When writing a research paper or academic article, it is often necessary to include quotes from interviews to support your arguments or provide evidence. However, citing a quote from an interview can be a bit confusing, especially if you are following the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of properly citing a quote from an interview in MLA format.
First and foremost, it is important to understand that the purpose of citing sources is to give credit to the original authors and avoid plagiarism. When citing a quote from an interview, you need to include the name of the interviewee, the title of the interview (if available), the name of the interviewer, the date of the interview, and the medium of the interview (e.g. print, audio, or video).
In MLA format, there are specific guidelines for citing different types of sources, including interviews. To cite a quote from an interview, you can use the following format:
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Interview (if available).” Interview by Interviewer’s First Name Last Name. Date of Interview. Medium of Interview.
It is important to note that the last name of the interviewee should be followed by a comma, and the first name should be written in reverse order (e.g. Last Name, First Name). The title of the interview, if available, should be placed in quotation marks, while the name of the interviewer should be written in normal font. The date of the interview should be in the day-month-year format, and the medium of the interview should be specified (e.g. print, audio recording, or video recording).
Step 1: Understand the MLA Format
In order to properly cite a quote from an interview in MLA format, it is important to understand the guidelines set forth by the Modern Language Association (MLA). MLA is a widely used citation style for academic writing, particularly in the humanities.
According to the MLA format, in-text citations should be used to acknowledge the source of any information or quotes that are included in the text. These citations should include the last name of the interviewee and the page number where the quote can be found.
When citing an interview in the Works Cited page, the MLA format requires several elements including the interviewer’s name, the name of the interviewee, the title of the interview, the date the interview took place, and the publication medium.
It is important to note that the MLA format provides specific guidelines for citing interviews conducted in person, over the phone, or through email, as well as interviews published in print publications or on websites.
By understanding the MLA format, you will be able to properly cite quotes from interviews and provide accurate and consistent citations in your research papers or other academic writings.
Step 2: Identify the Interviewee and the Interview
After you have determined that using a quote from an interview is necessary for your research, the next step is to properly identify the interviewee and the interview itself. This information is important for providing accurate and detailed citations in your MLA style paper.
Here are the key pieces of information you need to identify:
- Interviewee’s Name: Include the full name of the person you interviewed. If the interviewee prefers to remain anonymous, use a pseudonym or provide a general description, such as “a company representative”.
- Date of the Interview: Specify the date when the interview took place. Use the day, month, and year format (e.g., 6 June 2023).
- Title of the Interview: Provide a brief but descriptive title for the interview. This can be the subject discussed or the purpose of the interview.
- Medium of the Interview: Indicate the medium through which the interview was conducted. For example, if it was a face-to-face interview, mention that. If it was conducted via telephone, specify that as well.
To make it easier to organize and reference this information, you can create a table like the example below:
| Interviewee’s Name | Date of the Interview | Title of the Interview | Medium of the Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Doe | 12 May 2022 | Exploring the Impact of Climate Change | Face-to-face interview |
By properly identifying the interviewee and the interview, you can ensure that you accurately attribute the quote to the right source. This will help add credibility to your research and allow readers to easily locate the interview if they wish to access it themselves.
Step 3: Determine the Medium of the Interview
After you’ve gathered all the necessary information about the interview, you need to determine the medium in which it was conducted. MLA provides specific guidelines for documenting interviews conducted in various mediums, such as in-person interviews, telephone interviews, and email interviews.
- In-Person Interview: If the interview was conducted face-to-face, you should indicate this in your citation. Provide the name of the person interviewed, the title or description of the interview (if applicable), and the date and location of the interview.
- Telephone Interview: If the interview was conducted over the phone, include the name of the person interviewed, the title or description of the interview (if applicable), and the date of the interview. You should also specify that the interview was conducted by telephone.
- Email Interview: If the interview was conducted via email, you should provide the name of the person interviewed, the title or description of the interview (if applicable), and the date of the interview. Additionally, you should include the word “Email” in the citation to indicate the medium of the interview.
It’s important to accurately determine the medium of the interview as it affects how you format the citation. Be sure to follow the MLA guidelines for the specific medium to ensure your citation is formatted correctly.
Step 4: Locate the Quote within the Interview
After conducting the interview and transcribing it, you will need to locate the exact quote that you want to cite. This step is crucial to ensure that you are accurately representing the source and providing proper credit.
Follow these steps to locate the quote within the interview:
- Review the transcription: Read through the entire transcription of the interview to familiarize yourself with its content and identify relevant quotes.
- Identify key phrases or words: Look for key phrases or words that capture the essence of what the interviewee said. These phrases or words will be used as the basis for citing the quote.
- Check for context: Consider the context in which the quote was said. Make sure that when you cite the quote, it accurately reflects the interviewee’s intended meaning and is not taken out of context.
- Highlight the quote: Once you have identified the specific quote you want to cite, highlight it in the transcription. This will make it easier to reference later when you are creating the Works Cited entry.
Locating the quote within the interview is an essential step to ensure that you accurately represent the interviewee’s words and give proper credit. Taking the time to carefully locate and highlight the quote will ensure that your citation is accurate and credible.
Step 5: Note Down the Relevant Information
When citing a quote from an interview in MLA format, it is important to correctly note down all the relevant information. This will ensure that your citation is accurate and complete. The key information you need to include in your citation includes:
- The name of the person being interviewed
- The title or description of the interview (e.g., “Personal interview,” “Telephone interview,” “Email interview,” etc.)
- The date of the interview
- The location of the interview (optional)
Make sure to write down this information as soon as possible after conducting the interview. It can be easy to forget or mix up details if you wait too long, so it’s best to do it while everything is still fresh in your mind.
If you are conducting an in-person interview, it’s a good idea to bring a notebook and pen with you to jot down important details as you go along. If you are conducting a phone or email interview, be sure to record the information somewhere easily accessible, such as in a digital document or a notes app.
Remember, accurate and complete citation of your sources is essential in academic writing. Failing to properly cite a quote from an interview can result in plagiarism, which can have serious consequences. So be meticulous in noting down and citing the relevant information from your interview.
Step 6: Format the Citation
Formatting the citation for a quote from an interview in MLA follows a specific structure. Here is how to format the citation:
- Begin the citation with the name of the interviewee. Start with the last name, followed by a comma, then the first name. Example: Doe, John.
- Next, provide the title of the interview. Enclose the title in quotation marks, capitalize the first and last words, as well as any other major words. Example: “Effects of Climate Change on Wildlife.”
- After the title, include the name of the interviewer. Follow the same format as step 1. Example: Smith, Jane.
- Then, specify the type of interview. This can be done by using the word “Interview” in quotation marks. Example: “Interview.”
- Provide the date of the interview in day-month-year format. Example: 15 June 2022.
- Lastly, include the medium of the interview, which is typically “Personal interview.” Example: Personal interview.
Here is an example of a properly formatted citation for a quote from an interview:
Doe, John. “Effects of Climate Change on Wildlife.” Smith, Jane. Interview. 15 June 2022. Personal interview.
Remember, it is important to follow the MLA guidelines for formatting citations to ensure accuracy and consistency in your academic work.
Step 7: Include the Citation in your Paper
Once you have gathered all the necessary information and formatted it correctly, it’s time to include the citation in your paper. This will allow your readers to find the original source if they want to read more or verify the information.
The in-text citation for an interview quote in MLA format includes the last name of the interviewee and the page number where the quote can be found. For example:
According to John Smith, “quote” (42).
If you mentioned the interviewee’s name in the sentence preceding the quote, you only need to include the page number in parentheses. For example:
John Smith states, “quote” (42).
If the quote is taken from a transcript or other documentation that does not have page numbers, you can use a paragraph number instead. For example:
According to John Smith, “quote” (par. 5).
Make sure to use the appropriate punctuation to integrate the citation smoothly into your sentence.
Additionally, don’t forget to include a complete citation for the interview in your list of works cited at the end of your paper. The citation should follow the following format:
- Interviewee’s Last Name, First Name. Interview by Interviewer’s First and Last Name. Date of Interview.
| Example: |
| Smith, John. Interview by Jane Doe. 20 May 2022. |
Remember to alphabetize your works cited list by the first letter of the interviewee’s last name.
By following these steps and using the correct format, you can properly cite a quote from an interview in MLA format and give credit to the original source.
Step 8: Review and Verify the Citation
Once you have completed the citation, it is essential to review and verify it for accuracy. This step ensures that you have followed the correct format and included all necessary information. Here are some key points to consider while reviewing the citation:
- Check the order of elements: Make sure that the information is presented in the correct order according to the MLA format guidelines. The interviewer’s name should come first, followed by a period. Then, mention the type of interview (personal interview, telephone interview, etc.) and end with a period.
- Verify the title: Ensure that the title of the interview is enclosed in quotation marks and followed by a period. Also, double-check that the title accurately represents the content of the interview.
- Confirm the interviewee’s name: Double-check the spelling of the interviewee’s name to ensure its accuracy. Pay attention to any special characters or accents that are present in the name.
- Check the source information: Review the source information, which includes the date, location, and medium. Make sure these details are correct and match the information provided in the interview.
- Ensure correct punctuation: Check that all punctuation marks, such as commas and periods, are used appropriately and consistently throughout the citation. Avoid any unnecessary or missing punctuation.
- Review the overall formatting: Verify that the citation is properly formatted according to MLA guidelines. Check for indentation, italics, and any other formatting requirements specified by MLA.
By carefully reviewing and verifying the citation, you can ensure its accuracy and adherence to the MLA format guidelines. This step is crucial in maintaining the integrity of your research and giving proper credit to the original source of the quote.
Question and answer:
How do I cite a quote from an interview in MLA?
To cite a quote from an interview in MLA, you need to include the interviewee’s name, the title of the interview, the name of the publication or website it was published on, the date of the interview, and the medium of the interview (e.g., print, web, audio). The citation format would be as follows: Last name, First name. “Title of Interview.” Title of Publication or Website, Date of Interview, Medium of Interview.
What if the interview doesn’t have a title?
If the interview doesn’t have a specific title, you can use a brief description of the interview instead. For example, you could write “Interview with [interviewee’s name]” as the title of the interview in your citation.
How do I cite an interview conducted by someone else?
If you are citing an interview that you conducted but was published or posted by someone else, you would follow the regular citation format for an interview and include the name of the person who conducted the interview in the “Other contributors” slot in the citation. For example: Last name, First name of the interviewee. “Title of Interview.” Title of Publication or Website, Date of Interview, Medium of Interview. Interview conducted by Other Contributor’s Name.
Do I need to include page numbers for an interview citation?
In general, you do not need to include page numbers for an interview citation since they are often not applicable. However, if the interview is part of a larger publication (such as a magazine or a book) that contains page numbers, you can include them in your citation if you want.
Can I cite a quote from a video interview?
Yes, you can cite a quote from a video interview in MLA. The basic citation format would be similar to other interview formats, but you would include the medium of the interview as “video.” You may also need to provide additional information such as the name of the video hosting platform and the URL of the video.
How do I cite an interview that is only available online?
If the interview is only available online and not published in any physical format, you would follow the regular citation format for an online source. Include the name of the interviewee, the title of the interview (if it has one), the name of the website or publication it was published on, the date of the interview, and the URL of the interview. The citation format would be: Last name, First name. “Title of Interview.” Title of Publication or Website, Date of Interview, URL.