how to cite your own essay in mla format

how to cite your own essay in mla format

Citing your own essay in MLA format is necessary when you want to reference your previous work or ideas within a new essay or research paper. Here’s how you can cite your own essay within a 1000-word essay:

In-Text Citation:

When citing your own work within your new essay, follow these guidelines:

1. Author’s Name: Include your name as the author.
2. Title of the Essay: Enclose the title of your essay in quotation marks.
3. Page Number: Provide the page number or paragraph number where the information can be found in your original essay.
4. Parenthetical Citation: Place this information in parentheses within your text.

For example:

• (Your Last Name, “Title of Your Original Essay” page number).

If you’re referencing a specific idea or argument, be sure to include the relevant page number or paragraph number where that information can be found in your original essay.

Works Cited Entry (if applicable):

If your original essay is a published work or you are explicitly asked to include it in your Works Cited, create a Works Cited entry for your own essay:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Your Original Essay.” Title of the Book or Collection (if applicable), Publisher, Year of Publication, Page Numbers.

For example:

• Smith, John. “The Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture.” Environmental Studies: Essays on Sustainability, XYZ Publishing, 2020, pp. 45-60.

Remember, in many cases, citing your own work is not required unless you are quoting or paraphrasing specific content from your previous essay that is crucial to your new essay. Always follow your instructor’s guidelines and preferences regarding self-citation within your essay.