AP English Language and Composition - MLA Formatting Lesson

MLA Formatting

Though it may seem like jumping ahead, our first focus is the final step: publishing. When writing essays, the publishing aspect is called formatting. This simply means how the essay should appear on a document. In English classes, students use the MLA format for writing and documentation.

MLA stands for the Modern Language Association. Links to an external site.  This organization sets the standards for formatting and citing information in academic essays. The requirements for how a paper should look may seem arbitrary, but having a single method is important.

1. A single format allows for easy communication of important information like your name, date, page number, etc.

2. MLA format creates fairness of uniformity. A student can not gain an advantage from a fancy script or cover page.

 

MLA Format Presentation

Here is a presentation that provides exact requirements for the appearance of an MLA formatted essay. We will utilize this style on a writing assignment in this module, so take careful notes.

 

MLA Example

Examples of MLA-style formatting are detailed in this image. Specifically, the items reviewed are: 1. One inch margins on top, left, right, and bottom page margins. 2. A block in the upper left of the page, including the student's first and last name, followed by the class or course name on the next line, the teacher's name on the next line, and the date the paper is due on the next line. The title of the paper follows, centered, on the next line, in plain text. Each paragraph begins with a half-inch indentation. All text is double-spaced, in plain text, using title case. A running header appears at the top right-hand side of each page, consisting of the student's last name and the page number.

MLA Sorting Activity

Test your knowledge by completing the activity below.

 

 

 

 

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.