Understanding MLA Style (8th edition, 2016 updates)

Main ideas and lessons (MLA 8th ed., 2016 updates)

• MLA’s “logic” hasn’t changed: Citations exist to help readers quickly find the sources you used (e.g., readers see a citation and then consult your Works Cited entry).

• MLA 8 introduces/organizes “9 things” in a consistent order: Across many source types, MLA uses an ordered set of elements (author/title/container/etc.). The key takeaway is that the order and punctuation are what make entries “work” regardless of the source format.

• Big update focus = formatting details while keeping the citation purpose intact.

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MLA 8 punctuation/order approach (as described in the video)

The “9 things” framework

• MLA uses up to 9 elements (not all sources include all 9).
• Practical takeaway: write the entry using MLA’s specified order and punctuation.

Periods and punctuation placement (core rule highlighted)

• Only certain positions use periods (the video specifically notes #1, #2, and #9 as positions that use periods).
• Overall pattern described:
  • After #1/#2/#9 → periods
  • After #3 → commas
  • Between many middle elements → MLA uses a string/listing of commas
  • End the citation with a final period

Practical example behavior (book)

When building a book entry:

• Fill in elements in MLA’s order:
  • Author (#1), period
  • Title of source (#2), period
  • Then remaining elements separated by commas
• Always end with a final period (even if you don’t reach #9).

Practical example behavior (website article)

When building a website article entry:

• Author (#1), period
• Title of source (#2), period
• Then include:
  • Container (#3) (where the article is hosted within a larger unit)
    • Example logic: an article is inside a website; an episode is inside a TV show.
• After #3, MLA expects the comma-based continuation, then location/date/etc. as applicable, and a final period.

Practical example behavior (print journal article)

For a journal article in print, the video adds:

• A journal/article entry can include #6 (an additional element not shown in earlier quick examples).
• #9 = “location”, which in print is typically page numbers.

Key parallel emphasized:

• Website location (where you accessed it / URL context) vs.

• Page location (where it appears in the print journal)

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“Container” concept (key methodology for digital sources)

What “container” means

• Container = the larger source that holds the smaller one.
  • Website → contains web article
  • TV show → contains an episode
  • Book → contains a chapter
  • Journal → contains an article

Containers can be nested (1st container + 2nd container)

• Digital formats may require flexibility:
  • Some sources are inside a container, and that container may itself be inside another container.
• Punctuation logic for nested containers:
  • The video notes the period after finishing the first container (#9 position for the first container) signals you’re moving into the second container.

Digital nesting examples (how to extend the entry)

• Book accessed via Kindle Cloud Reader

  • 1st container: the book information (publisher/date/etc.)
  • 2nd container: where you accessed it (e.g., Kindle Cloud Reader), with a location (the video treats “location” as the identifying access point)
  • Result: same base citation, then append the second-container access details, ending appropriately with periods.

• Academic journal article accessed on a website

  • 1st container: the journal name
  • 2nd container: the website hosting it (example given: Conference on College Composition hosting the article/journal context)
  • Result: the entry looks “bigger,” but the new part is mainly the second container.

• TV example: Lost Season 5 Episode 1

  • Standard: episode is inside the show.
  • Optional emphasis elements mentioned:
    • Episode director (as “other contributors”)
    • Performer emphasis (Matthew Fox, etc.)
    • Co-creators listed under contributors
    • Media detail like “disc 1” (optional emphasis for physical media)
  • Streaming nesting:
    • Episode/show base stays similar
    • Then add Netflix as the 2nd container with its web address/location
    • The video highlights that you can end after the DVD/physical info and then add the Netflix container details.

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Specific MLA 8 detail changes (teacher-focused comparisons)

1) Commas-based punctuation is simpler/new

• The video contrasts the new MLA punctuation style (more comma strings) with older MLA that used a more confusing mix (periods/parentheses/colons).

2) “Print/web/DVD/etc.” labels removed

• Old MLA often required explicitly stating the medium at the end (e.g., “print,” “web,” “DVD”).
• New MLA assumes the format is usually clear enough—so those labels can be omitted.
  • Example principle: if page numbers/pages are present, you usually don’t need to say “print.”

3) Clarification of journal data: “volume” and “issue”

• Old MLA used condensed formatting (e.g., “66.3”) that students may not understand.
• New MLA writes out clearer labeling (e.g., using “vol.” and “no.” / spelled-out structure).

4) Page number formatting is clarified

• Old MLA used formats that could make it unclear what numbers represented.
• New MLA uses:
  • pp. for multiple pages
  • p. for a single page
  • to explicitly indicate pages.

5) URLs are back

• MLA previously removed URLs, but in the update they’re included again.
• Rationale given:
  • In digital publishing, readers may want to click directly rather than search.

6) “Access date” requirement reduced

• Old MLA emphasized an accessed date (e.g., “accessed June 2, 2016”).
• New MLA reduces/doesn’t require it in the same way (the video suggests access dates were often inconsistently fabricated/handled).

7) Sponsor/owner of a site no longer required

• Old MLA sometimes required listing the sponsoring organization of a website.
  • Example from the video: The Toast being owned by a company called The Toast.
• New MLA: you generally don’t need to add the owner/sponsor when citing the site name.
• But the video notes this can still be optional, depending on context (when the sponsor identity matters).

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Rules vs options (how to think about what MLA requires)

• Some MLA elements are rules (you always do them).
• Others are options—MLA suggests including them when they help the audience:
  • Sponsor/owner might matter if it’s important to the point.
  • Medium/container information might matter if it prevents confusion.
• Overall goal: think of the real audience who will look up your sources.

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Speakers / sources featured

• Speaker/creator (unnamed): the video presenter who teaches MLA style (no personal name given in the subtitles).
• MLA Handbook (mentioned as an authority on flexibility and correctness): MLA Handbook (8th edition, 2016 updates).
• Examples mentioned as sources/containers (not as credited authors):
  • The Toast
  • The New York Times
  • Lost (TV show)
  • Netflix
  • Kindle Cloud Reader
  • Conference on College Composition (example hosting/container)
  • “Lost DVDs” / discs (disc 1 referenced as an optional emphasis)