Instructions for Formatting a Research Paper in MLA Style - DOC

							                 Instructions for Formatting a Paper in MLA Style
These instructions will help you format your paper using most versions of Word. If you are using any
other word processing program, use the help files to help you format it. A similar free program called
Open Office can be downloaded online if you do not have Word at home.

No matter what program you use, it is usually easier to set up the formatting before you start typing. If
you have already begun typing, be sure to Select All text before you make any changes.

Margins
1. To set the margins: File  Page Setup  Margins
   a. Set the Margins at 1” from the Top, Bottom, Left, and Right by using arrows
2. Click on the OK button at the bottom of the dialog box to save your settings.

Header
1. To set the header: File  Page Setup  Layout
   a. Set Section to New Page
   b. Set Headers and Footers to 0.5” From Edge.
   c. Set Different first page header by checking the box (a green check mark will appear). Word
       2007 users: Options  Design  Header & Footer Tools  Different First Page
2. Click on the OK button at the bottom of the dialog box to save your settings.
3. View  Header and Footer
   a. You will see a broken line box marked First Page Header and a small dialog box marked Header
       and Footer. DO NOT enter your header here; instead, enter it on page 2 of the document.
   b. In the Header box, on any page but page 1, type your last name, hit the space bar once, and
       then click on the # icon in the dialog box. The page number should appear after your name.
   c. Select (highlight) your last name and the page number then click on the Right align icon on your
       toolbar. The highlighted text will move to the right margin. Word 2007 users: You will have to
       reset font and size to Times New Roman and 12 pt. once you begin typing in the Header box.
4. Click on the Close button in the dialog box.
5. The Header box and the dialog box should disappear leaving behind the grayed-out new header.
   This header will print on every page (except page one) of your document and the page number will
   change automatically. Remember, your Works Cited page is the last page of your paper, and
   therefore will have the appropriate header at the top right of the page.
6. MLA style used to allow a header on the first page; it no longer does, as your header must start on
   page two.

Font Type and Size
1. To set the fonts: Format  Font  Times New Roman  12
2. Do not select different sizes or fonts for different parts of your paper (i.e. the title, header, etc.).
3. Click on the OK button at the bottom of the dialog box to save your settings.

Line Spacing and Paragraphs
1. To set indentation and spacing: Format  Paragraph
    a. Set Indentation in the drop down menu under Special to First Line. Make sure that 0.5 is
       selected in the By drop-down box.
    b. Set Indentation in the drop down menu under Special to Hanging. Make sure that 0.25 is
       selected in the By drop-down box.
    c. Set Spacing in the drop down menu under Before and After to 0 pt
    d. Set Spacing in the drop down menu under Line Spacing to Double
2. Click on the OK button at the bottom of the dialog box to save your settings.
Block Quotes
When you come across a direct quote that is longer than 4 typed lines, you must set it off from the rest of
the paper by following the steps below:
1. Place your cursor before the first word of the direct quote.
2. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
3. Highlight the section you want to set off.
4. Press the Tab key on your keyboard twice. Press the right arrow on your keyboard so that the
    passage is no longer highlighted.
5. Press the Enter key, then press the Backspace key to return your cursor to the left margin.
6. Continue typing the rest of your paper.

Works Cited
1. At the end of the text of your paper (after the punctuation at the completion of your conclusion), press
   and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard and tap the Enter key. This will create a new page.
2. On the first line of this new page click on the Center align icon. When the cursor moves to the center
   of the line type Works Cited (no punctuation whatsoever, standard font) and press Enter.
3. Click on the Center justify icon again to turn centering off and go back to the left margin.
4. With your cursor on the left margin of the next line follow the following steps to set your hanging
   indents.
5. To set hanging indents: Format  Paragraph
   a. Set Indentation in the drop down menu under Special to Hanging. Make sure that 0.5 is
        selected in the By drop-down box.
6. Click on the OK button at the bottom of the dialog box to save your settings.
7. Start typing your Works Cited. The first line should now start on the left margin with all lines after that
   indented 5 spaces. When you hit return to go to the next citation, your cursor should automatically
   return to the left margin.
8. Remember to right-click on any web addresses to remove all hyperlinks.

Sending Your Paper as an Attachment
1. Begin a new e-mail as you normally would.
2. Select two recipients of the e-mail by first typing sstevens@sylvaniaschools.org and then placing a
   comma at the end of the address followed by one space and then typing mssstvns@aol.com.
   DOUBLE-CHECK THE SPELLING OF BOTH ADDRESSES.
3. Type your first and last name followed by the period you have American Literature in the Subject line.
   a. Depending on your e-mail provider, you may have to click on a paper clip icon, a disk icon, or
       simply click on the phrase “add attachment” or one similar to it. Once you have completed this
       step, a dialogue box will pop up. You will be prompted to Browse through your files. It is crucial
       that you have already saved and closed out your paper at this point; if your paper file is open, you
       will be unable to attach it.
   b. Locate your file by clicking on the broadest location (My Computer, My Documents, etc.) and then
       any other folders it is in until you find it, then click Open. If you have ever uploaded pictures to
       Facebook, this is the same process you may have used.
   c. Click on “attach file” or “done” or another similar phrase. You should now notice that there is
       some sort of alert signifying that your e-mail contains an attachment.
   d. Send the e-mail.
   e. You will receive a confirmation e-mail from me.