1. MLA Format – The Basics

2. 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.

3. 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

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

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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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 . . .

11. 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.

12. Sarah Brown
Professor Spalding
ENG 110A
29 September 2007

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

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

18. 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 . . .

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

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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:

26. When the monkey wants peanuts, give it PEANUTS!

27. 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?

28. 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)

29. 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….

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