Session One: How to Format Your Research Paper Research Paper Boot Camp Presents… Click your mouse to start!

This workshop will teach you to… –Use MLA-Style formatting: Paper, Print & Presentation Margins, Spacing & Font Title Page Heading & Headers Justification & Paragraphs Click mouse for next slide

What is MLA-style? MLA Modern Language Association –Established the standard of punctuation and formatting for writing accepted by academia. –Most often used by fields in the humanities. –Important to stay current on guidelines.

Why Follow Guidelines? Standardizes paper writing: –Formatting –Punctuating –Incorporating outside sources –Creating works cited pages Provides organization and uniformity, no matter the subject area.

Formatting Guidelines Paper, Print & Presentation Paper –8 1/2” x 11” –White bond, 20—24 pound –Unlined Print –Black ink; print quality should be set on “normal” or “best” for dark, easily readable print –Desk jet or laser printer produce best quality –Do not turn in a photo copy of your research paper Presentation –Staple or paper clip your paper –Unless instructed to do so, do not place in a binder or folder

Formatting Guidelines Margins, Spacing & Font Margins –One-inch for left, right, top and bottom margins Spacing –Double space between lines throughout paper –Use one space after each period, question mark, or exclamation point, unless required to use two Font –Use a simple, readable font –Acceptable fonts: Times New Roman, Arial or Courier –Be consistent

Formatting Guidelines Title Page –Not required for MLA-style papers –However, if you are instructed to make a title page, use the following format: Double space and center all information One-third down page, write title of paper –Do not underline, italicize or put quotation marks around your title, unless your title includes the title of a short story, book, poem, article, or other published work On next line, write “by” On next line, write name Either immediately below your name or at the bottom of page, write course and section, instructor, and date, each on a separate line

Formatting Guidelines Sample title page: Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter by Jane Smith Honors English 11 Mrs. T. Peterman 5 December 2008

Formatting Guidelines Heading & Headers Heading –Top left-hand corner, one-inch from top of page –On first page only –List consecutively on separate lines: Name Instructor’s name Course name and section number Date –One double space under the date, center the title of your paper Header –Set a header for top right-hand corner, 1/2” from top of page: Last name Page number One space only between last name and page number Do not use “p” or “page” before the number

Formatting Guidelines Justification & Paragraphs Justification –Right Margin: header and page numbers –Left Margin: heading and the paper itself –Center: the title of your paper Paragraph breaks –Indent each paragraph by five spaces –Indent the first line only –Do not justify the right side of the paragraph

Formatting Guidelines Sample First Page Smith 1 Jane Smith Mrs. T. Peterman Honors English 11 5 December 2008 Symbolism in Shakespeare’s Sonnets Becoming popular during the Renaissance, the sonnet originated in Italy with the poet Petrarch. By …

Formatting Tips Always look up guidelines –As rules are very precise, do not rely on memory –As rules periodically change, stay current on guidelines Be accurate –Be precise with punctuation –Be aware of proper order of information Be consistent –Do not combine MLA-style with any other style –Avoid inconsistency with punctuation and/or order of information

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the How to Format Your Research Paper workshop! Power point contents by: SW 104, East Campus