MLA Format – The Basics

Very basically, the Modern Language Association (MLA) has prescribed a standard way of laying out text on the page. This format provides scholars in the Humanities with a simple, neat, and effective way of presenting information and of communicating ideas. It may, in the beginning, seem irritating to learn the format, but the reality is that most disciplines adopt a style, and conformity—at least at the college level (and usually the high school level)—is required.

Styles Used by Various Disciplines Humanities Modern Language Association Manual of Style (MLA) Sciences Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) Journalism Chicago Manual of Style

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style:

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style: First, set up the margins to 1” all the way around.

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style: First, set up the margins to 1” all the way around. Second, change the font to Times New Roman.

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style: First, set up the margins to 1” all the way around. Second, change the font to Times New Roman. Third, change the font size to 12-point.

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style: First, set up the margins to 1” all the way around. Second, change the font to Times New Roman. Third, change the font size to 12-point. Fourth, change the spacing to double.

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style: First, set up the margins to 1” all the way around. Second, change the font to Times New Roman. Third, change the font size to 12-point. Fourth, change the spacing to double. Fifth, insert a page number in the header and type your last name in front of it. This is called a running header.

Memoir: A Night to Remember Sample First Page in MLA Style: ½” 1” Brown 1 Sarah Brown Professor Spalding ENG 110A 29 September 2007 1” 1” Memoir: A Night to Remember The moon was full, as I recall, casting long, blue shadows against the wall. As we wound our way through the streets, small, bright orange pumpkins clasped in our hands, I had the eerie sense that we were being followed . . .

Please note that the heading, which is left justified, is set up in a very specific order: (1) Your first and last name (2) Your teacher’s name (Ms. Merenda) (3) Your class name and period (English ___ Period #) (4) The date Note: You may not vary or approximate this order. It is what it is.

Sarah Brown Professor Spalding ENG 110A 29 September 2007

Note, please, that the date is set up in a very specific way: the day the month the year You may not vary this structure. It is not optional. It may not be abbreviated or rearranged according to your preferences. September 29, 2007 29 Sep 2007 Sep 29, 2007 29/9/07 9/29/07 With no punctuation. 29 September 2007 These are non-standard formats and are unacceptable in an MLA paper.

Every essay requires a title. A Note On The Title: All MLA-style essays require a title. Note that the title is centered. It should not be in block capitals, italicized, bolded, in quotation marks, or underlined. All major words should begin with a capital letter. Every essay requires a title.

Be aware, too, that there is no other spacing in MLA Format besides double spacing. I repeat, there is no other spacing in MLA Format besides DOUBLE SPACING.

And for those of you who may be a little hard of hearing, I will reiterate for a third time: THERE IS NO OTHER SPACING IN MLA FORMAT BESIDES DOUBLE SPACING.

Nothing DOUBLE SPACING ONLY None Zip No single spacing. Nada No triple spacing. Nothing No quadruple spacing. DOUBLE SPACING ONLY

Memoir: A Night to Remember If you can master the basics of setting up your page in MLA style, you will be well on the way toward understanding the MLA system. Brown 1 Sarah Brown Professor Spalding ENG 110A 29 September 2007 Memoir: A Night to Remember The moon was full, as I recall, casting long, blue shadows against the wall. As we wound our way through the streets, small, bright orange pumpkins clasped in our hands, I had the eerie sense that we were being followed. What made me believe this, besides a cold, prickling sen- sation in my spine, and a distinct sense of unease, I may . . .

And finally, a note on teachers who require variations on MLA Style:

And finally, a note on teachers who require variations on MLA Style: Periodically, you will run across teachers who insist on minor variations from MLA Style.

And finally, a note on teachers who require variations on MLA Style: Periodically, you will run across teachers who insist on minor variations from MLA Style. Humor them.

And finally, a note on teachers who require variations on MLA Style: Periodically, you will run across teachers who insist on minor variations from MLA Style. Humor them. If they want a cover page, give them their cover page.

And finally, a note on teachers who require variations on MLA Style: Periodically, you will run across professors who insist on minor variations from MLA Style. Humor them. If they want a cover page, give them their cover page. If they want the title in block capitals, give them their block capitals.

And finally, a note on teachers who require variations on MLA Style: Periodically, you will run across teachers who insist on minor variations from MLA Style. Humor them. If they want a cover page, give them their cover page. If they want the title in block capitals, give them their block capitals. Remember, the teacher is the one who will give you your grade.

And finally, a note on teachers who require variations on MLA Style: Periodically, you will run across teachers who insist on minor variations from MLA Style. Humor them. If they want a cover page, give them their cover page. If they want the title in block capitals, give them their block capitals. Remember, the teacher is the one who will give you your grade. That said, please observe the following rule of thumb:

When the monkey wants peanuts, give it PEANUTS!

Beyond the Basic Parenthetical Citation We know the basic rule is last name plus page number, but what happens when the text doesn’t have an author or the article has paragraph numbers instead of page numbers?

Formatting difficult quotes Note: If your article doesn’t have an author, use a shortened version of the title in its place (usually 1-3 words). Surround with quotation marks. If your article is short, doesn’t have fixed page numbers, but does have paragraph numbers, use par. and the page number. Ex. (“It’s the Truth” par. 9)

Embedded quote example Kant “believed all lying was bad—every single lie, even one that could save someone’s life” (“It’s the Truth” par. 8). However, Kant isn’t talking about lies of omission because for him “a statement must be made” (Mahon 203). For Kant lies must also….

PowerPoint Presentation by Mark A. Spalding, BA, MEd, MA, 2007. The End PowerPoint Presentation by Mark A. Spalding, BA, MEd, MA, 2007.