MLA paranthetical notation format

[bigal40]

Does anyone know to paranthetically cite a source you are quoting and you are using the name of the person in the sentence.

No Quotes(from printed source)
The book is good (Donaldson 4).

With Quotes(from printed source):
Donaldson said, "the book is good"(4).

The Problem is what do you do if you are quoting a person from the internet when there is no page number. When you cite from the internet you just put the person's name in parenthesis with no page number. Should I just put empty parantheis?

 

[Sentinel]

I would just put the initials/name of the source, ie. (USDA).

 

[DaiShan]

You put the author's name in parentheses only. Even if you are saying Donaldson aruges "blah blah" (Donaldson)

This is the official MLA stance BTW.

 

[remagavon]

If your instructor needs a specefic reference than you put the paragraph # (starting from the top) of the webpage, then reference that exact webpage in your bibliography.

 

[DaiShan]

Originally posted by: remagavon
If your instructor needs a specefic reference than you put the paragraph # (starting from the top) of the webpage, then reference that exact webpage in your bibliography.

This is ONLY true if the document is pre-numbered, or if there are labeled sections. If this is not the case you do not manually count the paragraphs. This is according to the MLA handbook for writers of research papers.

 

[remagavon]

Originally posted by: DaiShan

Originally posted by: remagavon
If your instructor needs a specefic reference than you put the paragraph # (starting from the top) of the webpage, then reference that exact webpage in your bibliography.

This is ONLY true if the document is pre-numbered, or if there are labeled sections. If this is not the case you do not manually count the paragraphs. This is according to the MLA handbook for writers of research papers.

I've had to do it for a research paper once but not since then on many others. I also have the MLA handbook (a writer's reference) but it's a fairly old copy so standards might have changed which would explain why I haven't had to do it lately. Oddly enough I googled the version I have and it says to paraphrase, so I'm not really sdure what the hell I was doing on that paper haha. Some instructors are picky and want things a certain way, regardless of standards. When in doubt just ask.

Re reading the OP's question I agree that you should just put the author's name in the reference after the sentence.