How To Mla Cite A Speech

Citing a speech in MLA format is crucial for academic integrity, giving credit to the speaker, and allowing your readers to locate the original source. Speeches, unlike written works, are delivered orally, which means they require specific formatting considerations to accurately reflect their nature.

Why MLA Citation Matters

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is widely used in the humanities to provide a standardized approach to citation. Correctly citing sources demonstrates your understanding of academic conventions and strengthens the credibility of your work. Whether it’s a keynote address, a commencement speech, or a lecture, providing a clear and accurate citation ensures that you acknowledge the speaker's ideas and words.

Core Elements of an MLA Speech Citation

Before diving into the specifics, it's helpful to understand the core elements that make up an MLA citation for a speech:

• Speaker: The person who delivered the speech.
• Title of the Speech: If the speech has a title, include it in quotation marks.
• Event or Venue: Where the speech was given (e.g., conference, university, etc.).
• Location: City and state where the speech took place.
• Date: The day, month, and year the speech was delivered.
• Medium: How you accessed the speech (e.g., transcript, recording, live performance).

Creating a Works Cited Entry for a Speech

The Works Cited entry is a comprehensive listing of all sources used in your paper. Here’s how to format it for a speech:

1. Speech with a Title

Format:

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Speech." Event or Venue, Location, Date. Medium.

Example:

Winfrey, Oprah. "2018 Golden Globes Speech." 75th Golden Globe Awards, Beverly Hills, CA, 7 Jan. 2018. Television.

In this example:

• Winfrey, Oprah: The speaker's name, with the last name first.
• "2018 Golden Globes Speech": The title of the speech in quotation marks.
• 75th Golden Globe Awards: The event where the speech was given, italicized.
• Beverly Hills, CA: The location of the event.
• 7 Jan. 2018: The date of the speech (Day Month Year).
• Television: The medium through which the speech was accessed.

2. Speech without a Title

If the speech doesn’t have a formal title, you can provide a brief description of the speech in place of the title.

Format:

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. Description of Speech. Event or Venue, Location, Date. Medium.

Example:

Gates, Bill. Keynote Address. TED Conference, Vancouver, BC, 15 Apr. 2015. Online Video.

Here:

• Gates, Bill: The speaker’s name.
• Keynote Address: A brief description of the speech.
• TED Conference: The name of the event, italicized.
• Vancouver, BC: The location.
• 15 Apr. 2015: The date.
• Online Video: The medium.

3. Speech from a Website

If you accessed the speech from a website, include the website name and URL.

Format:

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Speech." Event or Venue, Location, Date. Website Name, URL.

Example:

Obama, Barack. "A More Perfect Union." Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA, 18 Mar. 2008. American Rhetoric, www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barackobamaamoreperfectunion.htm.

In this case:

• Obama, Barack: The speaker.
• "A More Perfect Union": The title of the speech.
• Constitution Center: The event and location.
• Philadelphia, PA: The city and state.
• 18 Mar. 2008: The date.
• American Rhetoric: The website name, italicized.
• www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barackobamaamoreperfectunion.htm: The URL.

4. Published Speech (e.g., in a Book)

If the speech is published in a book, cite it as you would a chapter or essay in an edited collection.

Format:

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Speech." Title of Book, edited by Editor’s Name(s), Publisher, Year, pp. Page Numbers.

Example:

King, Martin Luther, Jr. "I Have a Dream." A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., edited by James M. Washington, HarperCollins, 1986, pp. 217-20.

Here:

• King, Martin Luther, Jr.: The speaker.
• "I Have a Dream": The title of the speech.
• A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.: The title of the book, italicized.
• edited by James M. Washington: The editor of the book.
• HarperCollins: The publisher.
• 1986: The year of publication.
• pp. 217-20: The page numbers where the speech appears.

5. Live Speech or Lecture

If you attended the speech live, indicate this in your citation.

Format:

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Speech" or Description of Speech. Event or Venue, Location, Date. Live Performance.

Example:

Smith, Jane. "The Future of Education." Annual Education Conference, Chicago, IL, 5 Oct. 2023. Live Performance.

In this instance:

• Smith, Jane: The speaker.
• "The Future of Education": The title of the speech.
• Annual Education Conference: The event.
• Chicago, IL: The location.
• 5 Oct. 2023: The date.
• Live Performance: Indicating you attended the speech in person.

Creating In-Text Citations for Speeches

In-text citations are brief references within your paper that point to the full citation in your Works Cited list. Here’s how to create them for speeches:

1. Speaker's Name in the Text

If you mention the speaker's name in your sentence, include the title of the speech (or a description) and the relevant page number (if available).

Example:

According to Oprah Winfrey in her "2018 Golden Globes Speech," "a new day is on the horizon" (n. pag.).

Note: "n. pag." is used when the source does not have page numbers, such as a webpage or video.

2. Speaker's Name Not in the Text

If the speaker's name is not in your sentence, include the speaker's last name and the relevant page number (if available) in parentheses.

Example:

One powerful message conveyed hope for the future (Winfrey, n. pag.).

3. Citing a Speech without Page Numbers

When citing a speech without page numbers (e.g., a live speech or online video), use the speaker's last name in your in-text citation. If you're referencing a specific moment in a video, you can include a timestamp.

Example:

Bill Gates emphasized the importance of innovation (Gates, 12:30).

This indicates that the reference is from Bill Gates' speech and can be found around the 12 minute and 30 second mark in the video.

Specific Scenarios and Examples

To further clarify how to cite speeches in various contexts, let’s explore some specific scenarios with detailed examples.

1. Citing a TED Talk

TED Talks are a popular source for academic research. Here’s how to cite them:

Works Cited Entry:

Brown, Brené. "The Power of Vulnerability." TEDGlobal, June 2010, www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability.

In-Text Citation:

(Brown)

or

Brené Brown argues that vulnerability is not a weakness (Brown).

2. Citing a Commencement Speech

Commencement speeches often provide valuable insights and perspectives.

Works Cited Entry:

Morrison, Toni. "Radcliffe Commencement Address." Radcliffe College, Cambridge, MA, 1979.

In-Text Citation:

(Morrison)

or

Toni Morrison challenged graduates to embrace their potential (Morrison).

3. Citing a Political Speech

Political speeches can be pivotal moments in history.

Works Cited Entry:

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Four Freedoms Speech." US Capitol, Washington, D.C., 6 Jan. 1941.

In-Text Citation:

(Roosevelt)

or

Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined his vision for the "Four Freedoms" (Roosevelt).

4. Citing a Speech from a News Website

If you found the speech on a news website, include the publication information in your citation.

Works Cited Entry:

Biden, Joe. "Remarks on the Economy." The New York Times, 15 July 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/07/15/us/politics/biden-economy-speech.html.

In-Text Citation:

(Biden)

or

Joe Biden discussed his administration's economic policies (Biden).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Citing speeches correctly can be tricky. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

1. Missing Information: Ensure you include all the necessary elements in your citation, such as the speaker's name, speech title, event, location, date, and medium.
2. Incorrect Formatting: Pay close attention to punctuation, capitalization, and italics. MLA style has specific rules for each element.
3. Inconsistent Citations: Make sure your in-text citations match your Works Cited entries.
4. Failing to Indicate Medium: Always specify how you accessed the speech (e.g., transcript, video, live performance).
5. Omitting URLs: When citing a speech from a website, include the full URL.

Tips for Accuracy and Consistency

To ensure your citations are accurate and consistent, follow these tips:

• Use a Citation Management Tool: Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or Citation Machine can help you format citations correctly.
• Double-Check Your Work: Review your citations carefully to catch any errors.
• Consult the MLA Handbook: The official MLA Handbook is the definitive guide to MLA style.
• Keep a Record: Keep track of all the sources you use as you research and write.
• Be Consistent: Apply the same citation style throughout your paper.

Examples of Complete Works Cited Entries

To provide further clarity, here are a few more examples of complete Works Cited entries for speeches:

1. Speech Available as a Podcast:

   Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Interview on Fresh Air with Terry Gross. NPR, 7 July 2015, www.npr.org/2015/07/07/420540845/ta-nehisi-coates-between-the-world-and-me.

2. Speech from a Documentary:

   Parks, Rosa. Interview. Eyes on the Prize, Blackside, 1987.

3. Speech Delivered at a Conference:

   Chen, Michelle. "The Impact of AI on Healthcare." FutureMed Conference, San Francisco, CA, 12 Oct. 2023.

Conclusion

Mastering MLA citation for speeches is essential for academic writing. By understanding the core elements, following the correct formatting guidelines, and avoiding common mistakes, you can accurately and effectively cite speeches in your work. Remember to provide clear and consistent citations to give credit to the speaker, enhance your credibility, and guide your readers to the original source. Whether it's a famous address, a lecture, or a TED Talk, proper citation demonstrates your commitment to academic integrity and scholarly excellence.