MLA Format
Let the fun begin!
Purpose
• MLA stands for Modern Language
Association
• It is most commonly used to write papers
and cite sources within the liberal arts
such as:
– English Studies - Language and Literature
– Foreign Language and Literatures
– Literary Criticism
– Comparative Literature
– Cultural Studies
Guidelines
• Type your paper on a computer and print it
out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper
• Double-space [all] the text of your paper
• You can do this by highlighting your work and
hitting Ctrl+2
• Use a legible (easy to read) font like Times
New Roman
• Set the margins of your document to 1
inch on all sides
• Go to File, Page Setup, Change the margins, and
hit OK
Guidelines – cont’d.
• It provides:
– guidelines for formatting manuscripts and
using the English language in writing
– a system for referencing sources through
parenthetical citation in essays and Works
Cited pages
– Protection for writers against accusations of
plagiarism
(this means you don’t have to have the “Vanilla Ice” experience)
Guidelines – cont’d.
• Indent the first of each paragraph one half-
inch (five spaces or press tab once)
• Make sure that your paper is justified on
the left side only:
___________
_____________
___________
_____________
First Page Format
• Do NOT make a title page for your paper
unless specifically asked by your teacher
to do so
• In the left hand corner, list your:
• Name
• Instructor’s Name
• Course
• Date (28 February 2007)
– This should be double-spaced
• Double space again and center your title.
• The title should be original and appropriate
• Do NOT underline, italicize, or put your title in
quotes or all capital letters.
• Instead, use Title Case
• capitalization of all words, except for internal articles (a),
prepositions (in), and conjunctions (and
• Use quotation marks and underlining or italics
when referring to other works in your title, just as
you would in your text, e.g.,
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play
• Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking"
• Double space between the title and the first line
of the text
• Create a header
Header
• A “header” allows you to number all of your
pages consecutively (including the Works Cited
page)
• Your header should include your last name and
the page number
• Put it in the upper right hand corner of the page
1/2 inch from the top & flush with the right
margin
• Go to View, Header and Footer, insert page
number. Type your last name before the page
number.
Here’s a sample first page in MLA
format:
Header
Identifying
Information
Original title,
Note the double- double-spaced
spacing and in “title case”
throughout the
paper and the 1’’
margins
Works Cited/Parenthetical Citations
• All research papers MUST include a works
cited page and parenthetical (in-text)
citation in order to avoid plagiarism
• We will go in depth on how to do these
steps later.
MLA Checklist
Paper is typed & double spaced with 1” margins
on white, 8 ½” x 11” paper in Times New Roman
size 12 font
Every paragraph begins with a 5 space indent
(“Tab” key) & all lines are Left justified
There is a header in the upper right corner of
every page with your last name and the page
number ½” from the top of the page
MLA Checklist – cont’d.
The paper begins in the upper left corner with:
• Name
• Instructor’s Name
• Course
• Date (28 February 2007)
The paper’s Title is creative, original, centered,
& Title Case
There are parenthetical citations throughout the
paper & a Works Cited Page