1. Making Sense of MLA Format
Proper citation & styling for the study of English

2. Why do I have to do this?
Once upon a time in a boring land far, far away, the Powers That Be gathered atop Mount Finicky to decide how each academic discipline would cite its sources. Some disciplines, like history and psychology, chose footnoting. English, however, felt it was too special for footnotes. It selected MLA format and the Powers that Be declared that all those who study English must cite using MLA format

3. The Internet has Information!
Stuck? Google “MLA format”
No excuse for inaccuracies

4. Part One
Titles and 1st Page

5. A good title is interesting AND informative
NOT “Formal Essay” or “Essay #2”
Try a two-parter title  interest catcher: informative piece
“Death Becomes Her: A Psychological Examination of Lady MacBeth’s Homicidal Tendencies

6. First Page of Essay

7. More Rules
The essay must be double spaced and written in Times New Roman or Arial 11pt or 12pt font
The title is not bolded, underlined or written in a larger font
Simply center it

8. Part Two
Works Cited

9. Works Cited Works cited = work is CITED (quoted) in the essay
Must start on a new page and include the same header as every other page of the essay
The title is centered (as above)
Alphabetical list
All second and subsequent lines are indented

10. Citing a Book
Last name, first name. Complete Title. Place of publication: publisher’s name, year. Print.
This is new! For EVERY
source, you must indicate
its medium!
Italics, not underline! MLA has
stopped using underline!

11. Example: To Kill A Mockingbird
Lee, Harper. To Kill A Mockingbird New York: Grand Central, Print.

12. You might also need to cite…
A book with more than one author
A website
A movie
An article in an online journal or newspaper
TV or radio program
Work of art
A government publication

13. Amazing Websites
Concordia university  has help guides for all styles, including MLA & Chicago
Purdue University Online Writing Lab