Write-About-ItAnswer this question in your notes:

• Why do we teach MLA format?

MLA

English IIMiss Romeo

O D E R N

A N G U A G E

S S O C I A T I O N

Basic Formatting

• Double-space the text of your paper.• 12 point, Times New Roman font is the standard.• 1 in. margins (standard in MS Word and Google Docs)• 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.

• Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.

• Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works (like novels).

Formatting the First Page of Your Paper

• Heading You will always put the following information, double spaced, as your heading:

a. Your nameb. Your instructor’s namec. The class title and periodd. The DUE DATE. You will put the DAY MONTH YEAR – like this: 2

May 2015

• Original Title Your title is centered: do not create extra spaces around it, and do not use a different type or size of font. Your title should be connected to the content of your paper and be interesting!

• Indent whenever you begin a new paragraph by hitting the TAB button on your keyboard.

• A Header appears ½” from the top right hand corner. You will put your last name and page number on every page. Go to “Insert” and select “Header.” Remember to set the justification to the right under “Paragraph.”

In-Text Citations:The Basics

In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done by using

what is known as parenthetical citation. This method involves placing

relevant source information in parentheses after a quote or a

paraphrase.“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are

mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved” (Kerouac 10).

The claim is made that Sal Paradise chooses to interact only with passionate individuals who are desirous of all

interesting parts of life (Kerouac 10).

direct quote

paraphrase

In-Text Citations:Novels, Books, Other Print Sources

The author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference

should appear on your Works Cited page.

Examples:

• The author's name may appear in the sentence itself, but the page number should remain in the parenthesis:

-Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).

• The author’s name may be put in the parenthesis if it isn’t in the sentence, along with the page number for both quotes and paraphrases:

-Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).

-Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).

In-Text Citations:Electronic Sources

Include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name). In other words, to cite an article from the internet, simply put the first item that appears in the citation on your Works Cited

page in parenthesis before the period.

Works Cited • This is a list of all your sources.• It should be double spaced and in

alphabetical order.• It should be “hanging” indented. • Visit EasyBib to double-check your

formatting of the actual sources.