To properly cite a poem from the Poetry Foundation in an HTML format, first locate the poem on the website and copy the complete URL from the address bar. Now, find the author’s name, poem title, and publication information. The specific information for the author, poem title, and publication details can be found on the Details page of the poem. For this article’s example, we will use the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost.
Next, format the poem’s citation as you would in a conventional paper, using the MLA guidelines established by the Poetry Foundation. The author’s name should be in the same order they appear on the Details page, followed by the poem title in quotation marks. Then, the publication information of the poem should be included. For this article’s example, the information for Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening is: Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” Poetry Foundation, poetryfoundation.org/poems/49311/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening.
Before beginning to construct the Works Cited page in HTML, first insert a code from the Poetry Foundation into the document. Each poem on the Poetry Foundation website has an associated code which looks something like the following:
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On the Works Cited page of the HTML document, list the poem information in MLA format. Begin by writing the author’s last name and a comma followed by the author’s first name. Instead of using the comma after the author’s name, you can also use a period. Add the poem title in quotation marks after the author’s name. Then, write out the website name (Poetry Foundation) and add the URL in angle brackets (
Alternate Cite Formats
Different formats of a poem’s citation depend on how you discovered the poem. If you found the poem online, the poem’s citation should include the author’s name, the poem’s title, the website or database name, the URL, and the date you accessed the poem. All of these must be correctly formatted in MLA style. If you are using a print source such as a book to find the poem, the citation should consist of the author’s name, the title, a periodical name, the date of publication, and any other relevant information.
Citation Generator Tools
The Poetry Foundation offers a citation generator tool, making the citation process simpler. All you need to do is input the author’s name, the poem title, and the publication information into the generator to get your poem citation in MLA format. However, it is worth noting that some of the poem’s publication information is missing from the generator, such as the poem’s URL and the date you accessed it.
Avoiding Plagiarism
When citing any poem from the Poetry Foundation, be sure to properly credit the author of the poem. Plagiarism is a serious offense, and can lead to research misconduct or unforseen legal issues. The Poetry Foundation suggests including the author’s name and the poem’s title in both the citing in the text and the Works Cited list in order to avoid these problems.
Conclusion
Whether you are citing a poem in an HTML format or in an academic paper, be sure to use MLA guidelines when citing a poem from the Poetry Foundation. When using an HTML document, remember to incorporate the Poetry Foundation’s code and the MLA formatted citation into your document. Also, be sure to include the author’s name and the poem’s title to avoid any potential accusations of plagiarism.
