Well now, you might be sittin’ there wonderin’ how to properly cite a Netflix documentary in your paper. I know, it sounds all fancy and complicated, but don’t worry, I’m here to break it down nice and simple, just like when I teach my neighbor how to cook a proper pot of beans. We’ll talk about both them MLA and APA styles, so you don’t get all confused, alright?
What is Citing and Why is it Important?
Now, before we dive into the messy stuff, let’s first talk about what it means to cite somethin’. Citing means you’re givin’ credit where it’s due. Like if someone tells you a good recipe and you go and make it, you better mention where you got it from! Same goes for documentaries, books, or movies, ya gotta tell folks where you found the info. If you don’t, that’s called plagiarism, and that’s a big ol’ no-no!
How to Cite a Netflix Documentary in MLA Style
So, in MLA style, the first thing you gotta do is grab the title of the documentary. This is the name folks will recognize it by. Then, you need to put the director’s name, the year it came out, and the name of the website you watched it on, like Netflix. It’s just like how you would cite a book, but a little more modern, with all these newfangled streaming services.
Here’s how it looks in MLA format:
- Title of Documentary. Directed by Director’s Name, Netflix, Year of Release.
For example:
- Making a Murderer. Directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, Netflix, 2015.
See? Simple as pie! You mention the title, the director(s), the streaming service (Netflix, in this case), and the year it was made.
How to Cite a Netflix Documentary in APA Style
Now, if you’re workin’ in APA style, it’s pretty much the same idea, but with a little different twist. You gotta follow a certain order with all the bits and pieces. In APA, the director is listed first, followed by the year, the title of the documentary in italics, and then the name of the streaming service, just like you did with that old-timey MLA format.
Here’s what it looks like in APA format:
- Director’s Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year). Title of documentary [Film]. Netflix.
Example:
- Ricciardi, L., & Demos, M. (2015). Making a Murderer [Film]. Netflix.
That’s all there is to it! You just gotta swap the order a bit and use them parentheses, but don’t worry too much. Just follow these rules and you’re good to go!
Some More Examples for You
If you’re still a little unsure, let me give you a few more examples, so you can see how this works for different documentaries. I mean, there’s all sorts of them on Netflix these days, and you never know what you might end up watchin’ for your paper!
- The Social Dilemma. Directed by Jeff Orlowski, Netflix, 2020.
- Our Planet. Directed by Alastair Fothergill, Netflix, 2019.
- Burning Man: The Spirit of the Desert. Directed by Jody Shapiro, Netflix, 2018.
See? Easy peasy! Just follow the pattern, and you won’t go wrong.
What if There’s No Director Listed?
Well, I tell ya, sometimes you watch a documentary and it don’t have a director listed, like when you can’t find the person who made that dish you love at the diner. What do you do then? Well, don’t worry too much. If you can’t find a director, you can just use the name of the production company or the website (Netflix) in place of the director. That works fine, too.
For example, if it’s a Netflix documentary and they don’t say who directed it, you might just do somethin’ like this:
- Netflix. (Year). Title of Documentary [Film].
That should cover most of your bases! Don’t forget, though, if you got a whole bunch of folks involved in making the film, you could mention them all if you like, but usually just the director’s enough.
What if You’re Citing a Documentary Episode?
Now, maybe you’re not watchin’ the whole documentary, but just an episode. Well, you’ll need to cite it a little differently, but don’t panic! All you gotta do is add the title of the episode and mention that it’s part of a series.
Here’s an example in MLA format:
- Title of Episode. Directed by Director’s Name, Title of Documentary Series, Netflix, Year.
And in APA format:
- Director’s Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year). Title of episode [Episode]. In Title of Documentary Series. Netflix.
Just like that! If it’s part of a series, make sure you mention the series title too. That way folks know which part of the whole thing you’re talkin’ about!
Final Thoughts
Well, I reckon that about covers it. Citing a Netflix documentary ain’t so bad once you get the hang of it. Whether you’re usin’ MLA or APA, it’s all about followin’ the rules. Just remember to put the title, the director, the year, and the streaming service. Simple as that! And trust me, once you get that down, your paper will be lookin’ real proper, just like a fresh batch of biscuits on a Sunday morning.
Now go ahead, cite that documentary, and make sure your paper shines bright like a new penny!
Tags：[Netflix, Documentary, Citation, MLA, APA, Citing Sources, Academic Writing, How to Cite]
