Fear not, MLA warriors, the Los Angeles Times tames itself easily!
Ever felt a cold sweat roll down your spine at the mere mention of MLA citations? Fear not, intrepid researchers and weary students, for taming the wild beast of referencing a Los Angeles Times article is far simpler than wrangling a Hollywood agent!
Here's how to turn MLA citation frowns upside down, faster than you can say "Oscar night":
The Great Newspaper Hunt
First things first, have you actually found your Los Angeles Times article? Don't worry, we've all been there – buried in a labyrinthine library database, or perhaps tucked away in a dusty microfilm archive (yes, those still exist!).
Here's a pro tip: The Los Angeles Times website is a treasure trove of articles, both current and from the newspaper's illustrious past.
Meet the MLA Citation Machine
Now, let's dissect this Los Angeles Times beast and turn it into a perfectly formatted MLA citation. Grab a pen, a keyboard, or even your trusty quill (if you're feeling particularly scholarly):
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Author, Author: This might seem obvious, but identify the article's writer(s). If it's a team effort, list their last names followed by a comma and "et al." (which is Latin for "and others"). But what if there's no author listed? No worries, use the title of the article in quotation marks for your in-text citation.
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The Spotlight Stealer: Next, comes the title of the article. Put it in quotation marks, and don't forget to capitalize the first word and all major words (just like you would a movie title).
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The Big Picture: This is where the Los Angeles Times itself takes center stage. Write the newspaper's full name in italics.
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The Time Machine: Now, travel back in time (well, not literally) and note the publication date of the article.
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Paging Dr. Pagination: Finally, include the page number(s) where the article resides. This might not be crucial for online articles, but for those who prefer the musty scent of old newsprint, it's essential.
Here's an example to illuminate your path:
Block, Melissa, et al. "Hollywood Studios Scramble as Streaming Wars Heat Up." Los Angeles Times, 22 April 2024, p. A1.
Feeling fancy? You can also add a bracketed phrase at the end to indicate if you accessed the article online, like this: "[accessed 29 April 2024]".
The In-Text Citation Tango
Now that you've tamed the MLA citation beast, weave it into your writing with an in-text citation. Simply include the author's last name (or the first word or two of the title in quotations) and the page number in parentheses.
For example:
"The new streaming wars are causing chaos in Hollywood!" (Block et al. A1).
Remember: MLA citations are your friends, not your foes. They help your readers find the sources you used, and they make you look like a research rockstar!
So, the next time you encounter a Los Angeles Times article, channel your inner Indiana Jones, grab your MLA citation fedora, and conquer that reference list with confidence!
