how to cite an essay from a textbook

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How to Cite an Essay in MLA

The guidelines for citing an essay in MLA format are similar to those for citing a chapter in a book. Include the author of the essay, the title of the essay, the name of the collection if the essay belongs to one, the editor of the collection or other contributors, the publication information, and the page number(s).

Citing an Essay

Mla essay citation structure.

Last, First M. “Essay Title.” Collection Title, edited by First M. Last, Publisher, year published, page numbers. Website Title , URL (if applicable).

MLA Essay Citation Example

Gupta, Sanjay. “Balancing and Checking.” Essays on Modern Democracy, edited by Bob Towsky, Brook Stone Publishers, 1996, pp. 36-48. Essay Database, www . databaseforessays.org/modern/modern-democracy.

MLA Essay In-text Citation Structure

(Last Name Page #)

MLA Essay In-text Citation Example

Click here to cite an essay via an EasyBib citation form.

MLA Formatting Guide

MLA Formatting

• Annotated Bibliography
• Bibliography
• Block Quotes
• et al Usage
• In-text Citations
• Paraphrasing
• Page Numbers
• Sample Paper
• Works Cited
• MLA 8 Updates
• MLA 9 Updates
• View MLA Guide

Citation Examples

• Book Chapter
• Journal Article
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Website (no author)
• View all MLA Examples

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To cite your sources in an essay in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the author’s name(s), chapter title, book title, editor(s), publication year, publisher, and page numbers. The templates for in-text citations and a works-cited-list entry for essay sources and some examples are given below:

In-text citation template and example:

For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the author on the first occurrence. For subsequent citations, use only the surname(s). In parenthetical citations, always use only the surname of the author(s).

Citation in prose:

First mention: Annette Wheeler Cafarelli

Subsequent occurrences: Wheeler Cafarelli

Parenthetical:

….(Wheeler Cafarelli).

Works-cited-list entry template and example:

The title of the chapter is enclosed in double quotation marks and uses title case. The book or collection title is given in italics and uses title case.

Surname, First Name. “Title of the Chapter.” Title of the Book , edited by Editor(s) Name, Publisher, Publication Year, page range.

Cafarelli, Annette Wheeler. “Rousseau and British Romanticism: Women and British Romanticism.” Cultural Interactions in the Romantic Age: Critical Essays in Comparative Literature , edited by Gregory Maertz. State U of New York P, 1998, pp. 125–56.

To cite an essay in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the author(s), the essay title, the book title, editor(s), publication year, publisher, and page numbers. The templates for citations in prose, parenthetical citations, and works-cited-list entries for an essay by multiple authors, and some examples, are given below:

For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the author (e.g., Mary Strine).

For sources with two authors, use both full author names in prose (e.g., Mary Strine and Beth Radick).

For sources with three or more authors, use the first name and surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues” (e.g., Mary Strine and others). In subsequent citations, use only the surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues” (e.g., Strine and others).

In parenthetical citations, use only the author’s surname. For sources with two authors, use two surnames (e.g., Strine and Radick). For sources with three or more author names, use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.”

First mention: Mary Strine…

Subsequent mention: Strine…

First mention: Mary Strine and Beth Radick…

Subsequent mention: Strine and Radick…

First mention: Mary Strine and colleagues …. or Mary Strine and others

Subsequent occurrences: Strine and colleagues …. or Strine and others

…. (Strine).

….(Strine and Radick).

….(Strine et al.).

The title of the essay is enclosed in double quotation marks and uses title case. The book or collection title is given in italics and uses title case.

Surname, First Name, et al. “Title of the Essay.” Title of the Book , edited by Editor(s) Name, Publisher, Publication Year, page range.

Strine, Mary M., et al. “Research in Interpretation and Performance Studies: Trends, Issues, Priorities.” Speech Communication: Essays to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Speech Communication Association , edited by Gerald M. Phillips and Julia T. Wood, Southern Illinois UP, 1990, pp. 181–204.

MLA Citation Examples

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How do I cite an authored work contained in another authored work, like an essay in a textbook?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

To cite an essay with an author in a textbook with authors rather than editors, follow the MLA format template and list the authors of the textbook in the “Other contributors” slot:

Graff, Gerald. “Disliking Books.”  From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Practical Guide , by Stuart Greene and April Lidinsky, 2nd ed., Bedford / St. Martin’s, 2012, pp. 22-26.

APA Citation Style, 7th edition: Article or Chapter in an Edited Book

• General Style Guidelines
• One Author or Editor
• Two Authors or Editors
• Three to Five Authors or Editors

Article or Chapter in an Edited Book

• Article in a Reference Book
• Edition other than the First
• Translation
• Government Publication
• Journal Article with 1 Author
• Journal Article with 2 Authors
• Journal Article with 3–20 Authors
• Journal Article 21 or more Authors
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Basic Web Page
• Web page from a University site
• Web Page with No Author
• Entry in a Reference Work
• Government Document
• Film and Television
• Youtube Video
• Audio Podcast
• Electronic Image
• Twitter/Instagram
• Lecture/PPT
• Conferences
• Secondary Sources
• Citation Support
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Formatting Your Paper

About Citing Books

For each type of source in this guide, both the general form and an example will be provided.

The following format will be used:

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase) - entry that appears in the body of your paper when you express the ideas of a researcher or author using your own words.  For more tips on paraphrasing check out The OWL at Purdue .

In-Text Citation (Quotation) - entry that appears in the body of your paper after a direct quote.

References - entry that appears at the end of your paper.

Information on citing and several of the examples were drawn from the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).

Numbers in parentheses refer to specific pages in the manual.

Subject Guide

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• Next: Article in a Reference Book >>

• Last Updated: Feb 6, 2024 11:45 AM
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How to Cite a Textbook

Last Updated: February 14, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Noah Taxis and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Noah Taxis is an English Teacher based in San Francisco, California. He has taught as a credentialed teacher for over four years: first at Mountain View High School as a 9th- and 11th-grade English Teacher, then at UISA (Ukiah Independent Study Academy) as a Middle School Independent Study Teacher. He is now a high school English teacher at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School in San Francisco. He received an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education. He also received an MA in Comparative and World Literature from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a BA in International Literary & Visual Studies and English from Tufts University. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 462,189 times.

When you use a textbook as a reference in a research paper, your readers should be able to find the information you used. The way you provide this information depends on the citation style you use. If you're writing in education, psychology, and other social sciences, you'll likely use American Psychological Association (APA) style. In the humanities and liberal arts, you'll probably use Modern Language Association (MLA) style. Other disciplines, such as business, law, and history, use the Chicago Manual of Style . In each style, a short in-text citation guides the reader to a more complete citation at the end of your paper. [1] X Research source

Using APA Style

• For example: "Lane, L. (Ed.)"
• If there are multiple authors or editors, separate their names with commas. Use an ampersand before the last name. For example: "Lane, L., Lee, S., & Kent, C. (Eds.)"

• For example: "Lane, L. (Ed.). (2007)."

• Use sentence-style capitalization, only capitalizing the first word of the title. If the textbook has a subtitle, use an initial capital letter for the subtitle as well.
• For example: "Lane, L. (Ed.). (2007). Superhuman powers in global history ."
• If the textbook isn't the first edition, provide the number of the edition in parentheses after the title. For example: "Lane, L. (Ed.). (2007). Superhuman powers in global history (5th ed.)."

• For example: "Lane, L. (Ed.). (2007). Superhuman powers in global history . New York, NY: Penguin."

• For example: "Lane, L. (Ed.). (2007). "The rise of superman. In Superhuman powers in global history (pp. 48-92). New York, NY: Penguin."
• If there is a separate author for the specific chapter you used, use their name as the first name listed at the beginning of the citation, then include any editors of the overall textbook before the title of the textbook. For example: "Lane, L. (2007). "The rise of superman. In Lee, S. (Ed.), Superhuman powers in global history (pp. 48-92). New York, NY: Penguin."

• For example: "(Lane, 2007)."
• If you happen to use the author's name in the sentence, you can simply put the date in parentheses after the author's name.
• For direct quotes, include the page number where the quoted material can be found. For example: "(Lane, 2007, p. 92)."

Using MLA Style

• For example: "Lane, Lois."
• If there are several authors, separate them with commas, using the word "and" before the last author. Don't reverse the order of any authors' names except the first. For example: "Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent."
• If there are editors instead of authors, follow their names with the abbreviation "eds." For example: "Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent, eds."

• Capitalize the first and last words of the article or chapter title, as well as any other major words. Never capitalize articles (a, an, the), conjunctions (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet), or prepositions (in, of, to, between, against) regardless of the length of the word.
• For example: "Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent. Superhuman Powers in Global History ."

• Capitalize the title of the chapter or article the same as you would the title of the textbook.
• For example: "Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent. "The Rise of Superman. Superhuman Powers in Global History ."

• For example: "Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent. Superhuman Powers in Global History . New York: Penguin, 2007."

• For example: "Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent. Superhuman Powers in Global History . New York: Penguin, 2007. Print."

• For example: "(Lane, 92)."
• If you use the author's name in the sentence, you can simply follow it with the page number in parentheses – there's no need to repeat the author's name in your parenthetical reference.

Using Chicago Style

• For example: "Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent." Use "and" rather than an ampersand.
• If you're creating footnotes, you don't reverse the orders of any names. For example: "Lois Lane and Clark Kent." Don't include a comma before the "and" unless you've reversed the first name.

• If there is both an author and an editor, list the editor's name after the title. For example: "Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent. Superhuman Powers in Global History , ed. Stan Lee."
• In footnotes, the authors' names are followed by a comma instead of a period. The book's title is still italicized.

• In footnotes, you would put the publication information in parentheses. For example: "Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent. Superhuman Powers in Global History (New York: Penguin, 2007)."

• For example:"Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent. "The Rise of Superman," in Superhuman Powers in Global History (New York: Penguin, 2007)."
• A footnote ends with the specific page where the information you paraphrased or quoted in your paper can be found. For example: "Lane, Lois, and Clark Kent. Superhuman Powers in Global History (New York: Penguin, 2007), 92."

• Include the last names of the authors and the year of publication, then put a comma and list the page or pages where the information can be found.
• For example: "(Lane and Kent 2007, 92)."

Community Q&A

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about academic writing, check out our in-depth interview with Noah Taxis .

• ↑ http://pitt.libguides.com/citationhelp
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_books.html
• ↑ https://libraryguides.vu.edu.au/apa-referencing/7Books
• ↑ https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/c.php?g=27779&p=170363
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_author_authors.html
• ↑ https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/mlacitation/books
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_books.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_in_text_citations_the_basics.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/books.html
• ↑ https://libguides.heidelberg.edu/chicago/book/chapter
• ↑ https://aut.ac.nz.libguides.com/c.php?g=685064&p=5255801
• ↑ http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html

About This Article

To cite a textbook using MLA, start with the author’s last name, then list their first name. Next, provide the title of the book in italics. If you only used a chapter, provide the chapter title in quotation marks. Then, note the publication information, including the city where the book was published, the name of the publisher, and the year of publication. Finally, note how you accessed the text, for example, "Print," or "Internet." For information on how to use APA and Chicago style, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Chicago/Turabian Citation

• Citing a Book

Basic Chapter Citation

Example chapter of a book, example chapter of an ebook, example foreword/preface of a book.

• Citing an Article
• Citing a Webpage
• Additional Resources

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Footnote/Endnote

Author First M. Last Name, "Chapter or Essay Title," in  Book Title , ed. First M. Last Name (Place of Publication: Publisher, date), page cited.

Short version: Author Last Name, "Chapter or Essay Title (shortened if necessary)," page cited.

Bibliography

Author Last Name, First M.   "Chapter or Essay Title."  In  Book Title ,   edited by First M. Last Name,  page range.   Place of Publication: Publisher, date.

Eric Charry, "Music and Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa," in  The History of Islam in Africa , eds. Nehwmia Levtzion and Randall L. Pouwels  (Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 2000), 550.

Short version: Charry, "Music and Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa," 550.

Charry, Eric.   "Music and Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa."  In  The History of Islam in Africa ,   edited by Nehwmia Levtzion and Randall L. Pouwels,   545-573.   Athens, OH: Ohio  University Press, 2000.

Alan Liu, "Where is Cultural Criticism in the Digital Humanities?," in  Debates in the Digital Humanities , ed. Matthew K. Gold (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2013), accessed January 23, 2014,  http://dhdebates.gc.cuny.edu/debates/text/20. 

Short version: Liu, "Where is Cultural Criticism."

Liu, Alan.  "Where is Cultural Criticism in the Digital Humanities?."   In  Debates in the Digital Humanities ,   edited by Matthew K. Gold.   Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2013.   A ccessed January 23, 2014.   http://dhdebates.gc.cuny.edu/debates/text/20. 

Strobe Talbott, foreword to   Beyond Tianamen: The Politics of U.S.-China Relations 1989-2000 , by Robert L. Suettinger (Washington, D. C.: Brookings Institute Press, 2003), x.

Short version: Talbott, foreword, x.

Talbott, Strobe.   Foreword to   Beyond Tianamen: The Politics of U.S.-China Relations 1989-2000 ,   by Robert L. Suettinger,  ix-x.   Washington, D. C.: Brookings Institute  Press, 2003.

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• Next: Citing an Article >>
• Last Updated: Sep 30, 2022 12:44 PM
• URL: https://libguides.heidelberg.edu/chicago

APA 7th Edition Citation Examples

• Volume and Issue Numbers
• Page Numbers
• Undated Sources
• Citing a Source Within a Source

Citing a Source within a Source

• In-Text Citations
• Academic Journals
• Encyclopedia Articles
• Book, Film, and Product Reviews
• Online Classroom Materials
• Conference Papers
• Technical + Research Reports
• Court Decisions
• Treaties and Other International Agreements
• Federal Regulations: I. The Code of Federal Regulations
• Federal Regulations: II. The Federal Register
• Executive Orders
• Charter of the United Nations
• Federal Statutes
• Dissertations and Theses
• Interviews, E-mail Messages + Other Personal Communications
• Social Media
• Business Sources
• PowerPoints
• AI: ChatGPT, etc.

Scenario: You read a 2007 article by Linhares and Brum that cites an earlier article, by Klein. You want to cite Klein's article, but you have not read Klein's article itself.

Reference list citation

Linhares, A., & Brum, P. (2007). Understanding our understanding of strategic scenarios: What role do chunks play? Cognitive Science , 31 (6), 989-1007. https://doi.org/10.1080/03640210701703725

Your Reference list will contain the article you read, by Linhares and Brum. Your Reference list will NOT contain a citation for Klein's article.

In-text citation

Klein's study (as cited in Linhares & Brum, 2007) found that...

Your in-text citation gives credit to Klein and shows the source in which you found Klein's ideas.

See  Publication Manual , p. 258.

• << Previous: Undated Sources
• Next: In-Text Citations >>
• Last Updated: Mar 18, 2024 12:55 PM
• URL: https://libguides.umgc.edu/apa-examples

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Quick guide to Harvard referencing (Cite Them Right)

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There are different versions of the Harvard referencing style. This guide is a quick introduction to the commonly-used Cite Them Right version. You will find further guidance available through the OU Library on the Cite Them Right Database .

For help and support with referencing and the full Cite Them Right guide, have a look at the Library’s page on referencing and plagiarism . If you need guidance referencing OU module material you can check out which sections of Cite Them Right are recommended when referencing physical and online module material .

This guide does not apply to OU Law undergraduate students . If you are studying a module beginning with W1xx, W2xx or W3xx, you should refer to the Quick guide to Cite Them Right referencing for Law modules .

Table of contents

In-text citations and full references.

• Secondary referencing
• Page numbers
• Citing multiple sources published in the same year by the same author

Full reference examples

Referencing consists of two elements:

• in-text citations, which are inserted in the body of your text and are included in the word count. An in-text citation gives the author(s) and publication date of a source you are referring to. If the publication date is not given, the phrase 'no date' is used instead of a date. If using direct quotations or you refer to a specific section in the source you also need the page number/s if available, or paragraph number for web pages.
• full references, which are given in alphabetical order in reference list at the end of your work and are not included in the word count. Full references give full bibliographical information for all the sources you have referred to in the body of your text.

To see a reference list and intext citations check out this example assignment on Cite Them Right .

Difference between reference list and bibliography

a reference list only includes sources you have referred to in the body of your text

a bibliography includes sources you have referred to in the body of your text AND sources that were part of your background reading that you did not use in your assignment

Back to top

Examples of in-text citations

You need to include an in-text citation wherever you quote or paraphrase from a source. An in-text citation consists of the last name of the author(s), the year of publication, and a page number if relevant. There are a number of ways of incorporating in-text citations into your work - some examples are provided below. Alternatively you can see examples of setting out in-text citations in Cite Them Right .

Note: When referencing a chapter of an edited book, your in-text citation should give the author(s) of the chapter.

Online module materials

(Includes written online module activities, audio-visual material such as online tutorials, recordings or videos).

When referencing material from module websites, the date of publication is the year you started studying the module.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication/presentation) 'Title of item'. Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

OR, if there is no named author:

The Open University (Year of publication/presentation) 'Title of item'. Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

Rietdorf, K. and Bootman, M. (2022) 'Topic 3: Rare diseases'. S290: Investigating human health and disease . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1967195 (Accessed: 24 January 2023).

The Open University (2022) ‘3.1 The purposes of childhood and youth research’. EK313: Issues in research with children and young people . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1949633&section=1.3 (Accessed: 24 January 2023).

You can also use this template to reference videos and audio that are hosted on your module website:

The Open University (2022) ‘Video 2.7 An example of a Frith-Happé animation’. SK298: Brain, mind and mental health . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=2013014&section=4.9.6 (Accessed: 22 November 2022).

The Open University (2022) ‘Audio 2 Interview with Richard Sorabji (Part 2)’. A113: Revolutions . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1960941&section=5.6 (Accessed: 22 November 2022).

Note: if a complete journal article has been uploaded to a module website, or if you have seen an article referred to on the website and then accessed the original version, reference the original journal article, and do not mention the module materials. If only an extract from an article is included in your module materials that you want to reference, you should use secondary referencing, with the module materials as the 'cited in' source, as described above.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of message', Title of discussion board , in Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

Fitzpatrick, M. (2022) ‘A215 - presentation of TMAs', Tutor group discussion & Workbook activities , in A215: Creative writing . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/forumng/discuss.php?d=4209566 (Accessed: 24 January 2022).

Note: When an ebook looks like a printed book, with publication details and pagination, reference as a printed book.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title . Edition if later than first. Place of publication: publisher. Series and volume number if relevant.

For ebooks that do not contain print publication details

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title of book . Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: date).

Example with one author:

Bell, J. (2014) Doing your research project . Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Adams, D. (1979) The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy . Available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-ebooks (Accessed: 23 June 2021).

Example with two or three authors:

Goddard, J. and Barrett, S. (2015) The health needs of young people leaving care . Norwich: University of East Anglia, School of Social Work and Psychosocial Studies.

Example with four or more authors:

Young, H.D. et al. (2015) Sears and Zemansky's university physics . San Francisco, CA: Addison-Wesley.

Note: You can choose one or other method to reference four or more authors (unless your School requires you to name all authors in your reference list) and your approach should be consistent.

Note: Books that have an editor, or editors, where each chapter is written by a different author or authors.

Surname of chapter author, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of chapter or section', in Initial. Surname of book editor (ed.) Title of book . Place of publication: publisher, Page reference.

Franklin, A.W. (2012) 'Management of the problem', in S.M. Smith (ed.) The maltreatment of children . Lancaster: MTP, pp. 83–95.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal , volume number (issue number), page reference.

If accessed online:

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal , volume number (issue number), page reference. Available at: DOI or URL (if required) (Accessed: date).

Shirazi, T. (2010) 'Successful teaching placements in secondary schools: achieving QTS practical handbooks', European Journal of Teacher Education , 33(3), pp. 323–326.

Shirazi, T. (2010) 'Successful teaching placements in secondary schools: achieving QTS practical handbooks', European Journal of Teacher Education , 33(3), pp. 323–326. Available at: https://libezproxy.open.ac.uk/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/log... (Accessed: 27 January 2023).

Barke, M. and Mowl, G. (2016) 'Málaga – a failed resort of the early twentieth century?', Journal of Tourism History , 2(3), pp. 187–212. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1755182X.2010.523145

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper , Day and month, Page reference.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper , Day and month, Page reference if available. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Mansell, W. and Bloom, A. (2012) ‘£10,000 carrot to tempt physics experts’, The Guardian , 20 June, p. 5.

Roberts, D. and Ackerman, S. (2013) 'US draft resolution allows Obama 90 days for military action against Syria', The Guardian , 4 September. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/04/syria-strikes-draft-resolut... (Accessed: 9 September 2015).

Surname, Initial. (Year that the site was published/last updated) Title of web page . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Organisation (Year that the page was last updated) Title of web page . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Robinson, J. (2007) Social variation across the UK . Available at: https://www.bl.uk/british-accents-and-dialects/articles/social-variation... (Accessed: 21 November 2021).

The British Psychological Society (2018) Code of Ethics and Conduct . Available at: https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-code-ethics-and-conduct (Accessed: 22 March 2019).

Note: Cite Them Right Online offers guidance for referencing webpages that do not include authors' names and dates. However, be extra vigilant about the suitability of such webpages.

Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of photograph . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Kitton, J. (2013) Golden sunset . Available at: https://www.jameskittophotography.co.uk/photo_8692150.html (Accessed: 21 November 2021).

stanitsa_dance (2021) Cossack dance ensemble . Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/COI_slphWJ_/ (Accessed: 13 June 2023).

Note: If no title can be found then replace it with a short description.

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• Harvard Referencing Generator

Free Harvard Referencing Generator

Generate accurate Harvard reference lists quickly and for FREE, with MyBib!

🤔 What is a Harvard Referencing Generator?

A Harvard Referencing Generator is a tool that automatically generates formatted academic references in the Harvard style.

It takes in relevant details about a source -- usually critical information like author names, article titles, publish dates, and URLs -- and adds the correct punctuation and formatting required by the Harvard referencing style.

The generated references can be copied into a reference list or bibliography, and then collectively appended to the end of an academic assignment. This is the standard way to give credit to sources used in the main body of an assignment.

👩‍🎓 Who uses a Harvard Referencing Generator?

Harvard is the main referencing style at colleges and universities in the United Kingdom and Australia. It is also very popular in other English-speaking countries such as South Africa, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. University-level students in these countries are most likely to use a Harvard generator to aid them with their undergraduate assignments (and often post-graduate too).

🙌 Why should I use a Harvard Referencing Generator?

A Harvard Referencing Generator solves two problems:

• It provides a way to organise and keep track of the sources referenced in the content of an academic paper.
• It ensures that references are formatted correctly -- inline with the Harvard referencing style -- and it does so considerably faster than writing them out manually.

A well-formatted and broad bibliography can account for up to 20% of the total grade for an undergraduate-level project, and using a generator tool can contribute significantly towards earning them.

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's Harvard Referencing Generator?

Here's how to use our reference generator:

• If citing a book, website, journal, or video: enter the URL or title into the search bar at the top of the page and press the search button.
• Choose the most relevant results from the list of search results.
• Our generator will automatically locate the source details and format them in the correct Harvard format. You can make further changes if required.
• Then either copy the formatted reference directly into your reference list by clicking the 'copy' button, or save it to your MyBib account for later.

MyBib supports the following for Harvard style:

🍏 What other versions of Harvard referencing exist?

There isn't "one true way" to do Harvard referencing, and many universities have their own slightly different guidelines for the style. Our generator can adapt to handle the following list of different Harvard styles:

• Cite Them Right
• Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
• University of the West of England (UWE)

Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

How To Properly Reference A Book In An Essay – (2024 Style Guide)

May 18, 2024 | 0 comments

May 18, 2024 | Blog | 0 comments

Referencing a book in an essay is a crucial skill in academic writing.

It not only supports your arguments but also helps avoid plagiarism.

Yet, the process can be complex, considering various styles and formats.

This article aims to simplify that process.

We’ll explore common referencing styles like APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and OSCOLA.

By the end, you will understand how to reference a book in an essay, regardless of your style guide.

Read Also : Research Paper Format: How to Cite a Research Paper in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, ASA Styles

Understanding the Importance of Book Referencing

Book referencing is more than just a formality in academic writing. It’s a way to credit the authors whose work has informed your research and show respect for their intellectual property.

Moreover, it allows your readers to track down your sources if they wish to explore the topic further. This transparency enhances your work’s credibility and allows the academic dialogue to continue beyond your essay.

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Common Referencing Styles Overview

Several referencing styles are used in academic writing. Each style has its own set of rules for formatting citations and reference lists.

The choice of style often depends on the academic discipline. For instance, humanities often use MLA, while social sciences prefer APA.

Here are the most common styles:

APA (American Psychological Association)

Mla (modern language association), chicago manual of style, harvard referencing style, oscola (oxford university standard for citation of legal authorities).

APA style is commonly used in social sciences. It emphasizes the author and the date of publication in its in-text citations.

The reference list entries start with the author’s last name, followed by the initials of the first and middle names. The year of publication comes next, followed by the title of book and the publisher.

MLA style is popular in humanities, especially in literature and language studies. It focuses on the author’s name and the page number in its in-text citations.

The reference list entries start with the author’s name, the book’s title, the publisher, and the year of publication.

The Chicago Manual of Style is versatile and used in various academic disciplines. It offers two citation systems: notes, bibliography, and author-date.

The notes and bibliography system is preferred in literature, history, and the arts, while the author-date system is more common in the physical, natural, and social sciences.

Harvard style is widely used in many universities worldwide. It uses an author-date system for in-text citations.

The reference list entries start with the author’s last name and initials, year of publication, title of the book, city of publication, and publisher.

OSCOLA is a referencing style used specifically for legal documents . It uses footnotes for citations and does not require a bibliography.

The first citation of a book includes the author’s name, the title, the edition, and the publisher’s details. Subsequent citations include the author’s name, the abbreviated title, and the relevant page number(s).

Read Also : Step-By-Step Guide on How To Write A Process Essay (W/ Essay Example)

Step-by-Step Guide to Referencing a Book

Referencing a book in an essay involves the in-text citation and the reference list entry. The in-text citation is a brief reference within your text that indicates the source you consulted.

It should direct readers to the entry in your reference list, which contains detailed information about the book you cited.

Here’s a general guide:

• Start by listing the author’s last name, followed by a comma and the first name.
• After the author’s name, write the title of the book.
• Then, list the place of publication or the city of publication, followed by a colon and the publisher’s name.
• Finally, include the year of publication.

MLA Style Referencing

In MLA style, the author’s name is inverted (last name first). The title of the book is should be in italics.

The city of publication is not required unless the book was published before 1900. The publisher’s name is followed by the year of publication.

For example: Smith, John.  The Great Book . Penguin, 2005.

Read Also: IEEE Format: Writing Guide With IEEE Citation Style Examples

APA Style Referencing

In APA style, the author’s name is also inverted. The year of publication comes after the author’s name.

The book title is in sentence case and italicized, meaning only the first word of the title, the first word after a colon or a dash, and any proper nouns are capitalized.

For example: Smith, J. (2005).  The great book . Penguin.

Chicago Style Referencing

The author’s name is not inverted in the bibliography entry in the Chicago Manual of Style. The book title is in title case and italicized.

The city of publication, publisher’s name, and year of publication follow the title.

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APA Style: How to Write Book Titles in Essays

In APA style, you must italicize the title of the book when referring to the book in your essay. Here’s how you do it:

• Write the name of the author, e.g. , “According to Smith (2020),…”
• Italicize the title : The Great Gatsby.
• Include the publication and page numbers if you are quoting directly: (Smith, 2020, p. 23).

Questions? You might be wondering if there are exceptions. Yes, if you are writing the book title within the text, always use italics .

MLA Style Essay: Citing a Book Title

In MLA style, the process is slightly different. Here’s what you need to know:

• Italicize the title of the book.
• List the author’s name : First name Last name, followed by the title in italics , e.g. , Fitzgerald, F. Scott, The Great Gatsby .
• Ensure you include the name of the publisher and the year of publication on the works cited page : Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925.

If you have two authors , list them both: Smith, John, and Jane Doe, Book Title .

For three or more authors , list the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”: Brown, et al.

Read Also: Bibliography vs Works Cited: How To Succeed Writing It

Chicago Style Essay: Writing the Book Title

In Chicago style, you also italicize the title of the book. Here’s how:

• List the author’s name first: Last name, First name.
• Title in italics : The Great Gatsby .
• Include the publisher, publication year , and page number if needed: (New York: Scribner, 1925).

When citing in-text, you might ask, “Do I need to include the publication details every time?” No, just the author’s last name and the page number are fine for subsequent citations.

Should We Underline or Italicize Book Titles?

A common question: Should book titles be underlined or italicized ? In modern writing styles, italicizing is the standard. However, in older documents, you might find books underlined . For clarity:

• Titles of stories, essays, and poems should be placed in quotation marks .
• Longer works like books should always be italicized.

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How to Cite a Book (entire book)- In-Text Citations vs. Reference List Entries

In-text citations and reference list entries are two sides of the same coin. They work together to provide complete information about the sources you’ve used.

As the name suggests, in-text citations appear within the body of your essay. They briefly signal the source of your information, usually by including the author’s last name and the year of publication.

On the other hand, reference list entries appear at the end of your essay. They provide full details about each source, allowing readers to locate and consult them if desired.

In-Text Citation Examples

In MLA style, an in-text citation might read: (Smith 45). This indicates that the information comes from page 45 of a work by Smith.

In APA style, the citation would include the year of publication (Smith, 2005, p.45). This shows that the information comes from page 45 of a work published by Smith in 2005.

Reference List Entry Examples

A reference list entry in MLA style, usually placed under the works cited section, might read: Smith, John. The Great Book . Penguin, 2005.

In APA style, the entry would look slightly different: Smith, J. (2005).  The great book . Penguin.

These entries provide all the information needed to locate the source: the author’s name, the title of the work, and the publisher’s name and year of publication.

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Citing a Chapter or Essay from a Book

When citing a chapter or essay from a book, you need to acknowledge the specific part of the work you’re referring to. This is important because it allows your readers to locate the exact source of your information.

In MLA style, you might write: Smith, John. “Chapter 1.”  The Great Book , Penguin, 2005, pp. 1-20.

The format would be slightly different in APA style: Smith, J. (2005). Chapter 1. In  The Great Book  (pp. 1-20). Penguin.

These formats indicate that the information comes from the book’s first chapter, which spans pages 1 to 20.

Citing Books with Multiple Authors

When a book has multiple authors, you need to include all their names in the citation. The order of the names should match the order on the book’s title page.

In APA style, you would write: Smith, J., & Johnson, M. (2005).  The Great Book . Penguin.

In MLA style, the format would be: Smith, John, and Mary Johnson.  The Great Book . Penguin, 2005.

These formats show that the book was co-authored by John Smith and Mary Johnson.

Special Cases in Book Referencing

Special cases in book referencing require a different approach. These include edited books, translations, books without authors, and e-books or online sources.

Edited Books and Translations

You should include the editor’s name in the citation for edited books.

For example, in APA style: Smith, J. (Ed.). (2005).  The Great Book . Penguin. For translations, include the translator’s name: Smith, J. (Trans.). (2005).  The Great Book . Penguin.

Books Without Authors

Books without authors should be cited by their titles.

For example, in MLA style, the format would be:  The Great Book . Penguin, 2005. In APA style, the format would be:  The Great Book . (2005). Penguin.

E-Books and Online Sources

E-books and online sources should include the URL or DOI at the end of the citation.

For example, in APA style: Smith, J. (2005).  The Great Book . Penguin. https://doi.org/10.1234/abcd.

Other Types of Print Books

There are different ways to cite a book title depending on the type of book:

• For a chapter of a book , list the chapter title in double quotation marks , followed by the book title in italics.
• When using a book with three or more authors , list the first author and add “et al.”
• For a single author: Smith, John. Understanding Psychology .
• For a chapter: Smith, John. “Cognitive Development,” in Understanding Psychology .

Remember to list at the end all the works cited in a works cited list or bibliography, depending on your citation style.

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Final Tips and Best Practices

Consistency is key when referencing a book in an essay. Ensure that you use the same citation style throughout your work. This will make your work look professional and make it easier for your readers to follow your references.

Remember to always check your citations for accuracy. A small mistake in the author’s name, title, or publication year can lead to confusion, so keeping a running list of sources as you research is also a good idea. This will make the referencing process much easier when writing your essay.

In conclusion, referencing a book in an essay is a crucial skill in academic writing. It not only helps avoid plagiarism but also adds credibility to your work.

By understanding and applying the correct referencing styles, you can ensure your work is professional, accurate, and respected in the academic community.

How to Reference a Book in an Essay- FAQs

How do you write a reference for a book in an essay .

When referencing a book in an essay , you should include the author ‘s last name and the page number in parenthesis after the quotation marks or paraphrased text . For example: (Doe 45).

How do you reference a book in a sentence ?

To reference a book in a sentence , you can mention the author’s name within the text and include the page number in parenthesis at the end of the sentence. For example: According to Doe (45)…

How do you Harvard reference a book in an essay ?

When using the Harvard referencing style for a book in an essay , include the author’s name and the year of publication in parenthesis after the cited text. For example: (Doe 2010).

How to write a reference of a book example ?

An example of referencing a book would be: Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Book. Publisher.

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MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources (Web Publications)

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The MLA Handbook highlights principles over prescriptive practices. Essentially, a writer will need to take note of primary elements in every source, such as author, title, etc. and then assort them in a general format. Thus, by using this methodology, a writer will be able to cite any source regardless of whether it’s included in this list.

However, this guide will highlight a few concerns when citing digital sources in MLA style.

Best Practices for Managing Online Sources

Because online information can change or disappear, it is always a good idea to keep personal copies of important electronic information whenever possible. Downloading or even printing key documents ensures you have a stable backup. You can also use the Bookmark function in your web browser in order to build an easy-to-access reference for all of your project's sources (though this will not help you if the information is changed or deleted).

It is also wise to keep a record of when you first consult with each online source. MLA uses the phrase, “Accessed” to denote which date you accessed the web page when available or necessary. It is not required to do so, but it is encouraged (especially when there is no copyright date listed on a website).

Important Note on the Use of URLs in MLA

Include a URL or web address to help readers locate your sources. Because web addresses are not static (i.e., they change often) and because documents sometimes appear in multiple places on the web (e.g., on multiple databases), MLA encourages the use of citing containers such as Youtube, JSTOR, Spotify, or Netflix in order to easily access and verify sources. However, MLA only requires the www. address, so eliminate all https:// when citing URLs.

Many scholarly journal articles found in databases include a DOI (digital object identifier). If a DOI is available, cite the DOI number instead of the URL.

Online newspapers and magazines sometimes include a “permalink,” which is a shortened, stable version of a URL. Look for a “share” or “cite this” button to see if a source includes a permalink. If you can find a permalink, use that instead of a URL.

Abbreviations Commonly Used with Electronic Sources

If page numbers are not available, use par. or pars. to denote paragraph numbers. Use these in place of the p. or pp. abbreviation. Par. would be used for a single paragraph, while pars. would be used for a span of two or more paragraphs.

Basic Style for Citations of Electronic Sources (Including Online Databases)

Here are some common features you should try to find before citing electronic sources in MLA style. Not every web page will provide all of the following information. However, collect as much of the following information as possible:

• Author and/or editor names (if available); last names first.
• "Article name in quotation marks."
• Title of the website, project, or book in italics.
• Any version numbers available, including editions (ed.), revisions, posting dates, volumes (vol.), or issue numbers (no.).
• Publisher information, including the publisher name and publishing date.
• Take note of any page numbers (p. or pp.) or paragraph numbers (par. or pars.).
• DOI (if available, precede it with "https://doi.org/"), otherwise a URL (without the https://) or permalink.
• Date you accessed the material (Date Accessed). While not required, saving this information it is highly recommended, especially when dealing with pages that change frequently or do not have a visible copyright date.

Use the following format:

Author. "Title." Title of container (self contained if book) , Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs and/or URL, DOI or permalink). 2 nd container’s title , Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).

Citing an Entire Web Site

When citing an entire website, follow the same format as listed above, but include a compiler name if no single author is available.

Author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number (if available), Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available), DOI (preferred), otherwise include a URL or permalink. Date of access (if applicable).

Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site . Version number, Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available), URL, DOI or permalink. Date of access (if applicable).

The Purdue OWL Family of Sites . The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl. Accessed 23 Apr. 2008.

Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory . Purdue U, 28 Nov. 2003, www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/. Accessed 10 May 2006.

Course or Department Websites

Give the instructor name. Then list the title of the course (or the school catalog designation for the course) in italics. Give appropriate department and school names as well, following the course title.

Felluga, Dino. Survey of the Literature of England . Purdue U, Aug. 2006, web.ics.purdue.edu/~felluga/241/241/Home.html. Accessed 31 May 2007.

English Department . Purdue U, 20 Apr. 2009, www.cla.purdue.edu/english/. Accessed 31 May 2015.

A Page on a Web Site

For an individual page on a Web site, list the author or alias if known, followed by an indication of the specific page or article being referenced. Usually, the title of the page or article appears in a header at the top of the page. Follow this with the information covered above for entire Web sites. If the publisher is the same as the website name, only list it once.

Lundman, Susan. “How to Make Vegetarian Chili.”  eHow , www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html. Accessed 6 July 2015.

“ Athlete's Foot - Topic Overview. ”   WebMD , 25 Sept. 2014, www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/athletes-foot-topic-overview.

Citations for e-books closely resemble those for physical books. Simply indicate that the book in question is an e-book by putting the term "e-book" in the "version" slot of the MLA template (i.e., after the author, the title of the source, the title of the container, and the names of any other contributors).

Silva, Paul J.  How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing. E-book, American Psychological Association, 2007.

If the e-book is formatted for a specific reader device or service, you can indicate this by treating this information the same way you would treat a physical book's edition number. Often, this will mean replacing "e-book" with "[App/Service] ed."

Machiavelli, Niccolo.  The Prince , translated by W. K. Marriott, Kindle ed., Library of Alexandria, 2018.

Note:  The MLA considers the term "e-book" to refer to publications formatted specifically for reading with an e-book reader device (e.g., a Kindle) or a corresponding web application. These e-books will not have URLs or DOIs. If you are citing book content from an ordinary webpage with a URL, use the "A Page on a Web Site" format above.

An Image (Including a Painting, Sculpture, or Photograph)

Provide the artist's name, the work of art italicized, the date of creation, the institution and city where the work is housed. Follow this initial entry with the name of the Website in italics, and the date of access.

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV . 1800. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid. Museo Nacional del Prado , www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74. Accessed 22 May 2006.

Klee, Paul. Twittering Machine . 1922. Museum of Modern Art, New York. The Artchive , www.artchive.com/artchive/K/klee/twittering_machine.jpg.html. Accessed May 2006.

If the work cited is available on the web only, then provide the name of the artist, the title of the work, and then follow the citation format for a website. If the work is posted via a username, use that username for the author.

Adams, Clifton R. “People Relax Beside a Swimming Pool at a Country Estate Near Phoenix, Arizona, 1928.” Found, National Geographic Creative, 2 June 2016, natgeofound.tumblr.com/.

An Article in a Web Magazine

Provide the author name, article name in quotation marks, title of the web magazine in italics, publisher name, publication date, URL, and the date of access.

Bernstein, Mark. “ 10 Tips on Writing the Living Web. ”   A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites , 16 Aug. 2002, alistapart.com/article/writeliving. Accessed 4 May 2009.

An Article in an Online Scholarly Journal

For all online scholarly journals, provide the author(s) name(s), the name of the article in quotation marks, the title of the publication in italics, all volume and issue numbers, and the year of publication. Include a DOI if available, otherwise provide a URL or permalink to help readers locate the source.

Article in an Online-only Scholarly Journal

MLA requires a page range for articles that appear in Scholarly Journals. If the journal you are citing appears exclusively in an online format (i.e. there is no corresponding print publication) that does not make use of page numbers, indicate the URL or other location information.

Dolby, Nadine. “Research in Youth Culture and Policy: Current Conditions and Future Directions.” Social Work and Society: The International Online-Only Journal, vol. 6, no. 2, 2008, www.socwork.net/sws/article/view/60/362. Accessed 20 May 2009.

Article in an Online Scholarly Journal That Also Appears in Print

Cite articles in online scholarly journals that also appear in print as you would a scholarly journal in print, including the page range of the article . Provide the URL and the date of access.

Wheelis, Mark. “ Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. ”   Emerging Infectious Diseases , vol. 6, no. 6, 2000, pp. 595-600, wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/6/6/00-0607_article. Accessed 8 Feb. 2009.

An Article from an Online Database (or Other Electronic Subscription Service)

Cite online databases (e.g. LexisNexis, ProQuest, JSTOR, ScienceDirect) and other subscription services as containers. Thus, provide the title of the database italicized before the DOI or URL. If a DOI is not provided, use the URL instead. Provide the date of access if you wish.

Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “ Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates. ”   Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library , https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.20155. Accessed 26 May 2009.

Langhamer, Claire. “Love and Courtship in Mid-Twentieth-Century England.” Historical Journal, vol. 50, no. 1, 2007, pp. 173-96. ProQuest , https://doi.org/10.1017/S0018246X06005966. Accessed 27 May 2009.

E-mail (including E-mail Interviews)

Give the author of the message, followed by the subject line in quotation marks. State to whom the message was sent with the phrase, “Received by” and the recipient’s name. Include the date the message was sent. Use standard capitalization.

Kunka, Andrew. “ Re: Modernist Literature. ”  Received by John Watts, 15 Nov. 2000.

Neyhart, David. “ Re: Online Tutoring. ” Received by Joe Barbato, 1 Dec. 2016.

A Listserv, Discussion Group, or Blog Posting

Cite web postings as you would a standard web entry. Provide the author of the work, the title of the posting in quotation marks, the web site name in italics, the publisher, and the posting date. Follow with the date of access. Include screen names as author names when author name is not known. If both names are known, place the author’s name in brackets.

Author or compiler name (if available). “Posting Title.” Name of Site , Version number (if available), Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), URL. Date of access.

Salmar1515 [Sal Hernandez]. “Re: Best Strategy: Fenced Pastures vs. Max Number of Rooms?” BoardGameGeek , 29 Sept. 2008, boardgamegeek.com/thread/343929/best-strategy-fenced-pastures-vs-max-number-rooms. Accessed 5 Apr. 2009.

Begin with the user's Twitter handle in place of the author’s name. Next, place the tweet in its entirety in quotations, inserting a period after the tweet within the quotations. Include the date and time of posting, using the reader's time zone; separate the date and time with a comma and end with a period. Include the date accessed if you deem necessary.

@tombrokaw. “ SC demonstrated why all the debates are the engines of this campaign. ”   Twitter, 22 Jan. 2012, 3:06 a.m., twitter.com/tombrokaw/status/160996868971704320.

@PurdueWLab. “ Spring break is around the corner, and all our locations will be open next week. ”   Twitter , 5 Mar. 2012, 12:58 p.m., twitter.com/PurdueWLab/status/176728308736737282.

A YouTube Video

Video and audio sources need to be documented using the same basic guidelines for citing print sources in MLA style. Include as much descriptive information as necessary to help readers understand the type and nature of the source you are citing. If the author’s name is the same as the uploader, only cite the author once. If the author is different from the uploader, cite the author’s name before the title.

McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube , uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E.

“8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube, uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker, 6 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlpjSEtELs.

A Comment on a Website or Article

List the username as the author. Use the phrase, Comment on, before the title. Use quotation marks around the article title. Name the publisher, date, time (listed on near the comment), and the URL.

Not Omniscient Enough. Comment on “ Flight Attendant Tells Passenger to ‘Shut Up’ After Argument Over Pasta. ”  ABC News, 9 Jun 2016, 4:00 p.m., abcnews.go.com/US/flight-attendant-tells-passenger-shut-argument-pasta/story?id=39704050.

The Duration of Memory: Reflecting on the Length and Impact of “The Notebook”

This essay about “The Notebook” explores its enduring impact, focusing on themes of memory and love. It discusses how the narrative intertwines past and present to reflect the process of remembering, emphasizing the story’s emotional depth and cultural significance. The analysis suggests that the novel’s portrayal of love transcending memory resonates deeply, offering reassurance that personal connections persist despite the erosion of memory, making its impact timeless and profound.

How it works

“The Notebook,” a novel by Nicholas Sparks and later adapted into a popular film, leaves an indelible mark on its audience, offering a poignant exploration of the themes of memory and enduring love. This text examines how the narrative structure and thematic elements of “The Notebook” contribute to its lasting impact on readers and viewers, lingering in the collective memory far beyond the final page or scene.

At its core, “The Notebook” is a story about the power of memory and its role in sustaining love.

It narrates the life-long romance between Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson, a couple who fall in love in the 1940s. Their story is framed by scenes set in the present day, where an elderly Noah attempts to rekindle the faded memories of Allie, who suffers from dementia. The structure of the narrative itself mirrors the process of remembering, as the past and present intertwine, reflecting the way memories surface and recede in the mind.

The impact of “The Notebook” on its audience can largely be attributed to its emotional depth. Sparks does not merely tell a love story; he explores the themes of memory, loss, and the relentless passage of time. These are universal experiences that resonate deeply with human emotions and fears. The fear of forgetting or being forgotten, especially by loved ones, is a poignant undercurrent throughout the novel. This taps into a fundamental human concern, making the story relatable and its emotional impact profound.

Moreover, “The Notebook” emphasizes the idea that love can transcend memory. This notion is beautifully encapsulated in the scenes where Noah reads to Allie from their old notebook, a ritual that occasionally brings Allie back to a lucid state. Here, Sparks suggests that emotional connections, fortified by shared memories and experiences, are deeply ingrained in the psyche, perhaps residing in a place beyond conscious recall. This reassures the audience that the essence of personal connections is not easily erased, even by diseases like dementia that physically erode memory.

The novel also makes a significant commentary on the persistence of memory through physical artifacts, like the notebook Noah uses. These artifacts serve as vessels of memory, capable of triggering recollections that seem to have been lost. This aspect of the narrative highlights the importance of tangible reminders of the past—photographs, letters, and personal writings—in maintaining our personal histories and connections. It underscores the notion that while memory might fade, the impressions of the people we love and the experiences we cherish can be safeguarded.

“The Notebook” leaves a lasting impact not just through its thematic exploration of memory and love but also through its cultural significance. It has become a touchstone for discussions about romantic love in popular culture. The film adaptation, featuring iconic performances and quotable dialogue, has helped cement the story in the cultural landscape, making it a reference point for enduring love.

In reflecting on the duration of memory in “The Notebook,” it becomes clear that the story’s resonance is amplified by its exploration of deep, universal fears and assurances. It taps into the collective anxiety about loss and the hope that love can endure beyond the limitations of memory and time. The narrative reassures us that the essence of who we are and whom we love is preserved, perhaps not perfectly, in our stories and shared histories. Thus, the true duration of memory in “The Notebook” is indefinite—it lasts as long as the narrative continues to evoke emotion and provoke thought in its audience.

This exploration of “The Notebook” reveals that the length of memory—both within the narrative and in its impact on the audience—is boundless. It shows that stories, especially those that touch upon fundamental human experiences and emotions, hold a lasting place in the minds and hearts of their audience. “The Notebook” is not just remembered; it is felt, a testament to the enduring power of love and memory in the human experience.

Cite this page

The Duration of Memory: Reflecting on the Length and Impact of "The Notebook". (2024, May 21). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-duration-of-memory-reflecting-on-the-length-and-impact-of-the-notebook/

"The Duration of Memory: Reflecting on the Length and Impact of "The Notebook"." PapersOwl.com , 21 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/the-duration-of-memory-reflecting-on-the-length-and-impact-of-the-notebook/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Duration of Memory: Reflecting on the Length and Impact of "The Notebook" . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-duration-of-memory-reflecting-on-the-length-and-impact-of-the-notebook/ [Accessed: 21 May. 2024]

"The Duration of Memory: Reflecting on the Length and Impact of "The Notebook"." PapersOwl.com, May 21, 2024. Accessed May 21, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/the-duration-of-memory-reflecting-on-the-length-and-impact-of-the-notebook/

"The Duration of Memory: Reflecting on the Length and Impact of "The Notebook"," PapersOwl.com , 21-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-duration-of-memory-reflecting-on-the-length-and-impact-of-the-notebook/. [Accessed: 21-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Duration of Memory: Reflecting on the Length and Impact of "The Notebook" . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-duration-of-memory-reflecting-on-the-length-and-impact-of-the-notebook/ [Accessed: 21-May-2024]

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