MLA (Modern Language Association) style is a widely used citation style for writing research papers in the field of humanities, particularly in English and other language and literature studies. It is a standardized system for formatting and citing sources in academic writing, and it is typically used in middle and high school, as well as in college and graduate school.
There are several key elements to consider when writing a research paper in MLA style. These include:
Page layout: MLA papers are typically double-spaced, with 1-inch margins on all sides. The font should be a legible, 12-point font, such as Times New Roman or Arial.
Heading and title: The heading should include your name, your instructor's name, the course number, and the date, all on separate lines and left-justified. The title of your paper should be centered and should not be bolded, italicized, or underlined.
Page numbering: Page numbers should be placed in the top right corner of the page, preceded by your last name.
In-text citations: When you refer to a source in your paper, you must include an in-text citation. In MLA style, this is done by including the author's last name and the page number(s) in parentheses at the end of the sentence, before the period.
Works cited page: At the end of your paper, you must include a list of all the sources you used, called a "Works Cited" page. This page should be formatted according to specific guidelines, including the use of hanging indents and alphabetical order.
To see examples of how to format an MLA style paper, you can refer to the MLA Handbook or visit the MLA website. It is also helpful to review sample papers or ask your instructor for guidance. By following the guidelines for MLA style, you can help ensure that your research paper is professional and well-organized, and that your sources are properly credited.
MLA Formatting
Font size 12 is necessary. Optional elements The ninthedition is designed to be as streamlined as possible. Just keep these formatting rules in mind. Additionally, Murray argues that the purpose of writing is to "carry ideas and information from the mind of one person into the mind of another" A Writer Teaches Writing3. You can include your information on the first line of your page 1.
How do I style headings and subheadings in a research paper?
Capitalization Capitalize headings like the titles of works, as explained in section 1. Example heading styles Chapter Title Section Heading Subheading Tip: Both Google Docs and Microsoft Word allow you to create heading levels that help you to keep your headings consistent. Title of container The eighth edition of the MLA handbook introduced what are referred to as "containers," which are the larger wholes in which the source is located. Ideally, you should consult your professor on that — most of the time, they will tell you exactly how many external references they expect. Therefore, images, illustrations, and maps could be a big part of your paper. . If you are assigned to write an MLA style research paper, a literature essay, or any other academic assignment, your professors will probably refer you to the 8th edition of MLA formatting guidelines.
MLA Sample Paper: Formatting Introduction, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusion
Moreover, one should not overwrite in conclusions. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook 9 th ed. This privatizing trend has particularly affected the criminal justice system. Quotations for MLA Format Essay For your research paper to be solid and credible, you'll need to prove your arguments and support your claims. This policy has far-ranging consequences not only within the criminal justice system, but as an instructive example for government officials when considering the costs and benefits of privatization as a public policy option. Surprisingly, there has been little objective and concrete analysis of the privatization of prisons in the United States. MLA Paper Format Made Easy Preparation has you ready! Time-based media sources When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference.
Think of title page as cover page. When you need to quote a considerable amount of text, start the citation on a new line and indent the whole piece. If you only cite from one volume, provide only the page number in parentheses. You can include stage directions in the quote if they appear in the original source. These current statistics show that while state governments have been forced to manage and operate overcrowded and over-capacity prisons at considerable costs, many have turned to the private sector to operate prisons McDonald and Patten Jr. Bureau of Justice Assistance, Feb. For example, if you want to cite a poem that is listed in a collection of poems, the individual poem is the source, while the larger collection is the container.
The next line of your MLA style paper is the title of your work. Abt Associates, 15 Sept. Guidelines for referring to the works of others in your text using MLA style are covered throughout the MLA Handbookand in chapter 7 of the MLA Style Manual. Adjusting fonts through the ENTIRE paper Remember that part with your last name in the header, next to the page number? It needs to be flush left and include a hanging indent for information that goes into a second line. In this case, the conclusion should provide readers with a broader context of a discussed topic. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook 9 th ed. That year, Corrections Corporation of America set up the first privately-operated prison in Tennessee.
Subsequent occurrences: George argues …. Thus, the current system is based on a few guiding principles, rather than an extensive list of specific rules. Always use full sentences if your instructor requires you to do so, though. End this element with a period. You need to choose the right topic, ensure structure is proper, and reach your conclusions using facts and information you've gathered.
MLA Style Paper: Flexible Guidelines vs. Specific Rules
Sometimes, page numbers or line numbers are also included, especially when text is quoted from the source being cited. When a citation is not needed Common sense and ethics should determine your need for documenting sources. Both citations in the examples above, 263 and Wordsworth 263 , tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth. Headings should be styled in descending order of prominence. The caption in this case is also centered. Miller 12 , others note that the advantages for medical research outweigh this consideration A. An example of the first citation in prose for a source with one author is given below: Doug Barry explains the status of the UK.
When creating in-text citations for electronic, film, or Internet sources, remember that your citation must reference the source on your Works Cited page. Those imply that you put their words under quotation marks and specify who the original author is. Once you master the basics, you can dive into more detailed instructions and requirements. But, there are specific rules here as well that you need to follow to respect the MLA style guide. Since then, the number of private Yaffarabe 3 correctional facility firms has grown to 14 Austin and Coventry 3.
