AP English Literature: Citing Poetry Like a Pro 📝

Hey there, future literary scholar! Let's get you prepped to ace those AP Lit essays with a clear understanding of how to cite poetry. This guide will be your best friend tonight, making sure you're not only insightful but also academically impeccable. Let's dive in!

Why Bother with Citations? 🤔

• Credibility: Shows you've done your homework.
• Academic Integrity: Avoids plagiarism like the plague.
• Reader's Journey: Helps others explore your sources.

Citation Styles: MLA vs. APA 🥊

In AP Lit, you'll mostly use MLA (Modern Language Association), but it's good to know APA (American Psychological Association) too. Here’s a quick rundown:

MLA Style

• Focus: Humanities (literature, languages, etc.)
• In-Text Citation: (Author's last name, page number if available).
• Works Cited: Alphabetical list at the end.

APA Style

• Focus: Social sciences (psychology, sociology, etc.)
• In-Text Citation: (Author's last name, year, page number if available).
• References: Alphabetical list at the end.

Citing the Poem Itself 📜

MLA Style

• In-Text: Use the author's last name and the title of the poem in quotation marks (if applicable).
• Works Cited Entry: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Poem." Title of Collection, Publisher, Year, pp. (if applicable). Print.

Example:

In the poem "The Tyger," Blake explores the duality of creation and destruction through the image of the titular tiger. (Blake, "The Tyger").

• Works Cited:

  Blake, William. "The Tyger." Songs of Experience, 1794. Print.

APA Style

• In-Text: (Author's last name, year).
• References Entry: Author's Last Name, Initial. (Year). "Title of Poem." Title of Collection. Publisher.

Example:

In the poem "The Tyger" (Blake, 1794), the author explores the duality of creation and destruction through the image of the titular tiger.

• References:

  Blake, W. (1794). "The Tyger." Songs of Experience. Print.

Citing Secondary Sources 📚

MLA Style

• In-Text: (Author's last name, page number).
• Works Cited Entry: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. #, no. #, year, pp. #–#. Print.

Example:

In his article "The Duality of Blake's Tiger," Smith argues that Blake's use of the tiger symbolizes the duality of creation and destruction in the universe. (Smith, 123).

• Works Cited:

  Smith, John. "The Duality of Blake's Tiger." Journal of Literary Analysis, vol. 3, no. 2, 2023, pp. 123-126. Print.

APA Style

• In-Text: (Author's last name, year, p. #).
• References Entry: Author's Last Name, Initial. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), page numbers.

Example:

In his article "The Duality of Blake's Tiger" (Smith, 2023, p. 123), the author argues that Blake's use of the tiger symbolizes the duality of creation and destruction in the universe.

• References:

  Smith, J. (2023). The duality of Blake's tiger. Journal of Literary Analysis, 3(2), 123-126. Mastering how to cite secondary sources is crucial. It shows you're engaging with critical conversations around the text. Remember to include page numbers when citing specific ideas or quotes.

Common Citation Pitfalls 🚧

• Plagiarism: Using someone else's work without proper credit. Always cite, even when paraphrasing.
• Misattribution: Incorrectly attributing quotes or ideas. Double-check your sources!
• Inconsistent Style: Mixing MLA and APA. Pick one and stick with it.
• Missing Page Numbers: Forgetting to include page numbers for direct quotes or specific ideas.
• Incomplete Information: Leaving out key details (author, title, date, etc.).

Final Exam Focus 🎯

• Prioritize MLA: It's the go-to for AP Lit. Get comfortable with it.
• Practice: Cite sources in your practice essays. It'll become second nature.
• Double-Check: Before submitting, ensure all citations are correct and complete.
• Works Cited: Always include a complete Works Cited page.

Practice Questions 📝

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is the correct MLA in-text citation for a direct quote from page 45 of an article by John Smith? a) (Smith, 2023, 45) b) (Smith, p. 45) c) (Smith, 45) d) (Smith, "Article Title", 45)

2. In MLA style, how should the title of a poem be formatted when it appears in the body of an essay? a) Italicized b) Bolded c) "In quotation marks" d) Underlined

Free Response Question (FRQ)

Prompt: Analyze how the use of imagery in William Blake’s “The Tyger” contributes to the poem’s central themes. In your analysis, include at least one direct quote from the poem and one reference to a secondary source. Be sure to cite all sources correctly using MLA format.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, defensible thesis that identifies the poem's central themes and the role of imagery.
• Analysis (4 points): Detailed analysis of the imagery in the poem, explaining its connection to the themes. Includes at least one direct quote from the poem.
• Use of Secondary Source (2 points): A relevant reference to a secondary source that supports or adds to the analysis. Correct MLA in-text citation and works cited entry included.
• MLA Citation (1 point): All sources are cited correctly in MLA format, both in-text and in the Works Cited page.

Practice Question

{ "mcq": [ { "question": "Which of the following is the correct MLA in-text citation for a direct quote from page 45 of an article by John Smith?", "options": [ "(Smith, 2023, 45)", "(Smith, p. 45)", "(Smith, 45)", "(Smith, "Article Title", 45)" ], "answer": "(Smith, 45)" }, { "question": "In MLA style, how should the title of a poem be formatted when it appears in the body of an essay?", "options": [ "Italicized", "Bolded", ""In quotation marks"", "Underlined" ], "answer": ""In quotation marks"" } ], "frq": { "prompt": "Analyze how the use of imagery in William Blake’s “The Tyger” contributes to the poem’s central themes. In your analysis, include at least one direct quote from the poem and one reference to a secondary source. Be sure to cite all sources correctly using MLA format.", "scoring_breakdown": { "thesis": "1 point: A clear, defensible thesis that identifies the poem's central themes and the role of imagery.", "analysis": "4 points: Detailed analysis of the imagery in the poem, explaining its connection to the themes. Includes at least one direct quote from the poem.", "secondary_source": "2 points: A relevant reference to a secondary source that supports or adds to the analysis. Correct MLA in-text citation and works cited entry included.", "mla_citation": "1 point: All sources are cited correctly in MLA format, both in-text and in the Works Cited page." } } }

You've got this! Remember, proper citation is a skill that makes your analysis stronger and more credible. Go get 'em!