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MLA Citation Guide (MLA 9th Edition): When Identifying the Type of Source

Identifying the Type of Source

The following are tips when trying to identify the type of source that you are citing.

Journal Articles


What to look for:
  • Structured format: Typically includes an abstract, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and references.
  • Citations: Extensive references throughout the article to previous research and studies.
  • Topic: The topic discussed would be very specific and the title is generally long. The article will discuss the authors' original research or review others' research.
  • Number of pages: Journal articles are typically longer than 5 pages.
  • Authors: The authors are generally from academic institutions. The institutions are also often mentioned in the article.
  • Peer-reviewed: When viewing the results from Library Search, it will be labelled as "peer-reviewed." Note that some peer-reviewed journals can contain content that is not peer-reviewed like editorials and book reviews.

Example

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Magazine Articles from a Website or Library Database


What to look for:
  • About page: If the article is from a website, check the "about" page of the site to determine if it's a magazine. You can also Google the name of the site to help determine if it's a magazine website. If you can't find information to confirm that the website article is from a magazine, you can cite it as an article from a website.
  • Visuals: Magazine articles from websites usually includes visuals such as photos and videos. Sometimes it may have advertisements or sponsored content.
  • Content: Magazines tend to cover general interest topics (e.g., fashion, technology, lifestyle, current events). They may also include personal anecdotes or interviews. Articles don't generally have citations or a reference list.
  • Writing style: The articles are written in a more casual and accessible style compared to academic journals. The authors are often a journalist, subject matter expert, or general contributor.
  • Length: The articles range in length from short articles with a few hundred words to long-form articles that can exceed 5,000 words. 



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Newspaper Articles from a Website or Library Database


What to look for:
  • About page: If the article is from a website, check the "about" page of the site to determine if it's a newspaper. You can also Google the name of the site to help determine if it's a newspaper website. If you can't find information to confirm that the website article is from a newspaper, you can cite it as an article from a website.
  • Visuals: Newspaper articles from websites usually include visuals such as photos and videos. Sometimes it may have ads or sponsored content.
  • Content: Newspapers tend to cover current event topics such as local/international news and special events. They may also include interviews and editorials. Articles don't generally have citations or a reference list.
  • Writing style: The articles are written in a more casual and accessible style compared to academic journals. The authors are often journalists.
  • Length: The articles are generally shorter (1-2 pages) and provide a brief coverage of the topic. 



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Materials from Learn@Seneca

Click on the type of Learn@Seneca content for tips on how to cite them in your work.

If your instructor posted a link on Learn@Seneca, cite the source using the APA or MLA citation rule for the type of source that you have. For example, if the link is to a PDF of a report found on a company’s website, use the citation template for citing documents posted on a website.
If your instructor posted a file of material that they have created, such as lecture slides or lecture recordings, cite the material using the APA or MLA citation templates for class materials.

If your instructor posted a file of materials they haven’t created such as a scan of a short story from a book, or a PDF of a report written by an organization, use one of the following for citing the source:

1. If you don’t have information on the author, title, publication date, and if applicable, the name of the larger source (e.g., book, journal, newspaper, magazine), use the APA or MLA citation template for citing class materials – handouts/documents.
 

2. If your instructor posted a PDF/copy of a journal article with DOI, use the APA or MLA citation template for citing journal articles with a DOI posted on a website.
 

3. If you have information about the author, title, publication date, and if applicable, the name of the larger source (e.g., book, journal, newspaper, magazine), you can generally use one of the following citation templates:

  • journal (no DOI)/newspaper/magazine article posted on a website
  • document/infographic posted on a website
  • book chapter posted on a website

Since you are accessing the source from Learn@Seneca instead of where it was originally posted, use Learn@Seneca as the website name, and https://learn.senecapolytechnic.ca for the URL.


Example: MLA citation of an infographic posted on Learn@Seneca

Statistics Canada. Online Shopping During the COVID-19 Pandemic, uploaded by Harper Evans, 5 Feb. 2021. learn.senecapolytechnic.ca.

Flowchart: Citing sources posted on Learn@Seneca (open in new window)

Material Found on a Website


Cite it as a webpage/article from a website if:


Cite it as a a document posted on a website if:

Statistics

  • If you are citing statistics from a Statistics Canada data table or Statista database, see the examples on the Statistics page.
  • If you are citing a statistic found in another type of source, follow the appropriate citation template. For example, if you're citing a statistic found on a company website, follow the citation template for citing a webpage by a group author. If you are citing a statistic found in an online newspaper article, use the template for citing a newspaper from a website.

More Citation Tips

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