The Essentials of MLA Style: A Guide to Documentation for Writers of Research Papers [Paperback]

Joseph F. Trimmer Professor (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0395883164 | ISBN-13: 978-0395883167 | Publication Date: March 31, 1998 | Edition: 1

In easy-to-use outline form, this little book is a handy distillation of the best-selling MLA Handbook, with all the information a student needs to format a typescript, list sources at the end of the paper, cite sources in the paper's text, and avoid unintentional plagiarism. It also includes a sample outline and research paper and, for writers in the social sciences, a brief discussion of the style preferred by the American Psychological Association. Up to date-with rules for citing such new media as CD-ROMS, videotapes, and online databases. Includes a complete sample outline and research paper, with an appendix on APA style.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joseph F. Trimmer (Ph.D., Purdue University) is professor of English at Ball State University, where he has taught since 1968 and has frequently served as director of the Writing Programs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; 1 edition (March 31, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395883164
• ISBN-13: 978-0395883167
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #637,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Out of date!, October 2, 2005

By 

P. Morris (Dixon, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Essentials of MLA Style: A Guide to Documentation for Writers of Research Papers (Paperback)

The book is very useful & accurate for citing books and other print articles, but has no information on citing web pages, emails, or other electronic texts. It is based on the 1995 4th edition of MLA, while MLA is up to the 6th edition (2003)

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent, Although Incomplete, Source On MLA, May 4, 2003

By 

Edward Stephen Gross (Washington, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essentials of MLA Style: A Guide to Documentation for Writers of Research Papers (Paperback)

This Review refers to the paperback edition of The Essentials of MLA Style: A Guide to the System of Documentation Recommended by the MLA for Writers of Research Papers, by Joseph F. Trimmer.

Trimmer's book is one pertaining to the proper way of citing sources via the MLA standards. There are thorough examples and explanatory details allowing the user to easily format their work according to the accepted standards. The Essentials of MLA Style demonstrates each citation and works cited statement empirically, and even contains a correctly formatted essay on recycling on which the proper ways of in text citing are pointed out. An APA style section is also contained in the back of the book.

The work provides plenty of examples and displays a good number of MLA procedures. However, it does not properly go into internet or photographic source work. Otherwise, it displays a good amount of the proper form of MLA style documentation.

The literary style presents the topic in a clear and concise manner, creating a smooth sentence structure and professional air about it. The author does not stray from the topic, but overuses certain words at times.

The Essentials of MLA Style is a highly recommended source for anyone interested in composing a paper through that particular style, or anyone merely interested in how the style is used. Overall, Trimmer provides an excellent reference for those wishing to write research papers using the MLA form of documentation.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CONCISE and easy to use MLA how-to book, April 25, 2003

By 

Janice Marois "janice142" (cruising, eastern seaboard) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Essentials of MLA Style: A Guide to Documentation for Writers of Research Papers (Paperback)

Bought for my Kidlet, she's found it a wonderful guidebook to writing MLA style papers. We looked at the full-version (over 200 pages) and it was, quite frankly, overwhelming.

This one though, we have found to have all the information she requires to write decent papers for her college professors. Thus far, all A's too! I have recommended it to my nieces because of the easy to use format. The index is thorough and the examples (profuse) make following the format SIMPLE.