The Awesomeness of MLA Format

English & Humanities(Rooney)

Why do you need MLA?

1. Built-in paper format (YAY!)

2. In-text citations (YAY!)

3. Works Cited List (SUPER YAYYYY!)

1. Paper Format

Built-In Paper Format

› No guessing where your name, date, teacher’s name, page number or class name goes. Everything is spelled out.

› First page has its own format.

› Works Cited has its own format.

Built-In Paper Format:General Guidelines

• Typed, double spaced text, 1 inch margins on all sides.

• Legible font, ex., Times New Roman, Courier New or Arial. Font size = 12 point.

• Leave only one space after periods.

• Include a header with your last name, followed by a space and then the page number, aligned right (on every single page).

• Begin each paragraph with a half-inch indent.

Built-In Paper Format:First Page

• No title page, unless requested.

• In the upper left-hand corner, list your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date , double-spaced.

• Center the title of your paper. Do not underline, italicize or place your title within quotes.

Built-In Paper Format:Works Cited Page

• Begin on a new page at the end of the paper.

• Label the page Works Cited, centered at the top of the page.

• Double-space everything - both between and within all citations. Use the hanging indent style (see example).

• Every citation must include the Medium of Publication. Most entries will be either Print or Web.

• Longer titles are italicized - not underlined. Capitalize principle words in the titles of articles, books, etc.

Built-In Paper Format:Works Cited Page

Hanging Indent

Longer titles italicized

Double Spaced

2. In-Text Citations

In-Text Citations

• This citation corresponds to a source on your Works Cited list. – WHY?

• Every time you quote, paraphrase, summarize or use the ideas of others.

• Either (Rooney 5) or (5)

• Give just enough info to confidently lead your reader to your Works Cited list.

3.Works Cited List

The Works Cited List

Works hand-in-hand with your in-text citations. Each type of source has its own citation style.

Books, magazine, journal articles, movies, online videos – they are all different and have to be cited properly.

One author, two authors, NO author, and more than four authors are all cited differently.

MLA IS WEIRD.

The Works Cited List