1. The resource list must use MLA format. Use a handbook or my links to MLA websites to follow those guidelines. Included in (but not limited to) these guidelines are the following formatting characteristics:
a. Hanging indents for each entry
b. Double spacing within and between entries
c. Alphabetized entries
d. Periods after each entry.2. Your eight sources must include at least these categories:
- two book sources (includes edited collections, single- or multiple-authored works, or encyclopedias. You may also use as a book source examples from CQ Researcher or GALE's Opposing Viewpoints in Context resource),
- two internet sources (searching the web using Google, for example--always check reliability with web sources),
- two periodical sources (includes journals found on EBSCO, magazines, and newspapers found on ProQuest--with at least one article published in 2020), and
- two sources from any other categories (more websites or journals or books, pamphlets, DVDs, interviews, etc.).
3. Your resource list must have the following presentation characteristics:
- the entire list of entries should be alphabetized by the first item in the entry, and
- be double-spaced, and
- titles of articles are in quotation marks while book, magazine, and newspaper titles are italicized.
NOTE: Your final paper does not need to hold to this breakdown. You have the final say about what resources are most useful for your argument. But if you cannot fulfill one or more categories, your topic may be too shallow.
This sample resource list shows you how the final selection of resources you have found should be organized. You should also remember that there are differences between how you document print versions of periodicals and the online database versions. Check out this side-by-side comparison. Follow guidelines for format and presentation. Do not make this mistake!
In addition to our library's website for citation and documentation information, you may also want to visit Purdue University's Online Writing Center guidelines for documentation. There is no shortage of documentation information on the web and, therefore, no excuse for not formatting your resource list and Works Cited pages correctly!