MLA FormatMLA Format

Rebecca Castera Rebecca Castera

September 2, 2008September 2, 2008

HeadingsHeadings

Every paper needs a Every paper needs a heading. Without a heading. Without a heading, your paper heading, your paper is like a letter with is like a letter with no address! no address!

In MLA format, the In MLA format, the student’s name, the student’s name, the teacher’s name, the teacher’s name, the class or course class or course code followed by code followed by the date are placed the date are placed in the upper left in the upper left hand corner. hand corner.

HeadingsHeadings

In the upper In the upper right hand right hand corner, the corner, the student’s name student’s name followed by the followed by the page number of page number of the paper is the paper is placed. placed.

Sample HeadingSample Heading

Parenthetical CitationsParenthetical Citations

Parentheti-what? Parentheti-what? Citations can be a Citations can be a

confusing part of confusing part of writing a paper in MLA writing a paper in MLA format but it is easier format but it is easier than you think! than you think!

When using a direct When using a direct quote, place the quote, place the sentences in “quotes” sentences in “quotes” and at the end of the and at the end of the sentence place the sentence place the authors name along authors name along with the page number with the page number of the quote in of the quote in parenthesis.parenthesis.

Parenthetical CitationsParenthetical Citations

Important! Make Important! Make sure to place the sure to place the punctuation punctuation outsideoutside the the parenthesis. Not parenthesis. Not at the end of the at the end of the quote or inside quote or inside the parenthesis.the parenthesis.

““She walks in She walks in beauty like the beauty like the night…” (Byron night…” (Byron 15). 15).

Quality ControlQuality Control

Here are a few Here are a few extra tips that extra tips that will help give will help give your paper a your paper a nice healthy nice healthy MLA glow!MLA glow!

Don’t forget to Don’t forget to indentindent at the at the beginning of beginning of every new every new paragraph!paragraph!

Don’t forget to Don’t forget to resize your resize your margins! They margins! They must be must be one inchone inch on all sides. on all sides.

Don’t forget to Don’t forget to double spacedouble space everything! everything!

Don’t forget to Don’t forget to add a add a creative creative titletitle to your to your paper. A strong paper. A strong title will peak the title will peak the reader’s interest. reader’s interest.

Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page

The Works Cited page comes at the end of your The Works Cited page comes at the end of your completed paper. completed paper.

It contains a list of the books, articles, It contains a list of the books, articles, interviews or websites that you referenced or interviews or websites that you referenced or quoted in your paperquoted in your paper

In MLA format a Works Cited page contains:In MLA format a Works Cited page contains: An alphabetized list of the texts used.An alphabetized list of the texts used. The authors nameThe authors name Title of textTitle of text Year and/or date of the textYear and/or date of the text Publisher and publishing cityPublisher and publishing city

Sample CitationSample Citation

Extra HelpExtra Help

Check out this Check out this Sample PaperSample Paper! ! Can you spot all the MLA Can you spot all the MLA errors?errors?

Still a little lost? Take a look Still a little lost? Take a look at this at this website website for even more for even more detailed explanations! detailed explanations!

Congratulations! You are well Congratulations! You are well on your way to writing an on your way to writing an excellent paper! excellent paper!