When do you do parenthetical citations? Is it necessary when you mention the name of the author in the sentence?

It is always needed to do parenthetical citations whenever you use information outside of your brain. Anything you get from books, online, magazines, novels... are need to be cited with the author's name, and where the source came from. There are many kinds of citation. It is necessary to state where the source came from, even though you mentioned the author's name in the sentence. Any words (except common knowledge) from sources are needed to be quoted and with the author's name. The first time you mention a person, you need to state who that person is. For example, Diana Hacker, author of the book "Rules for Writers", said that "It is not always necessary to quote full sentences from a source" (419). In this case, if you use Diana Hacker's idea again, you do not have to mention who she is again. But it is necessary to cite the page and her name. If you use foot notes you can cite sources without saying the name of the author and pages by a number, but you will have to state all the sources at the end of the paper. (This maybe not accurate because it is from my memory). You can find many ways to cite sources in Diana Hacker's book, or online.

Qi Jiang

Is MLA limited to five paragraphs?
Generally people think that a MLA format essay should be a five paragraphs essay which includes one introduction, three main body paragraphs, and last one conclusion. Is MLA limited to five paragraphs? I would say No because I have done a 6 paragraphs essay and got B+ for it. Besides the grade if you not written in a MLA format professor won't going to accept your paper and grade it. No doubts with the first paragraphs you always start a paragraph by describing the most important thing “the main idea”. And finally you repeat your thesis at your conclusion and create a good image let your reader won't forget your thesis.
Now is MLA limited to five paragraphs? No because it depends on body paragraphs. “Main Body It starts with an introduction sentence that opens the sub-topic of a paragraph. After this, you give an argument and explanation and finish the paragraph with a transition sentence that will lead the reader into another paragraph.”(Describing Paragraphs) as it tells you that you have to give an argument and an explanation to each body paragraphs and using a transition make all the body paragraphs together like a smooth shape it doesn't matter how long is the body paragraph as long as you have evidence support your thesis and all your body paragraphs connected as a smooth snake. So, here comes the question! Is MLA body limited to three paragraphs?

Do you cite facts?

According to Duke University, common known facts do not need to be cited because they are so common that it is assumed that people know it. A common fact would be something like George Washington was the first president of the United States, or there are fifty states in the United States. In other words if the majority of the people know the fact than it does not have to be cited. The uncommon facts that would be discovered through an outside source should be cited. It also states that when it doubt always cite, it is better to overcite rather than not cite at all and plagiarize.

Is MLA limited to 5 paragraphs?

I did not know where to post, so I am posting here. The question my group was given was, is MLA limited to 5 paragraphs? From a little research, I've found out, there is really no limit to mla. All you need to know is when you are adding, someone elses words to your own, it needs to be cited. The Purdue Owl states that a citation is not needed when:

                

 "Common sense and ethics should determine your need for documenting sources. You do not need to give sources for familiar proverbs, well-known quotations or common knowledge. Remember, this is a rhetorical choice, based on audience. If you're writing for an expert audience of a scholarly journal, for example, they'll have different expectations of what constitute common knowledge."

 I does not say anything about word limits, so you shouldnt worry about it.