Thematic Unit: Influences - Novel Wrap-Up: MLA Review Lesson

Setting Up an MLA Paper

Computer Image It is now time to practice using MLA format. At this point, formatting an MLA paper should be common practice. Remember each of the following points when setting up an MLA style paper:

In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.
Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.
Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Choices made in The Diary of Anne Frank ; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking"
Double space between the title and the first line of the text.
Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. Start and show this on the first page of the paper.
Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are recognizable one from another. The font size should be 12 pt.
Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.
Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, providing emphasis.

Reviewing Citations and Works Cited Pages

Remember the following points when gathering information for in-text citations and works cited pages:

Always cite words or ideas that are not your own using an in-text citation.
In-text citations (the cited source within your paper) should include the author's last name and the page number. If no author is available, use the title of the work.
Punctuation for the sentence should come after the citation. Example: "She went to the store" (Gardner 12).
Include all information on the Works Cited page: author, title, publication information, publisher information, medium, as well as other information that is required for specific sources (ex. Page numbers, etc.).

For more review of the points mentioned in this lesson, watch the following presentation about MLA formatting. This tutorial demonstrates the key components used in getting started with MLA formatting.

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