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MLA Paper formating Basics
MLA Paper formating Basics
Every time you start a new document in an English course, you should set the page up in MLA Format. See the image to the right for a visual representation.
1. Formatting: Your font size, style, and spacing should be your first priority
- Size: 12
- Style: Times New Roman
- Spacing: Double
2. Your Heading:
...is where you place your identifying information. Once you have finished your font formatting, you can place you full name, teacher name, course name, and date that the assignment is due. These should be aligned to the left side of the page and double spaced like the rest of the paper.
Example below:
Jackson Turner
Mr. Teacher
10th Honors ELA
May 22, 2024
3. Title:
Your title will appear just below the line where you header ended - do not add extra space. Your title will be center aligned and should have every word capitalized with the exception of (a, an, and, as, at, but, by, for, in, nor, of, on, or, the).
4. Paragraphs:
Paragraphs should be separated by the use of an indentation of 1/2 and inch. A simple way to achieve this is to click the [tab] key in the top left corner of your keyboard. There should not be any extra space between paragraphs unless you are taking a monitored essay test, you will need spaces between paragraphs in this case.
In-Text Citations
In-Text Citations
Why are in-text citations important? In-text citations
Give full credit to sources that are quoted and paraphrased in a work/paper.
Help the writer avoid plagiarism.
Are a signal that the information came from another source.
Tell the reader where the information came from.
There are three ways to add quotes:
1. With the author’s name in the sentence (a citation in prose)
Example:
Dan Gutman shares a glimpse into the overall plot by stating, “I didn’t know it at the time, but a baseball card—for me—could function like a time machine” (5).
In the above example, Dan Gutman is the author of the book that this quote is pulled from.
2. Without the author’s name in the sentence (a parenthetical citation)
Example:
The main character’s confusing experience is realized and explained when he states “I didn’t know it at the time, but a baseball card—for me—could function like a time machine” (Gutman 5).
In the above example, Dan Gutman’s name isn’t included in the sentence. It’s included in the parentheses at the end of the sentence.
3. Block Quotes (EasyBib.com)
Quotes longer than four lines are called, “block quotes.” Block quotes are sometimes necessary when you’re adding a lengthy piece of information into your project.
Begin the block quote on a new line. The body of the full project should run along the one inch margin, but the block quote should be set in an inch and a half. The entire quote should be along the inch and a half margin.
Example:
Despite Bruchac’s consistent difficult situations at home, basketball kept his mind busy and focused:
When I got off the late bus that afternoon, my grandparents weren’t home. The store was locked and there was a note from Grama on the house door. Doc Magovern had come to the house because Grampa was “having trouble with his blood.” Now they were off to the hospital and I “wasn’t to worry.” This had happened before. Grampa had pernicious anemia and sometimes was very sick. So, naturally, it worried the pants off me. I actually thought about taking my bike down the dreaded 9N the three miles to the Saratoga Hospital. Instead, I did as I knew they wanted. I opened the store and waited for customers. None came, though, and my eye was caught by the basketball stowed away as usual behind the door. I had to do something to take my mind off what was happening to Grampa. I took out the ball and went around the side. (13)
In most cases, quotation marks are added around quoted material. For block quotes, since the reader can see that the quoted material sits in its own block, it is not necessary to place quotation marks around it.
Paraphrases in MLA
Paraphrases in MLA
Paraphrases are created when text or speech from another source are added into a project, but the writer chooses to summarize them and weave in his or her own writing and writing style.
Even though the writer modifies the information from another source, it is still necessary to credit the source using proper format. Paraphrased information uses the same MLA reference format as stated in the section directly above this one.
Here is an acceptable paraphrase:
Original text:
“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” Steve Jobs
Paraphrase:
Steve Jobs encouraged students at Stanford to continue with their determination, drive, and ambitious behavior. They should never be simply satisfied with the status quo. They should continue to push themselves despite possible obstacles and failures (45).
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