IBDP EE and IA Citations MLA8

In the IBDP, citing secondary resources in your IA or EE is extremely important and it is literally part of the IA and EE criterion. It allows the authors or creators of those secondary resources to be credited and, also helps the examiner understand where you've used the source and why you've done that.

So, today we are going to give a brief explanation on how to in-text cite and create a bibliography/works cited for your secondary resources. But first, you need to understand the different citation styles.

Based on my understanding, there should be five citation styles but I'd recommend to use APA, MLA or Chicago style (We'll get to how to do those soon:)) as these are much clearer to understand especially APA and MLA style. However, if your school recommend you to use a specific style, you should follow it as there will be more teacher who would understand that specific style and can help you with it when you're struggling. But of course, if you wish to use another style feel free to because the IB doesn't specify the need to use a certain style.

MLA8 Style

MLA style is the most common citation style as it is much simpler to write and I strongly recommend it. MLA8 is just a name for the newest edition of this style.

In this post, I will be introducing the different types of referencing for different sources in MLA8 style.

Core Elements of MLA8

These are the main components when citing in MLA8 format.

Referencing a Book

In-text citation

#1 ... (author, page).

Example: There are five distinct stages in the history of depression (Solomon, 285).

#2 ...author... (page).

Example: Solomon wonders whether episodes of violence are connected to depression (103).

#3 "..." (author, page).

Example: "There are stalwarts to whom such emotional insight is meaningless" (Solomon,103).

Works cited

Last name, First name. Title. Publisher, Year.

Example: Solomon, Andrew. The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression. Simon & Schuster, 2002.

Referencing an Image

In-text citation

As can be seen in Figure 5, glaciers have changed the landscape as they retreated.

Caption

#1 Fig. number. Creator. Title. Container, Date created, URL (if any). Date viewed.

Example: Fig. 5, Brown, Rex. "Glacier National Park X." Flickr, 18 Aug. 2013, flic.kr/p/fAT5Po. Accessed 24 Aug. 2016.

#2 Fig. number. Creator, Title or explanatory legend, Date created.

Example: Fig. 5. Rex Brown, Glacier National Park X, 2013.

Works cited

#1 Not necessary if caption includes source information.

#2 Creator. Title. Container, Date created, URL (if any). Date viewed.

Example: Brown, Rex. "Glacier National Park X." Flickr, 18 Aug. 2013, flic.kr/p/fAT5Po. Accessed 24 Aug. 2016.

Referencing a Website

In-text citation

#1 ... (author).

Example: You should know your communication priorities (Lewis).

#2 ... author....

Example: Lewis emphasised language as a means of communication.

#3 "..." (author).

Example: "Be specific and realistic about what you want and when you want it" (Lewis).

Works cited

Last name, First name. "Title of work." Container, Publisher, Date created, URL. Date viewed.

Example: Lewis, Benny. "How to Successfully Learn a New Language This Year." Lifehacker, Gizmodo Media Group, 1 Oct. 2013, lifehacker.com/5974670/how-to- successfully-learn-a-new-language-this-year. Accessed 27 May 2014.

Referencing a Video Recording

In-text citation

#1 ... (author).

Example: Perseverance is an important trait when facing barriers (Pausch).

#2 ... author....

Example: Pausch showed how his efforts were rewarded.

#3 "..." (author).

Example: "Have something to bring to the table" (Pausch).

Works cited

Last name, First name. "Title of work." Container, Uploaded or published by, Date of creation or posting, URL (if any). Date viewed.

Example: Pausch, Randy. "Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." YouTube, uploaded by Camegie Mellon University, 18 Sep. 2007. youtu.be/ji5_MqicxSo. Accessed 28 Jan. 2015.

Referencing a Journal

In-text citation

#1 ... (author, page).

Example: Teachers play a critical role in developing students' intercultural competence (Taylor, 72).

#2 ... author... (page).

Example: Taylor suggests teachers play a critical role in developing students' intercultural competence (72).

#3 "..." (author, page).

Example: "In an international school our cocktails of cultures are stirred but rarely shaken" (Taylor, 65).

Works cited

Last name, First name. "Title of article." Journal title, Volume number, Issue number, Date published, Page(s), Container (where found, if applicable), URL or DOI number (if any). Date retrieved.

Example: Taylor, Simon. "Globally-minded Students. Defining, Measuring and Developing Intercultural Sensitivity." The International Schools Journal, vol. 33, no. 1, Nov. 2013, pp. 65-75. ProQuest Education Journals, search.proquest.com/docview/1508228688?accountid=74409. Accessed 4 Mar. 2015.

Referencing a Newspaper Article

In-text citations

#1 ... (author).

Example: Gertrude Bell is credited with creating modern Iraq (Arango).

#2 ... author....

Example: Arango explains opinion is divided on her legacy.

#3 "..." (author).

Example: "Today, though, her legacy, which has always been fragile, is at risk of being undone" (Arango).

Works cited

Last name, First name. "Title of article." Container, Date published. URL (if any). Date retreived.

Example: Arango, Tim. "For British Spy in Iraq, Affection is Strong but Legacy is Unfulfilled." New York Times, 26 Jun. 2014, www.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/world/middleeast/gertrude-bell-sought-to- stabilize-iraq-after-world-war-i.html. Accessed 16 Jan. 2015.

Referencing with no author

In-text citations

... ("Title").

Example: We see so many global warming hotspots in North America likely because this region has "more readily accessible climatic data and more comprehensive programs to monitor and study environmental change . . ." ("Impact of Global Warming").

Works cited

"Title." Container, Date published. URL (if any). Date accessed.

Example: "The Impact of Global Warming in North America." Global Warming: Early Signs. 1999. www.climatehotmap.org/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2009.

Lastly, if you think "oh, this is too much to remember!", then using Easybib will make your life so much easier, but, of course using the information on this post to check will make sure your citations EE/IA correct.

Thank you for reading and we hope this post helps you in getting your desired grade! Good luck!💕👍👍

References:

Modern Language Association (MLA) - for more information visit The Purdue Writing Lab