ENGL-145 - MLA Essay Formatting

MLA Explained:

The Modern Language Association was founded “as an organization representing language and literature researchers and teachers” (MLA Handbook), allowing educators and students to cohesively articulate research and instruction while providing credit to all sources used. The American Psychology Association (APA) and the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago) are also both formats for academic writing; APA formatting is used when writing on the topics of social sciences and STEM, whereas Chicago is used for historical research (Ellis). In the English Writing Arguments (ENGL-145) course, MLA formatting is utilized primarily because this course is an English class, encompassed by the humanities. Proper MLA formatting is essential in Dr. Scott Hamilton's ENGL-145 course, as correct usage accounts for approximately 45% of the total essay grade. MLA follows simple, specific guidelines for how to properly reference research which is organized according to the process of documentation ("MLA Formatting and Style Guide").

MLA General Formatting:

When using MLA Style for a paper, there are required guidelines for the correct style and format. If properly formatted, MLA Style allows for credibility among professionals through proving their accountability in the material they used from various locations. Consulting in this website or the MLA Handbook (9th Edition) will allow for proper formatting and guidelines.

General Guidelines:

Set the page size to 8.5 by 11 inches with 1-inch margins on all 4 sides.
Throughout the essay, use Times New Roman and set text to 12-point font.
The right corner of each page should include the author’s last name and then the page number in 10-point font and Times New Roman. This should be a half inch under the top of the page.
Double spacing should be used throughout the essay.
After using punctuation, add a space before entering the next word.
The first paragraph of the essay should not be indented, but every paragraph after should have indents.
If a longer work, such as a book, journal, magazine, or television series is named, the title should be in italics. If a shorter work, such as an essay, article, song, or television episode is referenced, the title should be in quotation marks.

The “Technical Aspects” of essays, which includes formatting, can earn a total of 10 points if completed correctly.

Formatting First Page:

In proper MLA style, a title page should not be included unless otherwise indicated. On the first page of an MLA style essay (shown properly in the graphic below), at the top left corner of the page, all on new lines the MLA submission information should include the author’s first and last name, if there is an additional author their first and last name should be included on another line below the name of the first author, the name of the course should be below the name(s), the first and last name of the professor should be under the course title, the last line should include the date the paper was submitted.
In a proper MLA style paper, a title should be included below the MLA header requirements (listed above), the title should be centered on the page, in Times New Roman 12 pt. font (should not italicized, bolded, underlined, or in quotation marks). As per Cal Poly and professional standards, a line space should be included above and below the title.
The first paragraph of the first page should not be indented however, every other paragraph following the first should be.

Formatting Works Cited:

Create a new page under the essay and center the title of the page as “Work Cited.”
On a new line, enter the citations ensuring they are left aligned.
Create a hanging indent by indenting the second and subsequent lines by 0.5 inches
- - To create a hanging indent: (Mac) Command+T vs. (Windows) Ctrl+T
List each citation alphabetically by the author's last name
- - On Word, highlight the citations, press the icon with a downward arrow labeled “A” and “Z” and select the option “ascending” to alphabetize.
Ensure that the page numbers are sourced efficiently, citing only the range of pages referenced throughout the essay.
While often not used in the ENGL-145 course, a section titled “Research Results” may be requested. If research results are requested to be included, at the end of the paper on a new page and centered, title the section “Research Results.” Below the title (still centered), include all phrases that were searched during the research process, along with how many of those phrases contained papers that were cited on a new line.

This technique of MLA Works Cited formatting is used to ensure proper referencing and to offer credit where credit is due. The Works Cited page earns a total of 15 points if completed correctly. For more specific guidelines and information on works cited, go to the “MLA Works Cited” page on the ENGL-145 website.

Common Mistakes:

The student utilizes the wrong font and/or font size for the header (Last name, page number)

Proper formatting is Times New Roman 12 pt font.

The student uses improper spacing between submission details, title, and essay body.

While this is not outlined in the MLA handbook, the Cal Poly standard and expectation by Hamilton is to skip a line between the submission details, title, and essay body.

The student adds extra space between paragraphs.

There should be no skipped lines between paragraphs. Only an indent should differentiate the two.

The student has works cited information directly below the concluding paragraph.

The Works Cited should be on its page.

The student forgets to center particular titles.

The title of the works cited (“Works Cited”) and the essay's title should always be centered.

The student improperly indents the first paragraph.

The first paragraph should never be indented, only the ones that follow.

The student sets the date submitted in the submission details as the due date.

The date submitted should always reflect the actual date the assignment was turned in on Canvas.

The student orders the submission details incorrectly.

The correct order for submission information is Name, Course Name, Teacher Name, then Submission Date. This should be followed for all submissions throughout the course, not just essays.

The student is not careful when copying and pasting.

When copying and pasting, ensure the pasted content matches proper MLA formatting.

Final Formatting Checklist:

Page Setup

☐ Set document 8.5 by 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins on all sides

☐ Set text to 12 pt font, Times New Roman

☐ Set lines to double-spaced

☐ Set header to 10 pt Times New Roman font, include the author’s last name and page number, and aligned to the top right

Submission Information

☐ First and last name

☐ Course title (English Writing Arguments ENGL-145)

☐ First and last name of professor (Dr. Scott Hamilton)

☐ Date of submission (Actual date submitted and not the due date)

Miscellaneous

☐ Center essay title

☐ Skip lines between the submission info and the title, as well as between the title and the first paragraph

☐ Do not include indentation on the first paragraph

☐ Indent each paragraph following the first

Works Cited Page

☐ Begin on a new page

☐ Title as “Works Cited” and center on the page

☐ Ensure citations follow proper MLA formatting

☐ Set hanging indent on all citations

☐ Ensure sources are alphabetized A-Z

Helpful Mac Keybinds

Open Paragraph Options Menu: Command+Option+M

Create Hanging Indent: Command+T

Remove Hanging Indent: Command+Shift+T

Align the text to the left: Command+L

Align the text to the right: Command+R

Center paragraph: Command+E

Apply double-spacing: Command+2

Apply italics formatting: Command+I

Insert a page break: Command+Return

Select all text: Command+A

Copy text: Command+C

Paste text: Command+V

Paste without formatting: Command+Shift+V

Undo: Command+Z

Helpful Windows Keybinds

Open Paragraph Options Menu: N/A

Create Hanging Indent: Ctrl+T

Remove Hanging Indent: Ctrl+Shift+T

Align the text to the left: Ctrl+L

Align the text to the left: Ctrl+R

Center paragraph: Ctrl+E

Apply double-spacing: Ctrl+2

Apply italics formatting: Ctrl+I

Insert a page break: Ctrl+Enter

Select all text: Ctrl+A

Copy text: Ctrl+C

Paste text: Ctrl+V

Paste without formatting: Ctrl+Shift+V

Undo: Ctrl+Z

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