Conquer the Citation Beast: Mastering The New York Times in MLA
Let's face it, citations can feel like wrangling a wet ferret – slippery, confusing, and determined to escape your grasp. But fear not, fellow scholars! Today we tackle the New York Times specifically, that journalistic titan of the Big Apple. We'll unveil the secrets of citing it in MLA format, transforming you from a citation chump to a citation champ!
Step 1: Unearthing the Author (Because sometimes the best stories have mysterious beginnings)
First things first, identify the article's author. Bold print is your friend here – look for a name before the title. If it's missing, no worries! We'll improvise later.
Step 2: Taming the Title (Pun intended, librarians!)
Next, copy the title of the article, quotation marks and all. Remember, even subtitles deserve a place in your citation!
Step 3: The Big Apple Takes Center Stage (It's practically a law)
Now, italicize the mighty New York Times. Don't be shy, give it the emphasis it deserves!
Step 4: The Temporal Tango (Because citations love a good dance with time)
Find the publication date – month, day, and year – of the article. This will be your partner in the temporal tango.
Step 5: Web or Print? The Great Newspaper Showdown (Spoiler alert: they both get cited!)
Is your article online? If so, copy and paste the URL. But if you're holding a physical copy, find the page number(s).
Uh oh, there are no page numbers! No sweat! Just skip the page number part in your citation.
Step 6: Building your Works Cited Fortress (Because knowledge is power, and citations are its bricks)
Now that you've gathered your intel, it's time to construct your citation in the Works Cited list:
- Author Last Name, First Name. (If no author, start with the title in quotation marks)
- "Title of Article: Subtitle (if any)."
- The New York Times,* Date Published, URL (if online) or p. Page number(s) (if print).
For Example:
- Murphy, Claire. "Robot Uprising on Hold: Machines Still Can't Make a Decent Cup of Coffee." The New York Times,* 14 May 2024, [invalid URL removed]
Feeling triumphant? You should be! You've just wrestled a citation into submission.
FAQ: Citation Dojo Wisdom
How to cite a New York Times article with multiple authors?
List the authors' last names, separated by commas, then a final "and" before the first author's full name.
How to cite a New York Times article from a database?
Follow the same format, but after the publication date, include the database name in italics and accessed date (optional).
How to cite an editorial or opinion piece?
After the title, add "Editorial" or "Opinion" in square brackets.
How to cite a section of a New York Times article?
Include the paragraph number(s) after the page number(s) separated by a colon (e.g., p. A18:12).
How to not get stressed about citations?
Remember, there are plenty of online citation generators to help you out in a pinch. But with a little practice, you'll be a citation master in no time!
