(WW) Lesson Topic 5: MLA Maker

Lesson Topic 5: MLA Maker

What is MLA Format?

Remember that MLA stands for Modern Language Association. In English courses, you will write all of your essays in what we call MLA format. MLA format means that your paper is set up in the following manner:

  1. Everything in MLA is double-spaced.
  2. Your last name and the page number should appear as a header on each page, with right-side alignment.
  3. An initial header should appear on the first page of your essay, above the title, with left-side alignment. This should include: your name, the instructor's name, the course, and the date of assignment.
  4. Use in-text citations throughout your writing to give credit for information borrowed from other authors. This includes information you quote directly, paraphrase, and summarize.
  5. Include a Works Cited page at the end of your paper, on a new page. The Works Cited page is also double-spaced. Use the hanging indent format for your entries.
  6. Works Cited entries are alphabetized by author's last name. In the case of a source with no author, alphabetize by title.

Overwhelmed? Don't be. We will continue practicing this until you know how to set up each essay you will turn in.

What about the Works Cited?

Remember from Lesson 4 that the Works Cited lists all of the sources you use in your essay. Just like setting up your essay in MLA format, the Works Cited also has a certain way for set up. View the video below to see how to set up a Works Cited page in MLA format.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Works Cited page in MLA writing.

What is the Purpose of MLA Format?

We use MLA format to keep everything uniform, or the same. The chosen font and style make reading papers easy, and when we all have the same look to our papers, everyone starts on equal ground. Therefore, we all set up our papers in the same way (MLA format). In order to make sure you do not forget MLA format, from now on, each assignment you turn in needs to be in MLA format.

 

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