WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO MAKE MY PAPER FOLLOW MLA FORMAT? MLA FORMAT

TYPING Computer Standard white 8.5 x 11 inch paper Double spaced Fonts – 12 point Times New Roman Arial Only one space after a period Margins – 1 inch on each side First line of each paragraph indented – use tab key once

SPECIAL HEADER Go to insert Page # Choose “Plain # 3 To the left of the number, type your last name Gray 1 Should be ½ inch from the top Flush with the right hand margin

NAME/INFO In the upper left hand area of your paper type double spaced: First Name Last Name Teacher Name Class Color/Language Arts Date as shown: day Month year 10 December 2014

TITLE Title should be centered Should not be Underlined Bolded Typed in all capitals If you are stating a title, it must follow the correct conventions

UNDERLINE VERSUS ITALICS If a book, movie, article, poem, etc. are in article use the proper convention. If it requires underline or italics, choose one and use it throughout the paper

ARTICLE First Paragraph – Introduction Hook Background pertinent to thesis Claim State overall idea of the article How you will support this

ARTICLE Other paragraphs Cover each one of your reasons with the support you found in research Should transition to the next paragraph smoothly Should only have one main idea in them Should have a counter-argument in one of them Conclusion NOT a repeat of the introduction Makes sure the information presented is reiterated Reader knows paper is done DO NOT SAY “THIS IS WHAT I TOLD YOU…” OR “THE END”

METHODS OF SHOWING THE OPPOSITION Show the opposition is wrong – Acknowledge the opposition straight away and set about disproving it. “While it is true that television advertisers use strategies that encourage views to buy things, there are strong laws and regulations that ensure truth in advertising (rebuttal) Show the opposition has some merit, but your point is just as good- Presents a point equally convincing. Use if you can’t find a stronger point “…People who complain about the ads do have a valid point. But if the public demanded…we would have better commercials. If enough people….there would be enough pressure to make the commercials better.

METHODS OF SHOWING THE OPPOSITION Show the Opposition has Merit, but your point is stronger- Acknowledge the other side, but rebut with your own point – and make it a real humdinger. “…There are some people who say that people can learn about products and services

WORKS CITED Lists all of the sources you used during your research for your support. Alphabetical order by the first word of the citation Title “Works Cited” should be centered on page at top All citations are left justified and double spaced with hanging indent (see next slide)

HANGING INDENT In Word, hit arrow at bottom corner of paragraph section Look for section that says “Special” Choose “hanging” The first line will not indent, but all additional lines will indent Gray, Lauren. How to Write a Research Paper. Roswell: HTMS Printing, Print

INTERNAL CITATION Used after using information from one of the sources either quoted or paraphrased Avoid plagiarism (author, #) if available, don’t type pg for page (author) if available (article title) Punctuation comes after this (author, #).