Ok so in a paper I'm using episodes of Blackadder and Little Britain. I've looked all over the web, but can't figure out how to cite a quote from the show in my paper using MLA. I know how to cite the source in the bibliography. Any chance anyone on here knows how, or could point me to a site that would know?

I'd just go 'In X, Y says Z', then put the ep in your footnotes or bibliography the same way you would a movie or any visual media.

From http://dicksonc.act.edu.au/Library/bibliog.html, which is the first Google link for Harvard Bibliography. Used it a bit in the past when I've forgotten what to underline and what to italicise, etc.

Thanks, I was trying to avoid footnotes.

This is just off the top of my head but logically I'd think if you're doing MLA format that you'd do the in-text cites like this "I have a cunning plan" (Blackadder 9:9)-- yes I know Blackadder didn't have a ninth season, more's the pity, but I don't know an ep off the top of my head and how many times has Balders made that statement anyway.

I'll see what I can find on the net and in my copy of Chicago Manual of Style which seems to have a reference on how to cite virtually everything, giant orange volume of doom that it is, although Chicago style is not precisely the same as MLA. but still worth a shot. If you have time to get to a library, I'd also check out anything written by Diana Hacker, she seems to have pretty useful, up to date references.

thanks, I'm hoping it's right. If not it did make my paper slightly longer which is always a good thing. I can usually find this stuff without a problem, but for some reason I just couldn't find on how to quote a tv show. Methinks I might actually need to stop being a cheapskate and by a damn MLA handbook.

Actually, I was wrong, I just found this page Citing TV and Radio Programs. It shows both the Works Cited and in text cites.

And I wouldn't say that you necessarily need an MLA manual or any other kind for that matter. They tend to be pretty tedious and expensive. I only have Chicago because of an editing class I had to take. It's immensely useful--as I said I believe they've covered about everything you'd ever want to know about usage and citations in there-- but it is definitely not something you want to read straight through. It is good as well in that if you follow it and someone questions you, once you tell them "That's what it say in Chicago" they'll generally say "Oh, okay then".

I've seen the MLA manual and it's shorter, but I imagine similar. I'd say you can usually find the proper citations by either taking a peek at whatever you need at the library or looking on-line. Your decision of course. As I said, books by Diana Hacker are pretty good if you're looking for a good usage/style kind of thing. My favorite usage book however is not the sainted Strunk and White, though I know people who love it, which I found a little too dry, but Style:Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace by Joseph Williams. Granted, it has its detractors too, but I liked it as seemed to me to be less an endless list of rules and more general guidelines that cover the rules. Another one that discusses generally how to be a better writer is, Writing With Style Conversations on the Art of Writing by John R. Trimble.

Those are the ones I'd reccommend to someone who's going to be doing a lot of formal writing. If you're looking for a brush up and a little lighter tone I like Woe is I, sorry for got the author here, or Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale. They're both complete, but kind of fun as is Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynn Truss--incidentally there's now a children's book based on it which I am having a hard time resisting the urge to buy despite my lack of children because it looks so cute-- though if you're an American you have to be careful as there are some rules that differ in American English and the Queen's English, such as where to place punctutation in quotations (despite being a Yank myself the British way makes more sense to me, so double trouble for the Catlady). This books is also where I discovered the name "Oxford Comma", another of my favorite things, which just sounds so much more dignified than "Serial Comma Before And" which is what I had called it heretofore.

And on length, I hate to say this, because it needs to be taken carefully, but ultimately length requirements are not always the be all and end all. There's a reason why professors and others of their ilk are always a bit reluctant to tell you exactly how long something has to be: a good paper really does take as long as it takes. If you've really done good, thoughtful coverage of the topic and it comes in a little short--if they said somewhere around ten pages and you've only got two, be afraid Arthur Dent, be very afraid-- you're probably okay. One of the best papers I've ever written, at least an undergrad, but I'd rank it as one of my best period, was a bit under the specified length and the professor liked it so much that he asked for a copy to keep in his files. I was horribly afraid at the time, of course, especially as this is the professor I keep mentioning for whom I would gladly cross a desert on my hands and knees and I really wanted to leave a good impression on him, but it just felt complete, I turned it in and it was alright.

It's sort of one of those things "they" don't neccessarily tell you, along with the editor/beta/teacher is not always completely right--they are most of the time, but still. . .-- because it can make their jobs harder and of course because some students will take it as an excuse to ignore them and do shoddy work.

Sorry about all this, my inner old spinster English teacher/professor wanted to come out and play, then wouldn't come back in. Oh, one more thing, in situations like this, it never hurts to ask the professor for help. It is what they're there for. Granted, sometimes they don't know either, but it never hurts.

So, yeah, happy writing.

It actually it ended up being about a page short, unless you count the works cited page. He said we didn't need one, but since I'm also using outside sources, and not just the text, I figured I'd put one. So technically it's long enough. Last semester I got a B, on a paper that was a page too short, and the comment was along the lines of that I knew what I was talking about it was well researched; it just lacked a conclusion, (Yes, I forgot to write the concluding paragraph)-It was on Aristophane's in case you were wondering. In highschool whenever I left out the conclusion I would have gotten a C, it's kinda weird to have gone to a highschool that expects more then your college. Then again I don't go to an academically challeging school; which is fine by me I know I'm smart I don't need to get into a top school to prove that to myself, infact I've met people who've boggled my mind with their ignorance who've gotten into so called "smart" colleges. Which getting into a"good" school just means (for most) you're good at cheating/bs, you know how to suck up to the teacher and guidance counselor, and you know how to sign up and participate in trivial after school activities. My problem was I'm a terrible cheater, only cheated three times in my life, and got caught every time; I don't care,in fact looking back I may have been a bit too honest with my teachers and how I felt about things., and I didn't like these people during school hours, what makes you think I'd like them after? I get their's exceptions to that, but that's what most of my class did, and they all got into descent schools. Despite having any common sense, to them I was stupid; since my grades sucked. Yes my grades might have sucked but I also realized the world didn't revolve around me and the US, and not getting into a good school would not end my life. Hell the only reason why I'm in school now is to buy four years before; going into the real world, and to slightly help with me getting a job. I learn more on summer vacation, since I read a ton and read a lot of fact websites. I probably read less and sleep more during the school year. So contrary to popular belief, just because the person is educated does not make them smart.

Although I am now thankful, for having to write reasearch paper's all throughout highschool; my room mates don't really know how, but for me it's a breeze. I still hate it, but I do know how to pick topics I both enjoy and can write a lot on, and how imported highlighting and notes are. Which could be from the fact that all of my papers for highschool always had to have at least so many quotes from the text; which I'm sure everyone's did. Their's nothing worse then thinking of the perfect quote but not being able to find it; and spending an hour flipping through the book looking for it. Those stupid zero tolerence rules actually ended up being helpful, who knew.

I totally hear you on the learning how to write research papers. I had a World History teacher in high school who made us write enormous papers. Quite a lot of people hated him, I must admit I actually thought he was rather interesting and I did learn quite a bit about how to write a good research paper from him (including using "old school" footnotes, which I'm grateful I've never had to do again because they were a pain). It was a lot of work, but sort of a disappointment the next year when I had an easy teacher for history. I like history, so it was interesting anyway, but not quite the same.

And, as I keep trying to convince people, writing well is much more important than you think. Even if you go into something that isn't really based on writing, you will still be surprised at the amount of writing you have to do. Granted, it may not neccessarily be on the level of a formal research paper, but being able to get your point across clearly and concisely in writing is a very valuable skills. If nothing else it'll save your co-workers some headaches.

And I remain surprised at the people who have no idea how to research stuff or how to write a decent paper. I've come to the conclusion that some teachers must really be asleep on the job. Then of course, I probably wouldn't make it a day as a public school teacher, so I'm probably not one to talk.

As I've mentioned before I'm not a big fan of "brand name" education either. What ultimately matters is how well you can do what you trained to do, not where you learned it. There are areas where the big names have really good programs and if that's what you're interested in, by all means go there, but if you're just going to, say, Harvard just so you can say you went to Harvard, it's not worth it in my mind. On the other hand, as you've discovered, there are tons of little schools that virtually no one has heard of in the mainstream that have top level programs in certain areas.

I just read an article some place about all the cheating going on and I'm really surprised. It was probably going on back when I went to high school too, and it's just my naivete showing, but I feel like such an old woman with the whole "what's with kids today?!?" thing. Scary that it's so wide spread that the honest people feel they're at a disadvantage because they're in the minority.

And big word on the knowing the quote and being unable to find it. Story of my life I tell you. I can remember all kinds of little tidbits of things, and sometimes even the general book they came from or the person who said them, but I can never seem to give an exact reference.

Well, anyway, it sounds as if you're doing okay with this then. So good on you anyway.

My memory works in a wierd way sometimes. Not least because the way I remember things can change.

I can remember sitting in an exam being able to remember the colour of the paper on the page of a textbook that pertained to a certain question.
The same, being in a play and remembering where on the page my line was located, what colour highlighter I'd used to highlight it, how I'd written the line, and the notes I'd written beside it. It's not always that frustrating, though.

Sometimes I'll remember what music I was listening to as I remembered, or read, something. The song will just pop into my head (not always accompanied by what I mean to recall). I'm okay at finding things in books, too, because I remember where things were and the location on the page.

Haha I have songs pop in my head, when I'm talking and then I have to go listen to them. Or I'll be listening to a song and if I've heard it an alternate way I'll switch it out sometimes. For example Hugh Laurie singing "Hey Jude" Chipmunk style, when listening to the Beatles version


Also I'll be walking down the street and a hilarious thought will enter my head, and I'll start laughing. Of course in all situations in my head I become a different person. Like yesterday I was getting annoyed, because I hate people with loud voices, I've never liked loud noises. So I was fantasying being a big scary muscular guy and threatening them. I could threaten them/tell them to shut up but being skinny, white, and female somehow I don't think I'm very threatening. Of course all my thoughts are in different accents.


I'm not sure that this is appropriate, so not going to put the details, but my friend showed a picture of a dress made from condoms. Their was only one thing I could think of a use for it it involves naked men, and me in the dress. So then my friend was like I'm allergic to latex and so I told her she could watch. Then My fantasy self began to feel awkward I told her this and she said how about I stand in the other room and decide if the men are even worthy of going over to you. Didn't make things less awkward, as the damage had been done, of course it sort of took part in a parking lot in my mind; it was a beautiful day, with a few of those wispy clouds incase you were wondering . But note to self no matter how good your intents are don't involve you're best friend in your fantasy especially if you consider her a sister.

Okay, that's it, the three of us must be sharing a brain--and I want to know when it's my turn by the way! My mind also works along those lines. And I'm afraid for when it backfires. One of my cousins is married to a man named Jeremiah. The only way I can remember this guy's name is by associating it with the Three Dog Night song "Joy to the World", which has a line that goes ". . . Jeremiah was a bullfrog". One of these days, especially since one of my other uncles--not his father-in-law-- encourages me in this, I will have a tongue slip and refer to him as The Bullfrog. Then he will have to hurt me.

And I can also remember which proteins bond with which others in DNA and RNA, which I learned in 10th grade biology, due to a mnemonic that I made up that really makes no sense to anyone besides me. Despite this, I'm embarrassed to admit that it took me a long time to realize the trick in the title of the movie Gattaca-- it's half of a protein sequence in DNA (its complement would be Ctaacctgt BTW).

What's worse is I often end up being a relatively lateral thinker which is interesting when others don't get in on the thought process. Last thing you know, you mentioned you needed to go to the store, suddenly I'm talking about the space shuttle. Meanwhile, inside my mind I'm thinking let's see, the store, hmm, are we out of anything food wise, yeah, I think we're low on cheese, isn't it wierd that people thought the moon was made out of cheese, and then there was that one old movie where they went to the moon and it was really wierd, of course now we've been to the moon, but we don't go there anymore. astronauts travel on the space shuttle, hm wasn't there supposed to be a shuttle launch the other day, maybe I'll ask. And that is probably one of my more logical ones. Usually, I'll just bring up something about someone that we were talking about earlier in the day and just carry on from whereever I was in my head in continuation of my thoughts on them. Fortunately my family is nearly used to this and just go along with me and I have finally realized that I do it, so I try to recap the thought process for them.

Oh, yes on musical matters, the song "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" was originally supposed to be sung by Bob Dylan, so now every time i hear it, I have to sing along Bob Dylan style-- try it and see if you can keep from laughing, I swear you can't, and I actually like Bob Dylan.

Prpl, you could be like me and just forget you're scrawny, totally non-threatening, white female and tell them to shut up anyway. Fortunately, most of the people I've done this do notice the reality and just laugh ( I imagine it's the same impression as meeting a poodle who think's it's a rottweiler).1

How did the cheese rumor get started? Which makes no sense no matter how you look at unless you involve a story of cow kidnapping aliens, and it being younger then the creation of cows. Now I'm going to have to look that up. Geez the past two days I've been researching stuff on personality types and Wal Mart (two separate things), now I have to find out how the cheese rumor got started.

I'm often time told I'm random, because I don't speak everyone of my thoughts so people will be talking about Johnny Depp. Which I don't mind, but I can only talk about someone for so long, and I'm not really into Johnny Depp, he's a good actor but I'm not attracted to him. Now get me started on Hugh Laurie, which people always are so amazed when he's British, or that he's done other work. I have plans to subject my room mate to British Comedy, I wish they would realease the whole series of a Bit of Fry and Laurie over here, as I think she'd like that based on the other things she like. Of course talking about Hugh Laurie will lead me to talk about either House or Blackadder and the personality of the characters and why they do what they do. Then again I'll sit there and analyze what people do and try to figure out why. Although some people know to ask me to explain and I'll tell them my thought process and then it's no longer random and often makes a lot of sense. If people would ask me to clarify why I do certain things they wouldn't view me as eccentric.


I use a neumanic device for my password, which to anyone looks like nonsense but it actually stands for a phrase that only I know. My geometry teacher didn't think I'd remember my password to check my grade, but I did. But I remember lists by either reciting them out loud or writing them down. I always make a grocery lists, but once it's made I don't need to look at it as I can usually remember everything except one or two things without making a list.

You can have our brain back ;).