Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in MLA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 10/15/2024

Citing a PowerPoint presentation in MLA format depends on whether the presentation is available online or delivered in a classroom setting. This guide explains the specific formats required for each scenario and how to create both Works Cited entries and in-text citations.

ONLINE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

When citing a PowerPoint presentation accessed online, such as from a website or a presentation-sharing platform like SlideShare, you need to include the following elements in your citation: the author’s name, the title of the presentation, the website name, the publication date, and the URL.

KEY CITATION ELEMENTS

• Author: The author of the PowerPoint presentation is the individual or organization responsible for its creation. If the presentation was created by an individual, their last name is listed first, followed by their first name. If the author is an organization, such as a company, institution, or governmental body, the full name of the organization is used in place of an individual name.
• Presentation Title: The title of the PowerPoint presentation is enclosed in quotation marks and written in sentence case. This means that only the first word of the title and any proper nouns are capitalized. The title is important because it reflects the specific content or focus of the presentation. 
• Website Name: The name of the website or platform where the PowerPoint presentation is hosted is italicized. This helps distinguish the source of the content from the author or title. Common platforms where PowerPoint presentations might be hosted include SlideShare, Prezi, or a specific academic or organizational website. 
• Date: The date refers to the publication or upload date of the presentation. In MLA format, the date is written in the day-month-year format (e.g., 24 Jan. 2020). The inclusion of the date is critical because it informs readers of the timeliness of the information. This is especially important when citing online sources, as websites frequently update content. 
• URL: The URL is the complete web address where the PowerPoint presentation can be accessed. URLs should be included without hyperlinks and should not be shortened in MLA format. Including the full URL allows readers to directly access the presentation if they wish to view it themselves. Make sure that the URL is accurate and functional, as broken links may prevent readers from retrieving the source.

CITATION EXAMPLE FOR ONLINE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

Citation	Bennett, Tony. “Digital Citizenship: Engaging Students in a Digital World.” SlideShare, 18 Apr. 2024, www.slideshare.net/TonyBennett/digital-citizenship-engaging-students-in-a-digital-world.
Structure	Author Surname, Author First Name. “Presentation Title.” Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.

IN-TEXT CITATION EXAMPLES

In-text citations for an online PowerPoint presentation should include the author’s last name or the organization’s name along with the slide number. In MLA format, there are two options for in-text citations: parenthetical or narrative.

Parenthetical citation:

Example	(Bennett, slide 5)
Structure	(Author, slide No.)

Narrative citation:

Example	Bennett (2024) discusses strategies for engaging students on slide 5
Structure	Author (Year) text on slide No.

POWERPOINT PRESENTATION DELIVERED IN A COURSE

When citing a PowerPoint presentation shown during a lecture or class, the citation format changes slightly to reflect the specific details of the course and the institution where the presentation took place. You need to include the author’s name, the title of the presentation, the course name, the date of the presentation, the university name, and the city.

KEY CITATION ELEMENTS FOR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION DELIVERED IN A COURSE

• Author: The author of the PowerPoint presentation refers to the individual who created or presented the material. This could be a professor, instructor, or student. In MLA citations, the author’s last name is listed first, followed by the first name. If the presentation was created by an organization or group rather than an individual, the full name of the organization should be used in place of the individual’s name. 
• Presentation Title: The title of the presentation is enclosed in quotation marks and should reflect the exact title as it appears in the PowerPoint slide. In accordance with MLA formatting rules, the title should be written in sentence case, meaning only the first word and any proper nouns are capitalized. 
• Course Name: The course name is italicized and represents the title of the course during which the presentation was delivered. This element provides context for the presentation, indicating the academic setting and subject area it pertains to. It is important to include the full name of the course to give the reader a clear understanding of the content and its educational context.
• Date: The date refers to when the presentation was delivered in class. This is written in day-month-year format (e.g., 15 Nov. 2018). Including the date is important because it allows readers to assess the currency and relevance of the information presented. 
• University Name and City: This component includes the name of the university or institution where the course was taught, followed by the city in which the institution is located. This information is important for providing context regarding the educational environment and enhancing the citation’s specificity.
• Medium: The medium of the presentation is specified at the end of the citation to indicate the type of source being referenced. In this case, it is essential to state that the material is a “PowerPoint presentation.” This helps the reader understand the format of the source, which is particularly relevant in academic writing where various formats are used.

CITATION EXAMPLE FOR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION DELIVERED IN A COURSE

Citation	Kumar, Ritik. “The Impact of Social Media on Communication.” Communication Theory 101, 10 Sept. 2024, Harvard University, Cambridge. PowerPoint presentation.
Structure	Author Surname, Author First Name. “Presentation Title.” Course Name, Day Month Year, University Name, City. PowerPoint presentation.

IN-TEXT CITATION EXAMPLES

Cite the author’s last name or the organization’s name along with the specific slide number being referenced. You may choose either a parenthetical or narrative citation format.

Parenthetical citation:

Example	(Kumar, slide 4)
Structure	(Author, slide No.)

Narrative citation:

Example	Kumar (2024) describes global warming impacts on slide 4.
Structure	Author (Year) text on slide No.

Group or Corporate Authors: If a PowerPoint presentation is created by a group or organization rather than an individual, list the organization as the author. This applies to corporate presentations, government bodies, or research organizations. Accuracy of URLs: For online PowerPoint presentations, ensure the URL is correct and functional. This allows readers to access the presentation directly. Check that the URL leads to the exact presentation without any broken links or unnecessary parameters. Slide Numbers: Always include slide numbers in in-text citations. This specifies which part of the presentation is being referenced, ensuring precision. Use the format (Author, slide number). Titles in Sentence Case: Use sentence case for presentation titles in MLA. Capitalize the first word of the title, the first word of any subtitle, and any proper nouns, while keeping the rest lowercase. Abbreviating Months: When citing dates in MLA format, abbreviate months longer than four letters to their first three letters followed by a period (e.g., Jan., Feb., Sept.). Shorter months like May, June, and July are written in full. This helps maintain uniformity and conciseness in your citations. Consistency: Ensure consistency throughout your paper by applying MLA citation rules uniformly. This includes using sentence case for titles, following the day-month-year format for dates, italicizing website names, and using the correct format for in-text citations and Works Cited entries.