MLA essays are required in many classes, and the MLA has specific guidelines for formatting. The paper should be white, 8.5″ x 11″, with 1″ margins and double-spaced lines. The first page includes the title and author information, and subsequent pages have a header with the author’s last name and page number. Works cited should be included and cited in parentheses. The MLA Handbook and Style Guide are available for purchase.
Depending on the instructor of a class, an MLA essay may be required as part of your learning, whether in middle school or graduate classes. The Modern Language Association (MLA) has developed very specific guidelines for writing and publishing MLA essays and theses, and these guidelines have been followed by thousands of instructors for over 50 years. Individual teachers in a class may vary from these guidelines, so it is important for a student to ensure that there are no deviations from the MLA format. In this case, you can use the following tips to write an MLA essay.
The paper used should be white, 20# weight, sized to conform to the US standard size, which is 8.5″ x 11″ (21.59 cm x 27.94 cm). There should be 1 inch (2.54 cm) margins on every page, including top, bottom, left and right. However, page numbers do not fit within these margins. Each line must be double-spaced, including references and any citations that might be used. The first line of each paragraph is indented five spaces, or half an inch (1.27 cm), and quotations have a special double indentation of 10 spaces on each line.
The first page of an MLA essay is the only page that will contain the title and other pertinent information about the author and class. Starting on the first line, directly in the left margin, you should type your name, instructor name, course name and number, and date, all double-spaced and on separate lines. Another double space precedes the title of the essay, which must be centred. Then the body of the essay can begin.
A half inch from the top of the page, against the right margin, the author’s last name and page number should be typed. This is a header that will follow on every page of the document, in the same place, with just the page number changing each time. All text should be in 12 pt Times New Roman, which has proven to be the easiest to read.
The MLA guide suggests using a paper clip to bind the paper, as this makes it easier to read. Most instructors, however, prefer a full stop and may suggest this deviation from the guidelines. A student should check with the instructor for their preferred method of binding.
An MLA essay will include a section of the paper on the works cited. This is where the author refers to the supporting material used in researching the document. All references are arranged alphabetically and the author should cite references throughout the body of the essay. Citations in the body should be in parentheses and should have only the author’s last name.
MLA essay styles are used throughout North America and many other countries, as well as in over 1,100 literary and scholarly publications. The institution publishes the MLA Handbook for Research Paper Writers and the MLA Style Handbook and Guide to Academic Publishing. Both are available for purchase in university bookstores and online.
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