When writing college admission essays, students often feel the pressure of standing out, showcasing their personality, and demonstrating their academic potential. While personal stories and thoughtful insights are critical to making a memorable impression, adhering to citation guidelines, like MLA (Modern Language Association) format, is also vital. Proper citation not only shows your academic integrity but also ensures that you don’t unintentionally plagiarize someone else’s ideas.
However, many students make common mistakes when incorporating MLA citations into their admission essays. These errors can affect the readability and professionalism of your essay. In this article, we’ll discuss the most frequent MLA citation mistakes in admission essays and how to avoid them to make your application stronger and more polished.
1. Incorrect In-Text Citations
In-text citations are essential in MLA format to credit the original authors of the sources you use in your essay. A common mistake is incorrectly formatting these citations, which can make your essay seem unprofessional.
Mistake:
For example, an incorrect citation might look like this:
(John Doe, 2020) or (Doe 2020)
How to Avoid It:
The proper MLA format for in-text citations requires only the author’s last name and the page number (if applicable). The year of publication is not included in in-text citations for MLA format. Correct formatting should look like this:
(Doe 45)
If there’s no page number, you should just cite the author’s last name:
(Doe)
2. Failure to Use a Works Cited Page
A common oversight is not including a “Works Cited” page, which is an essential part of MLA citation. Without this page, your citations appear incomplete, and you might unintentionally violate the principle of academic honesty.
Mistake:
Skipping the Works Cited page, or failing to format it correctly, can result in missed opportunities to demonstrate your understanding of proper academic practices.
How to Avoid It:
Make sure to include a Works Cited page at the end of your admission essay. Every source you reference within your essay must have a corresponding entry on the Works Cited page. Each entry should be formatted with hanging indentation (where the second and subsequent lines of the citation are indented) and include key information such as the author’s name, title of the source, publication information, and the medium (e.g., print, web). Here’s an example of a properly formatted Works Cited entry:
Doe, John. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
3. Incorrectly Formatting Titles
Another mistake many students make is improperly formatting the titles of sources they reference. Whether it’s a book, article, or website, MLA style has specific rules about how titles should be handled.
Mistake:
For example, a student might write:
I read the article “Science and Society” in a journal or The book titled ‘The Road to Success’ was inspiring.
How to Avoid It:
Titles of full works, such as books, journals, and movies, should be italicized in MLA format. On the other hand, shorter works like articles, essays, and chapters should be placed in quotation marks. So, the correct formatting would be:
I read the article “Science and Society” in the journal Journal of Research or The book titled The Road to Success was inspiring.
4. Overusing or Underusing Citations
Some students make the mistake of either overusing or underusing citations in their essays. Over-citation can make your essay seem like a collection of others’ ideas, while under-citation could lead to the suspicion of plagiarism.
Mistake:
- Overusing citations might lead to clunky, overly complex sentences, such as:
“John Doe argues that the development of society depends on the evolution of knowledge” (Doe 123).
This could occur after every sentence, even when the information is common knowledge. - Underusing citations means missing references where they are needed, leaving your ideas unclear.
How to Avoid It:
Cite sources only when you are directly quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing specific information from them. Avoid over-citation of widely known facts and general ideas that do not require a source. Use citations selectively to enhance the credibility of your argument, but don’t rely too heavily on them.
5. Misplacing Punctuation in Citations
Proper punctuation is crucial in MLA citations. Missing or misplaced punctuation can make a citation look unprofessional and confuse the reader.
Mistake:
For instance, students may mistakenly write:
(Doe, 2020).
Here, the punctuation is placed incorrectly within the parentheses, which violates MLA guidelines.
How to Avoid It:
Ensure that the citation is placed correctly and that punctuation follows MLA conventions. In-text citations should end with the citation and a period placed after the closing parenthesis:
(Doe 45).
For block quotes, no punctuation is needed before the parenthesis:
Doe discusses the impact of technology on society:
“Technology is rapidly evolving, changing the way we live and interact” (45).
6. Using Non-credible Sources
Using unreliable or non-credible sources is not a direct citation error, but it still impacts your admission essay. Citation is only valuable if it references reliable, credible, and academically acceptable sources.
Mistake:
Students sometimes use sources like personal blogs, random websites, or social media platforms, which are not suitable for academic writing.
How to Avoid It:
Only cite sources that are reputable and academically accepted, such as books, peer-reviewed journal articles, or credible news websites. If you use an online source, ensure it’s from a well-established publisher or academic database like JSTOR, Google Scholar, or a university website.
7. Incorrectly Citing Online Sources
When citing online sources, students sometimes forget to include necessary information like the URL or access date, which is required in MLA format for online sources.
Mistake:
A citation for an online article might look like this:
Doe, John. “Technology and Society.” Tech Magazine, 2020, www.techmagazine.com.
This citation misses the access date, which is crucial for online content that may change over time.
How to Avoid It:
Include the full URL (without the “http://” or “https://”) and the date you accessed the source:
Doe, John. “Technology and Society.” Tech Magazine, 2020, www.techmagazine.com. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
8. Not Understanding Paraphrasing and Quotation Marks
Finally, many students fail to distinguish between paraphrasing and direct quoting. Both require citations, but paraphrased content should not be enclosed in quotation marks, while direct quotes must be.
Mistake:
A student may paraphrase an idea but still place it in quotation marks, or they might use direct quotes without the proper citation.
How to Avoid It:
When paraphrasing, you should rephrase the original idea in your own words and provide a citation without quotation marks:
(Doe 45).
When directly quoting, ensure you enclose the exact words in quotation marks and cite the source properly.
Conclusion
Proper citation in your college admission essay not only strengthens the credibility of your work but also demonstrates that you understand academic integrity. By avoiding these common MLA citation mistakes, you’ll be able to present a polished and professional essay that impresses admissions officers.
Remember, if you ever feel unsure about MLA formatting or need help with your citations, consider using a professional essay writing service to ensure your work is top-notch. By mastering citation techniques, you’re one step closer to crafting an outstanding college admission essay.
FAQ:-
1. What is the importance of using MLA citations in my college admission essay?
Using MLA citations in your college admission essay shows that you understand academic integrity and are able to properly credit others’ ideas. It also helps avoid plagiarism, making your essay appear professional and well-researched. Even if the essay is personal, citations might be required if you reference external sources or data to support your points.
2. How do I cite a website in MLA format for my admission essay?
To cite a website in MLA format, you need to include the author’s name, the title of the page or article in quotation marks, the name of the website in italics, the publisher (if available), the publication date, and the URL. Don’t forget to include the access date if the content may change over time. Here’s an example:
Doe, John. “How to Succeed in College.” College Life, 12 Jan. 2025, www.collegelife.com. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
3. Can I use MLA citations in a personal narrative essay like a college admission essay?
Yes, you can use MLA citations in a personal narrative essay if you are referencing any external sources, such as books, articles, or research data, to support your points. For example, if you quote a study or refer to a scholarly article about personal growth or education, MLA citations are necessary.
4. Do I need a Works Cited page in my college admission essay?
While the focus of a college admission essay is often personal storytelling, you should include a Works Cited page if you’ve referenced any sources, such as books, articles, or websites. It is a key component of MLA formatting and ensures proper credit is given to the original authors. If you haven’t used any external sources, you don’t need a Works Cited page.
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