The MLA Style:The MLA Style:

Formatting According to the Formatting According to the Modern Language Association Modern Language Association

GuidelinesGuidelines

Why do we need to format Why do we need to format according to specific guidelines?according to specific guidelines?► It’s like playing by the rules (academic It’s like playing by the rules (academic

rules). It allows all to be on the same rules). It allows all to be on the same page.page.

►Citations work like a legend (key) for a Citations work like a legend (key) for a map. They help your audience map. They help your audience navigate the research you’ve done for navigate the research you’ve done for your paper.your paper.

Why the MLA?Why the MLA?

►This is the accepted format for English This is the accepted format for English and the humanities.and the humanities.

►Other styles include the APA Other styles include the APA (American Psychological Association) (American Psychological Association) and the Chicago. and the Chicago.

MLA BasicsMLA Basics

► All text is double-spaced. (Set to double All text is double-spaced. (Set to double space at the start and don’t change.)space at the start and don’t change.)

► Use Times New Roman 12-point font.Use Times New Roman 12-point font.►Margins are 1” all around.Margins are 1” all around.► Upper left-hand corner should provide your Upper left-hand corner should provide your

name, your instructor’s name, the course, name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the due date.and the due date.

► A header with your last name and page A header with your last name and page number is at the upper right, ½” from the number is at the upper right, ½” from the top.top.

What do I do with the title?What do I do with the title?

►Create an original title for your paper. Create an original title for your paper. ►Center it on the line following the due Center it on the line following the due

date.date.►Leave the text of the title very plain. Leave the text of the title very plain.

(No bold letters, italics, quotation (No bold letters, italics, quotation marks, word art, underline, larger or marks, word art, underline, larger or different fonts.)different fonts.)

Look online for guidance!Look online for guidance!

►Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting and StylPurdue OWL: MLA Formatting and Style Guidee Guide

What is a Works Cited page?What is a Works Cited page?

►This is the last page of your research This is the last page of your research paper. paper.

► It should be titled as Works Cited.It should be titled as Works Cited.► It provides a bibliographic list of all of the It provides a bibliographic list of all of the

sources you used and sources you used and citedcited in your in your paper.paper.

►Look online or the manual for proper Look online or the manual for proper formats for different kinds of sources.formats for different kinds of sources.

►Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting and Style Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting and Style GuideGuide

Additional Tips:Additional Tips:► Titles should not be in all caps. It may be Titles should not be in all caps. It may be

formatted that way on the web as part of the formatted that way on the web as part of the graphic design of the page, but when you graphic design of the page, but when you create a bibliographic entry, you follow create a bibliographic entry, you follow standard American English. You only capitalize standard American English. You only capitalize the first letter of each word, except for the first letter of each word, except for unimportant words like “a,” “an,” “the,” short unimportant words like “a,” “an,” “the,” short prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions (unless these words are the first words of the (unless these words are the first words of the title).title).

► You do not consider “A,” “An,” and “The” at You do not consider “A,” “An,” and “The” at the beginning of titles when you alphabetize the beginning of titles when you alphabetize your list.your list.

►Use three hyphens (ie: ---) in place of an Use three hyphens (ie: ---) in place of an author’s name if the author is repeated.author’s name if the author is repeated.

►No url’s are necessary.No url’s are necessary.

► Abbreviate dates. (eg: 25 Sept. 2012 vs. 25 Abbreviate dates. (eg: 25 Sept. 2012 vs. 25 September 2012)September 2012)

► Use italics instead of underlining for titles of Use italics instead of underlining for titles of sites, books, albums, etc. (“big” and sites, books, albums, etc. (“big” and complete works). (Quotation marks are used complete works). (Quotation marks are used for the “small” and parts of works.)for the “small” and parts of works.)

► Use n.p. and n.d. for no publisher or no Use n.p. and n.d. for no publisher or no publishing date, respectively. publishing date, respectively.

► Find sponsors/publishers of sites by going to Find sponsors/publishers of sites by going to a site’s home page.a site’s home page.

What is a Works Consulted What is a Works Consulted page?page?

► It is like a Works Cited page except the It is like a Works Cited page except the works listed on this page are not works works listed on this page are not works you necessarily you necessarily citedcited in the paper. in the paper.

►You have merely You have merely consultedconsulted them. them.

What are parenthetical What are parenthetical citations?citations?

► If the Works Cited page is the map, the If the Works Cited page is the map, the parenthetical citation is the key. parenthetical citation is the key.

► The parenthetical citation tells you which The parenthetical citation tells you which source to look at.source to look at.

► Typically, it consists of the author’s last name Typically, it consists of the author’s last name and the page number.and the page number.

► Example: (Orwell 21)Example: (Orwell 21)► If no author is given, use an abbreviated title If no author is given, use an abbreviated title

with key words instead of the author’s last with key words instead of the author’s last name. name.

Look online for guidance:Look online for guidance:

►Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting and StylPurdue OWL: MLA Formatting and Style Guidee Guide