, making it super easy to give credit where it's due. We'll cover everything from the basic format to handling tricky situations like online articles with missing information. So, let's dive in and become citation pros!

Understanding MLA 9 Citation Basics

First things first, let's talk about the Modern Language Association (MLA) and why its 9th edition is the current standard. MLA style is widely used in the humanities, especially in language and literature studies. The MLA Handbook provides guidelines for formatting papers and citing sources. The main goal of MLA style is to ensure clear and consistent attribution, allowing readers to easily locate your sources. The 9th edition, published in 2021, brought some significant updates, emphasizing flexibility and a simplified approach to citation. Understanding the core principles of MLA 9 will set a solid foundation for correctly citing any source, including news articles.

At the heart of MLA 9 is the concept of a "core element" citation. This involves listing the essential components of a source in a specific order. These core elements include: Author, Title of Source, Title of Container, Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, and Location. Not all of these elements will be present in every source, but when they are, they should be included in the citation in the prescribed order. For news articles, you'll typically need the author's name (if available), the title of the article, the name of the newspaper or website, the publication date, and the URL if it's an online article. The core elements are separated by commas, and the entire citation ends with a period. This structured approach ensures that your citations are both informative and easy to follow. By mastering these basics, you'll be well-equipped to tackle even the most complex citation challenges.

Basic Format for Citing a News Article in MLA 9

The most basic format for citing a news article in MLA 9 is actually pretty straightforward. It usually includes the author's name, the title of the article, the name of the newspaper or website (the container), the date it was published, and the URL (if online). Here’s the basic structure:

Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Name of Newspaper/Website, Date Published, URL.

Let’s break down each component:

• Author: Start with the author's last name, followed by a comma, and then their first name. If there are multiple authors, list them in the order they appear in the article. For the second author onwards, use the format "First Name, Last Name." If the article doesn't list an author, skip this element and start with the title of the article.
• Title of Article: Enclose the title of the article in quotation marks. Make sure to capitalize the main words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns). Follow the capitalization rules as they appear in the original title.
• Name of Newspaper/Website: This is the container for the article. It should be italicized. If the article is from a print newspaper, use the name of the newspaper. If it's from a website, use the name of the website. If the website name is the same as the title of the article, you can omit this element to avoid redundancy.
• Date Published: Provide the date the article was published in the format: Day Month Year. For example, 15 June 2024. Abbreviate the month if it's longer than four letters (e.g., Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.).
• URL: If the article is from an online source, include the full URL at the end of the citation. Make sure the URL is a stable or permanent link, if available. Remove the "https://" part of the URL to keep the citation concise.

Putting it all together, here's an example:

Smith, John. "New Study Shows Benefits of Exercise." The New York Times, 14 June 2024, www.nytimes.com/exercise-study.

Citing Online News Articles

When you're citing online news articles, there are a few extra details you might need to consider. First off, always try to find the original source. Sometimes, news articles are republished on different websites. You should always cite the original publication if possible. For online articles, the URL is a must-have. It helps readers quickly locate the article you're referencing. Make sure to copy the entire URL and include it at the end of your citation. Also, pay attention to the date. Online articles might be updated, so be sure to use the date the article was last modified or published. If there are multiple dates, use the one that is most relevant to the content you're citing. In some cases, you might find that the online article doesn't have an author listed. If that's the case, start the citation with the title of the article. Just remember to keep everything in the correct order, and you'll be golden.

Dealing with Articles Without an Author

Okay, so what happens when you stumble upon a news article that's missing an author? Don't sweat it! In MLA 9, you simply start your citation with the title of the article. The rest of the format remains the same. Here’s how it looks:

"Title of Article." Name of Newspaper/Website, Date Published, URL.

For example:

"Local School Board Approves New Budget." The Daily Gazette, 10 June 2024, www.dailygazette.com/school-budget.

When you're citing an article without an author, it's super important to pay attention to the alphabetical order in your Works Cited list. Since you're starting with the title, the article will be alphabetized based on the first significant word in the title (excluding articles like "a," "an," or "the"). This ensures that your Works Cited page is easy to navigate and that your readers can quickly find the source you're referencing. Remember, consistency is key in MLA 9, so always follow this guideline when dealing with articles without listed authors.

Citing Articles from Databases

Sometimes, you might find news articles through a database like LexisNexis or ProQuest. Citing these articles requires a slightly different approach. After the title of the newspaper or website, you'll need to include the name of the database and any relevant identifiers, such as a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or a permalink. Here’s the format:

Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Name of Newspaper/Website, Date Published, Name of Database, DOI or Permalink.

Let's break it down:

• Name of Database: This is the name of the database where you found the article. It should be italicized, just like the name of the newspaper or website.
• DOI or Permalink: A DOI is a unique identifier assigned to scholarly articles and other documents. If the article has a DOI, include it after the database name. If there's no DOI, use a permalink, which is a stable URL that will always lead back to the article. If neither a DOI nor a permalink is available, you can use the URL of the database landing page for the article.

Here's an example:

Johnson, Emily. "The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities." The Washington Post, 5 June 2024, ProQuest, www.proquest.com/climate-change-impact.

Remember, the goal is to provide your readers with enough information to locate the source, so be as specific as possible when citing articles from databases. Always double-check the database's instructions for citing articles in MLA format, as they may have specific requirements.

Example Citations

To really nail this down, let's look at a few more examples. These should help clarify how to handle different scenarios you might encounter when citing news articles in MLA 9.

Example 1: Print Newspaper Article

Brown, Amanda. "New Art Exhibit Opens Downtown." The Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2024, p. 3.

In this example, we're citing a print newspaper article, so we include the page number where the article can be found.

Example 2: Online News Article with Multiple Authors

Garcia, Maria, and David Lee. "The Future of Renewable Energy." The Guardian, 12 June 2024, www.theguardian.com/renewable-energy.

Here, we have two authors. Notice how the first author is listed as "Garcia, Maria," while the second author is listed as "David Lee."

Example 3: News Article from a Website with a Different Name Than the Article Title

"Study Finds Link Between Sleep and Memory." ScienceDaily, 15 June 2024, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240615103000.htm.

In this case, the website name (ScienceDaily) is different from the article title, so we include it in the citation.

Example 4: News Article with a DOI

Chen, Li, et al. "The Effects of Social Media on Teenagers." Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 65, no. 2, 2024, pp. 210-218. ScienceDirect, doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.04.005.

This example includes a DOI, which is a unique identifier for the article. Note the "et al." used when there are more than two authors.

Tips for Accuracy and Consistency

Alright, let's wrap things up with some crucial tips to ensure your citations are accurate and consistent. First and foremost, always double-check your work. It's easy to make small errors when copying information, so take the time to review each citation carefully. Pay close attention to details like spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Consistency is also key. Make sure you're following the MLA 9 guidelines consistently throughout your entire paper. This includes the format of your citations, the order of elements, and the way you handle different types of sources. If you're unsure about something, consult the MLA Handbook or a reliable online resource. Remember, the goal of citation is to give credit where it's due and to help your readers easily locate your sources. By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to mastering MLA 9 citation and avoiding any potential plagiarism issues. Good luck, and happy citing!