The Emerson Circles MLA citation guide is an essential tool for researchers and scholars in the humanities, particularly those focusing on the works and legacy of Ralph Waldo Emerson. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is widely used in academic writing, providing a standardized format for citing sources to maintain clarity and consistency. Understanding how to cite Emerson's works, as well as secondary sources about him, is crucial for academic integrity and effective communication of ideas.
Introduction to MLA Citation Style
The MLA citation style is characterized by its use of in-text citations and a Works Cited page. In-text citations are brief references to the source material that appear within the text itself, while the Works Cited page is a comprehensive list of all sources used in the research, formatted according to MLA guidelines. For Emerson scholars, accurately citing his essays, poems, and other writings, as well as the works of other authors who have written about him, is vital.
Citing Emerson’s Works
When citing Emerson’s works, it’s essential to follow the MLA guidelines for formatting titles, author names, and publication information. For example, when citing an essay from his collection Nature, the in-text citation would include the author’s last name and the page number(s) where the quoted or referenced material can be found. The full citation would then appear on the Works Cited page, including the title of the essay, the title of the collection, the publication city, the publisher, the publication year, and the page numbers.
For instance, a citation for Emerson's essay "Nature" might look like this in the text: (Emerson 23). The corresponding Works Cited entry would be:
Ralph Waldo Emerson. "Nature." Nature, Boston, James Munroe and Company, 1836, pp. 1-76.
| Source Type | MLA Citation Format |
|---|---|
| Book | Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year of Publication. |
| Essay in a Collection | Lastname, Firstname. "Title of Essay." Title of Collection, edited by Editor's Name, City: Publisher, Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers. |
| Journal Article | Lastname, Firstname. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers. |
Citing Secondary Sources
Secondary sources about Emerson, including scholarly articles, books, and dissertations, must also be cited according to MLA guidelines. These sources can provide valuable insights and interpretations of Emerson’s works and their historical and cultural contexts. When citing a scholarly article about Emerson, for example, the in-text citation would include the author’s last name and the page number(s), while the Works Cited entry would provide full publication details, including the title of the article, the title of the journal, volume and issue numbers, publication year, and page numbers.
A citation for a scholarly article about Emerson might appear as follows in the text: (Buell 145). The full Works Cited entry would be:
Lawrence Buell. "The Emerson Industry." PMLA, vol. 112, no. 5, 1997, pp. 1385-1402.
Formatting the Works Cited Page
The Works Cited page is a crucial component of any MLA-formatted paper, as it provides a complete list of all sources cited in the text. Each entry on the Works Cited page should be formatted according to MLA guidelines, with hanging indents for entries that span more than one line. The page should be titled “Works Cited” and should appear at the end of the document, after any endnotes but before any appendices.
Here is an example of a Works Cited entry for a book about Emerson:
Porte, Joel. Emerson and Thoreau: Transcendentalists in Conflict. Wesleyan University Press, 1966.
How do I cite a poem by Emerson in MLA style?
+To cite a poem by Emerson, include the title of the poem in quotation marks, the title of the collection in italics, the publication city, the publisher, the publication year, and the page numbers where the poem can be found. For example: Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Concord Hymn." Poems, Boston, James Munroe and Company, 1847, pp. 1-2.
What is the difference between a Works Cited page and a bibliography?
+A Works Cited page is a list of all sources that are directly cited in the text, formatted according to MLA guidelines. A bibliography, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive list that may include all sources consulted during research, whether they are cited in the text or not. In MLA style, the term "Works Cited" is used, as it specifically refers to sources that have been cited in the paper.
In conclusion, mastering the MLA citation style is essential for scholars and researchers working with Emerson’s writings and the broader field of American literary studies. By understanding how to properly cite primary and secondary sources, researchers can ensure the integrity and credibility of their work, contributing to a richer and more nuanced understanding of Emerson’s legacy and the literary traditions he helped shape.
