Steps to Type an Essay in MLA Format
- 1). Set your document attributes to the correct settings. This involves setting the font to 12 point Times New Roman, page margins to 1 inch all the way around and line spacing to double space. All of these document attributes are standards of MLA format and must be set precisely to the correct values.
- 2). Add a header to your paper. The header on each page should be the author's last name followed by the page number. For example, if your last name is Smith, the header of the fifth page of your essay should be " Smith 5."
- 3). Create a title block at the top left of your first page. The title block contains valuable information about the paper that any reader should know. The first line should be the author's first and last name. The second line will consist of the professor's name, and the third line is the name of the class. The final line in the title block should be the date. An example of a title block is shown below.
John Smith
Professor Jones
Molecular Cell Biology II
April 23, 2011 - 4). Think of a unique and attention-grabbing title. The title for a MLA format paper should be centered to the middle of the page and directly beneath the title block.
- 5). Write your essay and insert it beneath your title.
- 6). Compile a works cited page that includes all of the resources you have used. The works cited page should have the words "Work Cited" centered at the top of its own page following your essay. All the entries should be listed alphabetically according to title, with no extra lines in between entries. The first line of each entry should begin all the way to the left with the next line of the entry indented five spaces to the right.
- 7). Write each reference based on the latest MLA citation guidelines. Citation rules vary based on whether the resource was print, online, journal article, video or some other medium. Go online to find the most recent rules for MLA citations and incorporate them into your works cited page. Check the most recent edition of either The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or The MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing for rules and guidelines. See the resources section below for more information.
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