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Changes to MLA in the 8th Edition
Changes to MLA in the 8th Edition
What’s New in the Eighth Edition
The eighth edition of the MLA Handbook, published in 2016, rethinks documentation for an era of digital publication. The MLA now recommends a universal set of guidelines that writers can apply to any source and gives writers in all fields—from the sciences to the humanities—the tools to intuitively document sources. Learn more below about the changes to MLA guidelines. Get resources for teaching, an FAQ, tips on writing, and more on The MLA Style Center (Links to an external site.).
The List of Works Cited
The eighth edition of the MLA Handbook introduces a new model for entries in the works-cited list, one that reflects recent changes in how works are published and consulted. Previously, a writer created an entry by following the MLA’s instructions for the source’s publication format (book, DVD, Web page, etc.). That approach has become impractical today, since publication formats are often combined (a song listened to online, for example, could have been taken from a record album released decades ago) or are undefinable.
In the new model, the work’s publication format is not considered. Instead of asking, “How do I cite a book [or DVD or Web page]?” the writer creates an entry by consulting the MLA’s list of core elements—facts common to most works—which are assembled in a specific order. The MLA core elements appear below:
In the new model, then, the writer asks, “Who is the author? What is the title?” and so forth—regardless of the nature of the source.
Because of this fundamental change, the works-cited-list entries produced by the two approaches are different. Below are differences that might be overlooked by writers making the transition from the seventh edition.
Abbreviations
Common terms in the works-cited list like editor, edited by, translator, and review of are no longer abbreviated. The eighth edition provides a shorter list of recommended abbreviations (96–97).
Authors
When a source has three or more authors, only the first one shown in the source is normally given. It is followed by et al. (22). (Previously, the omission of coauthors was limited to sources with four or more authors and was presented as an option.)
Books and Other Printed Works
Page numbers in the works-cited list (but not in in-text citations) are now preceded by p. or pp. (46).
For books, the city of publication is no longer given, except in special situations (51).
Journals
Issues of scholarly journals are now identified with, for instance, “vol. 64, no. 1” rather than “64.1” (39–40).
If an issue of a scholarly journal is dated with a month or season, the month or season is now always cited along with the year (45).
Online Works
The URL (without http:// or https://) is now normally given for a Web source. Angle brackets are not used around it (48, 110).
The citing of DOIs (digital object identifiers) is encouraged (110).
Citing the date when an online work was consulted is now optional (53).
Placeholders for unknown information like n.d. (“no date”) are no longer used. If facts missing from a work are available in a reliable external resource, they are cited in square brackets (2.6.1). Otherwise, they are simply omitted.
Publishers
Publishers’ names are now given in full, except that business words like Company (Co.) are dropped and, for academic presses, the abbreviations U, P, and UP are still used (97).
A forward slash (/) now separates the names of copublishers (108).
The kinds of publications that don’t require a publisher’s name are defined (42).
When an organization is both author and publisher of a work, the organization’s name is now given only once, usually as the publisher (25). No author is stated.
Miscellaneous
Full publication information is now given for widely used reference works. Page-number spans are given for articles in alphabetically arranged reference books in print. In other words, reference works are treated like other works and are no longer subject to exceptions.
The medium of publication is no longer stated, except when it is needed for clarity (52).
In-Text Citations
The principles behind in-text citations in MLA style are unchanged. A few details have been added or clarified, though:
For time-based media like video, times are now cited in the text (57).
The use of my trans. to identify the writer’s translation of a non-English quotation is described (90–91).
How to shorten long titles when they have to be included in a parenthetical citation is clarified (117–18).
The common practice of documenting borrowings from Greek, Roman, and medieval works with part numbers, not page numbers alone, is described (122).
The punctuation used when various items are combined in one parenthetical citation is summarized (126–27).
Ways of formatting citations in research projects other than traditional papers are suggested (127–28).
Other Aspects of Writing
Following are new points that concern the writing in a research project:
When the title of a periodical (journal, magazine, newspaper) begins with an article (A, An, The), the article is now treated as part of the title: the article is italicized and its first letter capitalized. For example, the handbook previously specified “the Georgia Review” in text and “Georgia Review” in the works-cited list but now specifies “The Georgia Review” in all contexts.
For works in a language not written in the Latin alphabet, writers must choose between giving titles and quotations in romanization or in the language’s writing system (74, 91).
Two forward slashes (//) mark stanza breaks in run-in quotations of verse (78).
If a block quotation of prose contains internal paragraphing, the first line of the quotation now begins without a paragraph indention even if one is present in the source (77).
Advantages and Disadvantages of Lowering the Voting Age to Thirteen
Running head: VOTING AGE
1
Advantages and Disadvantages of Lowering the Voting Age to Thirteen
Name
Course
Tutor
Institution
Date
VOTING AGE
2
Advantages and Disadvantages of Lowering the Voting Age to Thirteen
In most nations, the minimum voting age is set at eighteen years (Grover 2011, p. 3). In
the past, the minimum age to vote was twenty one years, but after several debates, this was
lowered to eighteen years. When individuals reach this age, they are considered to be adults. As
an adult, one should be able to analyze different situations, think critically, and thus make wise
decisions. Every decision leads to some consequences. Regardless of the consequences, whether
negative or positive, the responsible adult can be held accountable for them. This is the reason
that the minimum voting age limit has been set at eighteen years in many states (Grover 2011, p.
3).
Currently, there are ongoing discussions about whether to lower the voting age further.
At first, the minimum voting age being considered was sixteen years (Grover 2011, p. 4). The
latest debate talks of lowering the voting age to thirteen years. Reducing the minimum voting age
from eighteen to thirteen years has several advantages and disadvantages associated with this
change.
Advantages of lowering the Voting Age to Thirteen Years
Young people have a unique way of looking at things. This special quality is lost as the
child gets older. The uniqueness may compel them to vote for certain people who they feel will
be able to address their issues better, something that older adults may not do because they are
unduly influenced by other factors (Grover 2011, p. 45). It is also argued that generally youths
can vote wisely, since they too are able to make good decisions on their own.
Youths of today mature faster than they did in the past (Grover 2011, p. 47). Their quick
growth and maturity can be attributed to a number of factors, such as exposure to platforms from
where they lean the realities of life with great speed. The media is one such platform. Further, the
VOTING AGE
3
more people vote, the more votes a candidate or political party will receive. This places a
particular party or candidate, who has the interests of youths at heart, at an advantage over
others.
Disadvantages of lowering the voting age to Thirteen Years
Logically speaking, there are important decisions that a thirteen year old cannot make.
Voting decisions are very crucial and nothing should be left to chance with something so
important. In other words, thirteen year olds are simply not mature enough to be involved in such
an important exercise (Grover 2011, p. 50).
A thirteen year old is not yet exposed to life and its realities. They, therefore, cannot
understand why some things happen the way they do, and the role they can play to control some
of these things. Thus, they might not consider voting with the seriousness it deserves (Grover
2011, p. 52). They also may vote for a candidate for all the wrong reasons. There are things that
are of great importance to a thirteen year old, such as video games for example. If allowed to
vote, they could base their voting decisions on such trivial matters.
Conclusion
Conclusively, a thirteen year old is still too young to be given some responsibilities, such
as voting. At thirteen years of age, one still needs the protection and guidance of a parent or
guardian. It would, therefore, be a huge mistake to allow thirteen year olds to vote. The
consideration of lowering the minimum voting age to sixteen years would be a more viable
argument.
VOTING AGE
4
Bibliography
Grover, Sonja, 2011.
Movie Review Of Lincoln
Movie Review Of Lincoln
It’s quite paradoxical that none of the American movies has ever done a god job at representing the American democracy. However Lincoln the movie is one among the movies that tried to demonstrate a great democratic art form. Lincoln (2012) is an American drama that was produced and directed by Steven Spielberg. The movie is centered on the United States sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln which covers the four final months of Lincoln’s life focus being on the efforts made by the president in January 1865 of having the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States House of representative that would see the abolishment of slavery in the country. He tried to scare up votes to ensure that he could get enough votes to pass the bill in congress. This movie is therefore concentrates on tumultuous period between January 1865, the end of the civil war on April 9th and finally the assassination of Lincoln five days later.
This movie is therefore depicts a very important historical event in the United States which is of great significance on the history of America. This was a landmark constitutional amendment; With the expectation of the civil war to end in a month but an issue of concern being Lincolns 1863 emancipation proclamation would have been disregarded by the courts upon conclusion of the war and the 13th amendment defeated by the return of slave states. Lincoln then saw it necessary to pass the amendment at the end of January. That dispelled any possibility of already released slaves being re-enslaved. Radical republican and feared that the amendment would be defeated by people who wish the amendment to delay however whether the republicans in the border states support the amendment was not clear since their priority was ending the civil war. All of them on board were still not enough due to the fact that it was a requirement that several democrats support congressmen so that bit can be passed (Scott, 2012)
This is therefore a very important historical event in America, it was a task of a race against time, for the coming of peace any time and if it occurs that it comes before the passing of the amendment then the returning states in the south would ensure that the amendment process is stopped before it even becomes law. The movie depicts that a newly elected president Lincoln in January 1865 noting the imminence of the end of civil war, as he was wondering out loud what the fact of the former slaves would be. He finds hypocrisy in his emancipation proclamation in 1863 that saw the freeing of most slaves as a measure of war but had not declared slavery illegal. It was just a constitutional amendment that would end slavery permantly in America. Therefore it was an issue of great importance that Lincoln obtains enough votes from a recalcitrant congress before the arrival of peace and before it got too late. It was Lincoln’s belief that with the passing of the thirteenth amendment to the constitution that would abolish slavery would be a great step in achieving his core and at the same time end the war on slavery. In the movie the issue of the amendment is seen to be very important therefore as part of the subplots shows details of efforts made by three republican roustabouts in using any necessary means to ensure that the minds of the democrats will be changed while Lincoln delays a high level confederate delegation that is on its way to make peace talks in Washington. In the movie there are also glimpses of Gen Ulysses S.Grant making attempts of discerning whether or not the south is ready to quit (Scott, 2012).
In the movie, there are debates that range in the House of Representatives on whether the amendment is adversable or not some see peace being a necessity over passing the amendment while others view the passing of the amendment as a step in ending the civil war. This process was marred with challenges .days after the vote took place, Lincoln and Seward held a meeting with confederate delegation, the confederate made negotiation only on the condition that Lincoln would not allow ratification on it.
The movie places slavery as the centre of the story, and it shows how difficult and costly it was for the US to fully recognize a full and equal humanity of black people.
Reference
Scott, A.O. (2012). A President Engaged in a Great Civil War. Retrieved February 23, 2013 from http://movies.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/movies/lincoln-by-steven-spielberg-stars-daniel-day-lewis.html?pagewanted=all