Hello Everyone,
This blog is a response to a thinking activity task of ‘Documentation - Preparing a List of Works Cited’assigned by Prakruti Ma’am based on Research Methodology.
Q:1 Why are Citations needed? Discuss in the context of this chapter.
Citations are essential in academic writing because they ensure clarity, credibility, and academic integrity in research work.
6. To Maintain Consistency and Standardization Chapter 5 provides clear MLA guidelines for arranging and formatting entries in the Works Cited list. Standardized citation style ensures uniformity and makes academic work easier to read and understand.
Conclusion
In Chapter 5, citations are presented not merely as technical requirements but as a fundamental part of responsible scholarship. They uphold honesty, enhance credibility, and allow readers to locate and evaluate the sources that support a research paper.
Q:2 Write a short note on ‘MLA Style’.
MLA Style is a standardized system of documentation developed by the Modern Language Association for writing research papers, especially in the humanities.
MLA Style provides clear guidelines for:
Citing sources within the text using parenthetical references.
Preparing a List of Works Cited at the end of the paper, arranged alphabetically.
Formatting entries with specific rules for author names, titles, publication details, and medium of publication.
Maintaining consistency in punctuation, capitalization, and order of information.
The purpose of MLA Style is to ensure clarity, uniformity, and accuracy in academic writing. It helps writers give proper credit to sources, avoid plagiarism, and enable readers to locate the cited materials easily.
Choose a topic of your choice and create an annotated bibliography containing at least 8 varied qualitative source types pertaining to that topic. [For example, if you choose Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island or a theoretical concept like posthumanism, cite one journal article, one news article, one video, one encyclopedia entry, one book, one book chapter, one webpage, one image pertaining to Gun Island or posthumanism] The annotation must be of 50-100 words.
Here, I’m choosing the text ‘The Wretched of the Earth’ Theory ‘Decolonization’.
Journal Article: Burke, Edmund. “Frantz Fanon’s ‘The Wretched of the Earth.’” Daedalus, vol. 105, no. 1, 1976, pp. 127–35. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20024388 . Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
This journal article offers a critical evaluation of Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth, situating it within the broader intellectual and political debates of decolonization. Burke examines Fanon’s arguments about revolutionary violence, nationalism, and the psychological consequences of colonial rule. The article is particularly valuable for understanding how Fanon’s ideas were received in Western academic circles during the 1970s. Burke also assesses the strengths and limitations of Fanon’s revolutionary humanism. As a peer-reviewed scholarly article published in Daedalus, this source is reliable and useful for analyzing the theoretical framework of anti-colonial resistance and its global implications. It provides historical depth and critical context for studying postcolonial theory and African liberation movements.
Encyclopedia: Britannica Editors. "decolonization". Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/decolonization . Accessed 27 February 2026. This encyclopedia entry provides a comprehensive overview of decolonization, tracing its historical development from the late nineteenth century to the post–World War II era. It outlines key events, regions, and political movements involved in dismantling colonial empires across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. The article explains causes such as nationalist movements, economic pressures, and global geopolitical shifts. As a reference source, it offers concise definitions and factual grounding rather than theoretical analysis. Its credibility is high due to editorial review and institutional authority. This source is particularly useful for establishing historical background and defining key terms before engaging with theoretical texts such as Fanon or Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. It serves as a foundational reference for understanding the broader context of decolonization.
Book Chapter: Collins, Michael. “Nation, State and Agency: Evolving Historiographies of African Decolonization.” Britain, France and the Decolonization of Africa: Future Imperfect?, edited by Andrew W.M. Smith and Chris Jeppesen, UCL Press, 2017, pp. 17–42. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1mtz521.6 . Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Collins analyzes how historians have interpreted African decolonization over time, focusing on the shifting roles attributed to African agency, European imperial power, and international dynamics. The chapter critiques earlier Eurocentric narratives and highlights newer historiographies that center African political actors and local resistance movements. It is particularly useful for understanding methodological debates in decolonization studies. As part of an academic edited volume published by UCL Press, the chapter is scholarly and credible. This source strengthens research by providing historiographical depth, allowing readers to see how interpretations of African independence movements have evolved. It is valuable for framing decolonization not only as an event but also as a contested field of academic inquiry.
News Article: Folukeifejola. “The Trouble With Defining Decolonisation: A Table Analogy and Some Reading.” Foluke’s African Skies, 21 Mar. 2025, folukeafrica.com/the-trouble-with-defining-decolonisation-a-table-analogy-and-some-reading . Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
This online article explores the conceptual difficulty of defining “decolonisation” through an accessible table analogy. The author argues that decolonization is not simply the removal of colonial rulers but a deeper restructuring of systems, knowledge, and power relations. While not a peer-reviewed academic source, it provides contemporary reflections and accessible explanations that help clarify theoretical debates for broader audiences. The piece is useful for illustrating how decolonization continues to be discussed in digital and activist spaces. It complements academic sources by offering a modern interpretive lens. However, since it is a blog publication, it should be used alongside scholarly materials for academic research.
Book: Thiongʼo, Ngũgĩ Wa. Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature. Boydell and Brewer, 1986.
In this influential book, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o argues that language is central to colonial domination and cultural control. He contends that African writers should reject colonial languages and write in indigenous languages to reclaim cultural identity. The text combines literary criticism, political theory, and autobiographical reflection. It is a foundational work in postcolonial and African literary studies, expanding the idea of decolonization beyond political independence to cultural and linguistic liberation. As a primary theoretical text by a major African intellectual, it is highly authoritative. This source is essential for understanding the cultural dimensions of decolonization and for analyzing literature within anti-colonial frameworks.
Video: Dr. Masood Raja. “Fanon: The Wretched of the Earth | Decolonization.” YouTube, 13 Apr. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cybCnxehtTQ .
In this lecture video, Dr. Masood Raja provides an accessible explanation of Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth, focusing on its key themes such as violence, national consciousness, and the pitfalls of post-independence leadership. The video format makes complex theoretical ideas easier to understand, especially for students encountering Fanon for the first time. While not a peer-reviewed source, it is academically informed and pedagogically useful. It serves as a supplementary interpretive guide rather than primary research material. The lecture supports comprehension of Fanon’s arguments and can aid in classroom discussions and presentations on decolonization theory.
Webpage: United Nations. “Decolonization | United Nations.” United Nations, www.un.org/en/global-issues/decolonization . Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
This official webpage outlines the United Nations’ role in supporting decolonization and supervising non-self-governing territories. It provides historical background, resolutions, and current initiatives related to the global process of decolonization. The source is authoritative and policy-oriented, offering insight into international legal and institutional frameworks. It is particularly useful for understanding the political and diplomatic dimensions of decolonization beyond theoretical debates. As an official UN publication, it is highly credible and valuable for research focusing on international governance and global policy perspectives.
Image: “Decoloniazation.” Human Rights Career, www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/decolonization-101-meaning-facts-and-examples .
This webpage image and article provide a simplified overview of decolonization, including definitions, examples, and key facts. The visual component helps communicate complex historical processes in an accessible format. While it is not an academic source, it is useful for introductory understanding and visual presentation purposes. The content is best used for contextual or illustrative support rather than scholarly argumentation. When included in research, it should supplement more authoritative academic and institutional sources.
Choose a research article on any one of the following identities: refugees, immigrants, women writers, queer poets, tribal communities. Study the introductory section of that article and identify whether the section adheres to one or more of the 7 principles of inclusive language as discussed by the 9th edition of the MLA Handbook. Justify your observations.
Here, I’m choosing this article on Tribal Communities.
Barnes, Stuart J., and Jan Mattsson. “Building Tribal Communities in the Collaborative Economy: An Innovation Framework.” Prometheus, vol. 34, no. 2, 2016, pp. 95–113. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1080/08109028.2017.1279875 . Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
The Introduction section of the article largely adheres to the Seven Principles of Inclusive Language discussed in the MLA Handbook (9th ed.). The evaluation is as follows:
First, the section uses bias-free language. It does not contain discriminatory or stereotypical references to gender, race, class, nationality, or any other identity category. Terms such as “individuals,” “organisations,” “consumers,” “participants,” and “entrepreneurs” are neutral and professional.
Second, the text avoids the use of generic masculine pronouns. It does not use “he,” “his,” or “man” to represent all people. Instead, it uses plural and neutral expressions like “participants” and “unknown parties,” which align with MLA’s recommendation to maintain gender neutrality.
Third, the section respects self-identification by not imposing identity labels on any group. Since the article focuses on economic and business models rather than identity categories, there is no problematic naming or misrepresentation.
Fourth, the language does not imply superiority or deficit. No group is portrayed as inferior or less capable. Even when discussing “unknown parties,” the term is used in an economic context and does not carry negative judgment.
Fifth, the article avoids unnecessary labels. It does not mention social, cultural, or demographic categories that are irrelevant to the topic. All terms used are directly related to the research focus.
Sixth, the section uses generally culturally neutral and global language, referring to “societies,” “economies,” and “global scale.” Although one example focuses on Austin, Texas, the language itself does not exclude or marginalize other regions.
Seventh, the writing is precise and avoids generalizations. The claims are supported by citations, and careful phrases such as “one purported alternative” and “a recent study suggests” show responsible academic writing.
In conclusion, the Introduction section strongly adheres to the principles of inclusive language outlined in the MLA Handbook (9th ed.), particularly in maintaining neutrality, avoiding bias, and using gender-inclusive expressions.
Thank You!
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