MLA Style Center

Summary: First, we reviewed the MLA Works Cited formatting with the notes taken. Then, you described the notes that were researched. Finally, we analyzed the future structure of your essay, wide reading, and close reading, and how to select articles to achieve a balance of research.

Documents:

Quick Guide to Citing in MLA 9th Edition

MLA 9th Quick Guide

“Research is creating new knowledge.”

~ Neil Armstrong

Alex Essay Writing Tool Step 04 – Parts of your essay

Alex Essay Writing Tool Step 05 – Now you can read

Alex Essay Writing Tool Step 06 – Balance

Note-taking Sample A on the Death Penalty and COVID-19

Amnesty International, “Death Penalty 2020: Despite Covid-19, Some Countries Ruthlessly Pursued Death Sentences and Executions.” Amnesty International, 2004 2021,  

https://www.amnestyusa.org/reports/death-penalty-2020-despite-covid-19-

some-countries-ruthlessly-pursued-death-sentences-and-executions/ 

MLA Note-taking Sample B on Freedom of Speech:

Miklaszewska, Justyna. “Freedom of Speech in Modern Political Culture.” Avant: Journalof the Philosophical-Interdisciplinary Vanguard 10, 77-88, 30 June 2019, pp. 77-88,

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7513/20f2b891b74388e4fb533f948b18dd71c14d.pdf?

_ga=2.106479559.577207015.1622045798-1412271447.1622045798.

Homework is due the day before class at 1 p.m.. To do this, take photos of your notes and insert them in the Google document for Articles #3 & #4.

Instructions for Homework Content:

1. Please research the SAME research issue using two Internet, book, newspaper, or journal articles about a topic you are passionate about writing about, articles #3 and #4. Then, take one to two pages of notes for each article using the keywords on the pages. Remember to write the author’s name(s), the date, and page or paragraph numbers if you use direct quotations. Try to summarize your work. Please type your MLA Work Cited so I can edit them.

Articles #5 and #6 should focus on the causes or effects of your issue.

Free Database Engines off Campus to collect research for your MLA Paper: 

Carrot 2 Carrot helps you find topics related to your search term. After entering the term you enter and then click on ‘search,’ you can see the results as a list, treemap, or pie chart that helps you visualize your issue and narrow your search simultaneously.

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): DOAJ is a community-designed and maintained online journal directory that provides access to robust, open-access, peer-reviewed journals. This search engine is independent, and it is free, including being indexed in DOAJ. Please use this engine for topical issues and authors; you might find research that provides evidence for your academic essay. DOAJ is an educational outreach search engine focusing on high-quality applications and submissions.

Google Scholar: Google Scholar helps you do a broad or narrow search of articles. It also enables you to cite your “references” for APA and “works cited” for MLA!

CORE Research Engine UK: This research search engine claims to be the largest open-access research database in the world, giving free access.

Free Databases That Include Lists of Issues (If you cannot decide what essay you would like to write)

Learning About Global Issues—This website has been designed by Andy Barfield and his research team specifically for Chuo University Faculty of Law English courses to support student research in the Basic Research and Writing. More generally, his team hopes this website is helpful to students and others in Japan (and other countries) in developing their knowledge and critical understanding of global issues. Thank you, Andy!

Zenbird Media: Topics & Issues: Do you often think about researching issues related to your local community or Japan in general, but find the data is in Japanese? Then, Zenbird Media is for you!

2. An option to do Write & Improve practice essay:

Five improved essays are due by the end of the semester. You can choose the essays and the time of writing freely, but write and improve on no more than one essay each week.