One of the major writing styles used in academic and professional writing is the Modern Language Association format.When you are writing in the humanities, this style is very common.If you are writing a paper for a course, make sure to check the instructions the professor or teacher gives you to see if you need to use the MLA format.You will need to learn and follow the guidelines for using the format.
Step 1: Unless specifically told to do so, don't include a separate cover page.
A cover page is not necessary and should not be added to most papers.Sometimes an instructor will ask students to create a cover page for a long paper.There are guidelines for the type of information that should be included.
Step 2: Put your title in the center.
The title should be typed one-third down from the top of the page.The title of your page should be interesting.If you include a subtitle, type it on the same line as the title and then separate the two with a colon.Every major word should have the first letter capitalized.Unless they are the first word of the title or subtitle, do not use minor words.
Step 3: Please include your full name.
You can type your name in the middle of the page if you hit the "Enter" key on your keyboard.The format for your name should be FirstName LastName.
Step 4: Wrap things up with the instructor's name and due date.
The block of essential information should be at the bottom of the page.On one line, type the class and section number.Write the instructor's name on the line.You can type the date your paper is due on the final line.
Step 5: The margins should be 1 in.
The top, bottom, left, and right margins should be at least 2.5 cm wide.You can change the margins in most word processing programs by heading into the "Page layout" settings.The dialog box should have a "Margins" heading.Change each margin to the right size.
Step 6: You should double-space your paper.
The paper should be double-spaced from the first page.Extra space at the end of a paragraph is not required.You can change the spacing in most word processing programs by going into the page layout settings.Select "2.0" spacing under that heading.
Step 7: You can use a 12-point fonts.
Times New Roman is the preferred size for the papers.If you're going to use another fonts instead of Times New Roman, make sure it's easy to read and not too large.
Step 8: A running message can be created.
There is a running header on each page.It should be placed in the upper right corner of the page and include your last name and page number.The "Header and Footer" tool is found under the "view" menu in your word processor.If you type your last name in the options box, the current page number will be automatically inserted.
Step 9: In the upper left corner, type your heading.
A cover page would include all the information in the heading.You can type in your instructor's name, course name and due date in the upper left corner.You can type your full name on the first line.You can type your instructor's name and title on the next line.The class course number can be typed on the third line.The assignment is due on the last line.The format should be numerical day month year.
Step 10: You should center your title.
Immediately after the date, you should type your paper's title on the line.The title should be centered.Don't make the title larger, italicized, or bold.The title of your page should be interesting.If you include a subtitle, type it on the same line as the title and then separate the two with a colon.Every major word should have the first letter capitalized.Unless they are the first word of the title or subtitle, do not use minor words.
Step 11: Write on the paper's body.
The introduction paragraph of your paper should be written on the line immediately following the title.
Step 12: The first line of each paragraph should be removed.
The first line of each paragraph must be highlighted.Hit the Tab key on your keyboard to remove the first line.You don't have to separate paragraphs with extra line spacing.There is only one way to mark the start of a new paragraph.
Step 13: The paper should be separated into sections when appropriate.
Your instructor may want you to separate portions of your paper into different headings.Under the MLA style, section headings should be numbered with an Arabic number and a period.Before typing the section name, follow the period with a space.The first letter of the section name should be capitalized.Section headings should have their own lines and be centered on the page.
Step 14: A figure number is provided when a picture or table is included.
Provide a figure number, label, and source information when you include a table or figure in your paper.You can use "fig.""Fig. 1."2, etc.There are illustrations and photographs.Tables 1 and 2 can be used.For charts and tables.Use a descriptive term like "cartoon" or "statistical table" to label the figure.Provide the creator's name, source, date of publication, and page number.The information should be in a single line below the picture.
Step 15: Parenthetical citations should be included for all borrowed material.
When you include a direct quote, paraphrase, or summary in your paper, you must cite the source of that material in parentheses.The author's last name and page number should be included when the information is available.You only need to include the author's name if the materials came from an online source.An abbreviated portion of the source material's title should be included if there is no author.If you introduce the author's name earlier in the sentence, you don't need to include the name in parentheses.
Step 16: A quotation should be formatted in an "in-line" fashion.
Most quotations will be in-line and can be treated as normal text.It is always a good idea to include a quote in a sentence.A hanging quote is a type of quotation in which only the quotes are presented.For example, introduce sentences with some kind of context, such as: Churchill argued for the importance of the initiative when he declared, "Britain must unite behind this measure"The parenthetical citation should be followed by Commas and periods.
Step 17: A block quote can be formatted.
A block quote should be used to separate quotes that are longer than three lines from the rest of the text.Hit the "enter" key to move to a new line after you type the last word.The block quote should be put in another 1/2 inch.You don't need to include quotation marks for a block quote, but you must include a parenthetical citation.
Step 18: The "Notes" title should be centered.
Don't use italics, bold, or underline this heading.Endnotes that are listed on a separate page after the main body of the paper should be included if you inserted any notes into the document.footnotes are listed at the foot of each page, so don't include them.
Step 19: You should number your endnotes.
If you used an endnote tool on your word processor, the numbering should be done for you.If you want to make sure that each endnote is preceded by an Arabic number that corresponds to a number places in the section of the paper's body that relates to the information provided by the end note, you have to do it.The first line of the endnote should be in a straight line.
Step 20: You should include important information in your notes.
Endnotes should be used to discuss information that doesn't fit into a paragraph.Endnotes should not be more than three or four lines.Don't have long discussions.It's not the right time to bring up new points.
Step 21: The "Appendix" heading should be centered.
Don't use italics, bold, or underline the heading.If there are more than one appendices, label them as "Appendix A,Appendix B, and so on."
Step 22: Add information that isn't necessary.
The information in an appendix shouldn't be important or essential to your argument.An appendix is a way to include information unrelated to the main argument of the paper.
Step 23: The heading is "Works Cited".
Don't use italics, bold, or underline the heading.All the texts you reference in the body of your paper should be included on your "Works Cited" page.The "Works Cited" page must be included in all papers written in the format.
Step 24: Make a list of your cited material.
According to the authors' last names, your citations should be listed in alphabetical order.If a text doesn't have a known author, arrange the citation according to the first word of the article or book title.
Step 25: Cite a book.
The basic format for a book citation includes the author's name, title, publication information, and the medium of publication.The author's name can be written in LastName, Firstname.Follow for a period.The book title should be capitalized with the first letter of the word.Follow for a period.The publisher's name should be included after the city of publication followed by a colon.The year of publication is followed by a comma.End with a period.You can type "Print" or "eBook" at the end.Don't finish with a bang.The book citation should be similar to this: Ash, Beth Sharon.In the Novels of Joseph Conrad, modernity and Psychosocial Dilemma are written in between.1st edition.New York: St. Martin's Press.
Step 26: You canCite a journal article.
A journal article should include the author's name, title, issue information, and medium of publication.The author's name can be written in LastName, Firstname format.Follow for a period.The title of the article should be included in the quotation marks.The first letter of each word should be capitalized.Follow the journal with a period.The first letter of each word should be capitalized.The year of publication is followed by the issue number.The page numbers should be included with the colon after the year.Follow for a period.Finish with the medium of publication.The finished journal article citation should look similar to Aiex, Nola Kortner.The Luso-Brazilian Review had a book called Martins Pena: Parodist.