MLA 7th EditionFormatting and Style

Guide

How the essay shouldLOOK…

What is MLA?MLA (Modern Language Association) style formatting is often used in various humanities disciplines.

What does MLA regulate?

MLA regulates:

Essay Format

In-text citations

Works Cited

Your Instructor Knows Best#1 Rule for any formatting style:

AlwaysFollow your instructor’s

guidelines –

“The Rubric never lies!”

How to Write an Effective Body

Paragraph…

Internal Citation

An Internal Citation is used as a direct quote, story, fact, statistic that you are referencing within your essay. Internal Citations always refer to a source that is referenced in your Works Cited page.

Include your PPC’S!Point: What point are you trying to make?Proof: Explain who is saying the quote, and set up how

you plan to use it. Make sure that you’re quoting enough of the passage so that you don’t take it out of context – don’t cut off sentences, or misquote anyone.

Comments: It is important that you:-justify why you are using the quote.-explain how the quote connects to the point.So What: State what difference it all makes.

Coffee is a necessity in the morning. Several people live with the “give me coffee and no one gets hurt” (Drinker 1) mentality, and this is understandable because of what coffee contains. Coffee has caffeine, a substance that allows one to wake-up and function quickly. In addition to caffeine, coffee can contain sugar or other sweeteners that can influence a person’s alertness, especially in the early morning hours. Being alert and able to function effectively in the mornings, can be vital to one’s success of the day. Therefore, coffee is a must.

Point: What point are you trying to make?

Coffee is a necessity in the morning.

Proof: Explain who is saying the quote, and set up how you plan to use it. Make sure that you’re quoting enough of the passage so that you don’t take it out of context – don’t cut off sentences, or misquote anyone. State source of quote.

Several people live with the “give me coffee and no one gets hurt” (Drinker 1) mentality, and this is understandable because of what coffee contains.

Comments: It is important that you:-justify why you are using the quote.-explain how the quote connects to the point.

Coffee has caffeine, a substance that allows one to wake-up and function quickly. In addition to caffeine, coffee can contain sugar or other sweeteners that can influence a person’s alertness, especially in the early morning hours.

So What: State what difference it all makes.

Being alert and able to function effectively in the mornings, can be vital to one’s success of the day. Therefore, coffee is a must.

Formatting Short QuotationsIn-text Examples:According to some, dreams express “profound aspects of personality” (Foulkes 184), though others disagree.According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express “profound aspects of personality” (184).

Is it possible that dreams may express “profound aspects of personality” (Foulkes 184)?

Formatting Long Quotations – 4+ linesNelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with

them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the

morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house.(Bronte 78)

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Adding Words

In-text Example for Adding Words:

Jan Harold Brunvand, in an essay on

urban legends, states: “some

individuals [who retell urban legends]

make a point of learning every rumor

or tale” (78).

Omitting WordsIn-text example for Omitting Words:

In an essay on urban legends, Jan

Harold Brunvand notes that “some

individuals make a point of learning

every recent rumor or tale . . . and in a

short time a lively exchange of details

occurs” (78).

TransitionsA good paragraph will also use transition words. These are words or phrases that help readers connect your ideas.

List the transitions within the example.

Coffee is a necessity in the morning. Several people live with the “give me coffee and no one gets hurt” (Drinker 1) mentality, and this is understandable because of what coffee contains. Coffee has caffeine, a substance that allows one to wake-up and function quickly. In addition to caffeine, coffee can contain sugar or other sweeteners that can influence a person’s alertness, especially in the early morning hours. Being alert and able to function effectively in the mornings, can be vital to one’s success of the day. Therefore, coffee is a must.