Using MLA Format

Why do I have to use MLA? Gives you credibility as a writer Protects you from plagiarism Provides a consistent format that you will use throughout your schooling

Heading Top left hand corner First page only Name (First Last) Instructor’s name (Ms. Hummitzsch) Course (Creative Writing) Date to be completed (Day Month Year)

Title Do not simply state assignment Bad Example: Narrative Poem Creative title necessary Do not simply state assignment Bad Example: Narrative Poem Do not underline Do not quote Do not bold Should be 12 point font, Times New Roman

Header Omit on first page Located in header Right alignment Should read Last name and page number

How To Add Header Go to second page of document Double click in header Click “Different First Page” under design tab Click the “Page Number” button on top left of page, hover over “Top of Page”, and then choose “Plain Number 3” Type last name and a space Highlight and change to 12 point Times New Roman font Check your work by scrolling up and making sure your header is NOT on your first page and scroll down to make sure the number changes for each page

Other Rules Double space everything No extra spaces! Times New Roman No space between paragraphs No extra space between header, title, and introduction paragraph Times New Roman 12 point font 1 inch margins on all sides

Works Cited Page A complete list of the sources you cite within your paper Book: Author Last Name, First Name. Title. City of publication: Publisher, Copyright date. Example: Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. New York: HarperCollins, 1993.

Works Cited Page Movie: DVD Title. Director OR Producer. Performers. Distributor, Release Year. Medium of Publication. Example: Ed Wood. Dir. Tim Burton. Perf. Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette. Touchstone, 1994. DVD.

In-text Citations Offers a direct connection between information in the essay and your works cited page Use when: “quoting” words that are not your own summarizing facts and ideas from a source paraphrasing a source Book Example: Santiago shows his belief in omens when “he didn’t consider mending the hole”(Coelho 41).