INPUT ARTICLE: Article: To create a basic MLA in-text citation, type the last name of the author, then a space, then the page number (or range of pages) where the information you quoted or paraphrased appears in the original work. Your citation goes at the end of the sentence, inside the closing punctuation. For example: Louis Armstrong easily reached difficult notes that stymied other trumpet players (Bergreen 258). Particularly if you have authors with relatively common names, it's likely you'll have multiple sources with authors who have the same last name. Use first initials to differentiate them so your in-text citation will point your readers to the correct entry on your Works Cited page. For example: Record deals are typically negotiated by lawyers and studio executives, not by the artists themselves (R. Stewart 17). Type the first author's name followed by the word "and," then the second author's name. Use the same order that appears on the title page or byline of the source, which should also be the same order you use on your Works Cited page. Follow the second author's name with the page number, if the source is paginated. For example: With the explosion of streaming music, record deals had to evolve to incorporate this new method of distribution (Hall and Oates 24). al" for 3 or more authors. MLA style parenthetical citations only include the names of up to 2 authors. If the source has 3 or more authors, only the first author's name is included. However, you'll include all the author's names in your Works Cited entry. For example: In the age of digital music, individual songs have become more important than record sales (McCartney et. al. 37). Some authors may discuss a particular idea across several pages of their work. While you don't necessarily have to include every instance where the idea was mentioned, you should include the page numbers for passages you specifically read. If the source has an index, it can help you with this. For example: Record label fears that digital music would bring about their end were overblown (Urban 12, 18, 29-32).

SUMMARY: Put the author's last name and page number in parentheses. Add first initials for authors with the same last name. Type both authors' names if the work has 2 authors. Follow the first author's name with "et. Cite all pages where paraphrased information appears.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The human brain is an incredible organ capable of making imaginative leaps, recalling memories, and finding insights at a moment's notice, and you will never control every thought. Try to watch your thoughts come and go without any attachment rather than repressing those you don't want to have. Thinking about ignoring something, paradoxically, never works. Every time you think about not thinking about something, you are of course thinking about it! Take care of your brain by getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night, managing your stress levels, and maintaining a positive outlook on life. Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly promotes good mental health as well as physical. While you should not avoid all of your problems, be aware of the things that move your thoughts in a negative direction and prepare yourself when they arise. Structure your day so that you end on a positive trigger, like creative work, family time, or a good book, allowing you to spend downtime thinking about the things you love. Take a few moments each day to pause and take stock of your life. Be aware of your thoughts during "trigger moments", again forgoing judgment or self-critique. Throughout the ages, meditation has been a vital tool helping people relax and take control of their thoughts. Find time to meditate daily, even if only for 5-10 minutes, especially the days when your thoughts are the most difficult to control. Meditation has even been shown to lead to a healthy heart and body. Reframing your thoughts puts them in context of the world around you, allowing you to better understand them. Consider other perspectives regarding your situation, as well as others' behavior. Work to develop empathy, as this will help you avoid taking things too personally. For example: When someone you love hasn't called in a while, it is likely because they are busy, or stressed, not sick or in danger. Don't obsess about things that you ultimately cannot control -- other people, the weather, the news -- and instead focus on yourself. When you think about things outside of your control, remind yourself that the only person you can control is yourself, and work on that. This does not mean you shouldn't try to impact the world around you -- rather that you will always have the biggest impact on your own thoughts.

SUMMARY:
Do not try to choose your thoughts but control them as they come. Make your thoughts and mental health a priority. Know what events trigger difficult thoughts. Meditate. Reframe your thoughts in a positive or non-intrusive light. Recognize that there are many things you cannot control.