Sample Parenthetical References in MLA Style

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See: The Mountain Lion by John Garcia and Just Sheer Naked Magic by John Doe for sample essays including Parenthetical References and Works Cited pages using MLA style.

Leave 1" (2.5 cm) margin on all four sides of the 8 1/2" x 11" white paper. Title centered. Page number at the right hand corner 1/2" (1.25 cm) from the top. The entire essay should be typed double-spaced with each new paragraph indented 1/2" (1.25 cm) or 5 spaces from the left margin. If your teacher prefers that you do not indent your paragraphs, start new paragraphs flush to the left margin, double-space all lines in the paragraph, and quadruple-space between paragraphs.

For more sample references, please see pages 208-226 in:

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: MLA, 2003.

Jones 1

Tracy Jones

Mr. K. Smith

ENG-4GN-01

7 July 2008

The Many Facets of Taboo

            The World Book Encyclopedia defines Taboo as "an action, object, person, or place forbidden by law or culture" (Dundes).
            As pointed out in the Occultopedia, another word for taboo is "tabu" a Polynesian word meaning that which is banned. The Occultopedia also points out that taboo is found among many other cultures including the ancient Egyptians, Jews and others ("Taboo").
            Mary Douglas has analyzed the many facets and interpretations of taboos across various cultures. In her view, taboos could be considered a kind of "brain-washing" (2549) as they are transmitted to individuals along with an entire cultural system made up of a pattern of values and norms.
            In reference to Freak Shows at circuses, an interesting observation is made that people who possess uncommon features and who willingly go out in public to display such oddities to onlookers are acting as "modern-day taboo breakers" by crossing the "final boundary between societal acceptance and ostracism." (Rothenberg).
            In traditional British East Africa, between the time of puberty and marriage, a young Akamba girl must maintain an avoidance relationship with her own father (Freud 17).
            Looking at taboo in a modern society, Marvin Harris gives an interesting example of the application of cultural materialism to the Hindu taboo against eating beef (qtd. in McGrath).

In your Bibliography, Works Cited, or References page, you must include all of the above parenthetical references. See sample below.

Works Cited

Douglas, Mary. "Taboo." Man, Myth & Magic. Ed. Richard Cavendish. New ed.

21 vols. New York: Cavendish, 1994. 2546-2549.

Dundes, Alan. "Taboo." The World Book Encyclopedia. 2000 ed.

Freud, Sigmund. Totem and Taboo. New York: Random, 1918.

McGrath, Stacy. "Ecological Anthropology." Anthropological Theories: A Guide

Prepared by Students for Students. 19 Oct. 2001. U. of Alabama. 11 Mar. 2008

<http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/Murphy/ecologic.htm>.

Rothenberg, Kelly. "Tattooed People as Taboo Figures in Modern Society."

1996. BME/Psyber City. 25 Feb. 2008 <http://www.bme.freeq.com/tattoo/

tattab.html>.

"Taboo." Occultopedia: Encyclopedia of Occult Sciences and Knowledge. Site created

and designed by Marcus V. Gay. 11 Mar. 2008 <http://www.occultopedia.com/t/

taboo.htm>.