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Please note that all pages are written in the Modern Language Association Format. For more information, see MLA Format Defined. |
- Paper Requirements:
- The heading should be aligned on the left one inch from the top of the page.
- The heading should consist of your Name, Student ID#, Class Period, Date Due, and the Instructor’s Name:
- John Doe
90192
E60-Period 2
September 10, 1995
Mr. Ward
- ½ inch from the top of the page on the far right should be your last name and the page number.
- Paper should be double-spaced.
- There should be a one-inch margin on the left and right of the page and at the bottom of the page.
- The beginning of a paragraph should be indented ½ inch from the already one-inch margin.
- The title of the paper should be centered and should use NO quotation marks, boldface type, underlining, or italicized words.
- Basic rules for research:
- All information presented must be associated with a specific source (citing sources).
- All sources of information must appear on your Works Cited Page.
- Good research demands a variety of sources.
- Sources must have a basis for accuracy.
- As a rule, general purpose encyclopedia are not considered good sources.
- All information used must be accompanied by a citation.
- Primary sources- study through firsthand observation/investigation.
- Includes statistical data, historical documents, works of literature/art, and interviews.
- Primary sources are generally considered better sources of research since the facts have not been distorted through other researcher’s point of views.
- Secondary sources- examination of studies that other researchers have made of a subject.
- Includes books, articles, and any other written material on any subject that you are researching.
- Diversity of sources is more effective to demonstrate a wider understanding of the subject matter.
- Grammar and Spelling:
- All normal rules of the English language obviously apply.
- Avoid the use of contractions in formal papers.
- Avoid dividing words at the end of a line. Instead make use of the wrap-around feature of your word-processor.
- Basic form of a Works Cited Page:
- If any source entry takes up more than one line, indent all lines following the first line.
- Books or electronic sources:
- Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Place of Publication:
Publisher, Date of Publication.
- Arnold, Matthew. The Gift of Life. Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky
Press, 1995.
- Magazines or Periodicals:
- Author’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine. Date
of Publication, Page Numbers.
- West, Jonathan. "Seeking the Open Trail." Hiking Journal. 9 September 1996,
- 58-75.
- An Interview:
- Name of Person Interviewed. Indicator. Date of Interviewer.
- Smith, John. Dr. Personal Interview. 12 November 1996.
- An Internet Information Source:
- Author’s Last Name, First Name. "Name of Page." Name of the Site. Internet
Address. Date Information was Downloaded.
- Clinton, Bill. "1996 State of the Union Speech." Presidential Politics: CNN
Home Page. http://www.CNN.com/presidential/~Clinton/union.html. 10 October 1996.
- Citing sources:
- Put the citing inside the period at the end of the last sentence which contains information from the source you are citing.
- The citing should be put inside of a parenthesis and should include the author’s name and page numbers cited.
- An example is (Brown 137-141).
If no author is given in the source you are citing, instead list the first word used on the Works Cited entry.