MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Sixth Edition

Rating:
Summary: This is essential
Review: Every student needs this, starting in HS, English reports start early in 10th grade, and you need this book, as I'm sure your teacher will tell you many times. However they are correct in that it is the most useful, and yet non-boring nor complicated resource available to writing papers, and college, forget about it, if you don't have this you might as well drop out already. There is no doubt this will impove your score.

Rating:
Summary: A necessity for writers of college research papers.
Review: Knowledge of MLA formatting is a necessity for writing college research papers these days. As an older, part-time college student, I found myself lacking the skills to properly cite information in my papers. Not having time to take an entry level English class, to learn the MLA style, I turned to the MLA Handbook for guidance.

This easy to use book has been a lifesaver! The book is well organized and provides plenty of examples. The table of contents is broken down so well, something that is not common enough in textbooks, that within minutes of picking up the book, you have a concrete example of what you need.

Each section starts with the most basic example of citing from a particular type of work and builds, step-by-step, to a complete citation. The applicable example for entry into the Works Cited Page can be found with ease as well.

If you will be writing research papers, or currently find yourself having difficulty citing, this is a tool you should strongly consider.

"Tight Lines!"
~..~..~.. ><((((*>

Rating:
Summary: Acceptable Guide for Writing Acceptable Research Papers
Review: The best parts of this edition of the MLA guide are those that enforce the mechanics of strong writing, though if you're the creative type with unconventional ideas, there is no need to be constrained by these guidelines. Another good section concerns plagiarism, especially the tips on how to avoid both malicious and accidental plagiarism. The guidelines on how to conduct research are better presented elsewhere, while the chapter on how to format a paper is not entirely useful unless you have an assignment that demands that particular type of formatting. Otherwise you will often be free to use a format and construction style of your own choosing. Of course the meat of this guide is the sections on citations and bibliographies, which quite clearly explain the punctuation and mechanics of just about every type of citation imaginable (including new-fangled Internet sources). The only problem is that these sections are difficult to search because of a fuzzy index that sends you to annoyingly demarcated section numbers rather than page numbers. [~doomsdayer520~]

Rating:
Summary: The General Handbook on Writing.
Review: The MLA Handbook is THE handbook used for writing in high school and colleges across the United States. The APA handbook comes in 2nd place, but it can't stand up to the MLA Handbook. English teachers across the country swear by it, and despite what people might think, English teachers do have a great deal of clout when it comes to writing with the mass populace. There have been a few minor changes that the MLA has made since publishing this edition. Nevertheless, this is the latest edition and until edition 7 comes around, this will be the handbook on writing and researching that tons of students across the country will become familiar. A good resource.

Rating:
Summary: A Life Saver
Review: The MLA Handbook is the perfect companion of any higher education student. My English teacher, Mr. Holt, has recommended this book with pride and I agree with him. Any essay assignment should be double checked using this book. Once you land your hands on this novel, skim through it and post sticky notes on the important pages for a quick check when you need it later.

Rating:
Summary: Required & Almost Complete
Review: The MLA is the standard for most literary papers. The book itself is well-formatted and easy to read. It is fairly easy to find what you need except when it is not in the book.

Because of the lapse in time from writing to publication, style requirements change as new forms of information become available. One type of citation I needed was not in the book and I finally had to search for the MLA website. That is the reason I do not give this book 5 stars, they do not list their own website for up-to-date style references. By using the website with the handbook, I find answers to most of my style questions.

For reference, the website is www.mla.org/ Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Pursuant to misterb's comment,
Review: This book is for people who write papers. In fact, you can't write a paper without it. The MLA format is easy to use because you don't have to do it right unless your teacher is hard.

This book should be bigger. I wanted to write a paper about MLA style, but I didn't know how to cite the handbook. They need a chapter about how to cite research guides. Also, they need a chapter on how to cite from video games because I wrote a paper on "Final Fantasy VII" and the scene where you have to fight Sephiroth and take back the world from his minions, but when I tried to include the something from the game, the MLA book didn't tell me how to do it. Also, if doesn't tell you how to cite from wrestling interviews or candy wrappers.

If they ever revise this book, they should make it longer and include more ways to cite. I gave this 3 stars because it's ok.

Rating:
Summary: An essential book for college students
Review: With his MLA HANDBOOK, Gibaldi has written one of the best stylebooks for college students. Accessible yet detailed enough to help students navigate tricky issues of citations and format, this book offers excellent advice for writing term papers. The electronic citation section is especially helpful since many style manuals have not been properly updated to embrace contemporary research practices.

This book should be on every college student's shelf. For those already well-versed in MLA style, consider Gibaldi's more advanced MLA STYLE MANUAL AND GUIDE TO SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING.