1. Modern Language Association style… aka MLA

2. According to OWL at PURDUE… MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. Note: MLA includes many rules that we aren’t going to worry about just yet. Some of the areas we aren’t spending time on just yet, but that you will want to take care of next year for the senior project. For example, we are not going to worry about including headers.

3. Writers who properly use MLA also build their credibility by demonstrating accountability to their source material. Most importantly, the use of MLA style can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the purposeful or accidental uncredited use of source material by other writers. Writers who properly use MLA also build their credibility by demonstrating accountability to their source material. Most importantly, the use of MLA style can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the purposeful or accidental uncredited use of source material by other writers. If you are asked to use MLA format, be sure to consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th edition). Publishing scholars and graduate students should also consult the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing (3rd edition). The MLA Handbook is available in most writing centers and reference libraries; it is also widely available in bookstores, libraries, and at the MLA web site. See the Additional Resources section of this handout for a list of helpful books and sites about using MLA style. If you are asked to use MLA format, be sure to consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th edition). Publishing scholars and graduate students should also consult the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing (3rd edition). The MLA Handbook is available in most writing centers and reference libraries; it is also widely available in bookstores, libraries, and at the MLA web site. See the Additional Resources section of this handout for a list of helpful books and sites about using MLA style.

4. Some General Guidelines… Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are recognizable one from another. The font size should be 12 pt. Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are recognizable one from another. The font size should be 12 pt. Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks. Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks. Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides. Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides. Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times. Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times. Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works (books, movies, plays, novellas, etc…). Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works (books, movies, plays, novellas, etc…).

5. Formatting the First Page of Your Paper In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text. In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text. Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters. Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters. Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking" Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking" Double space between the title and the first line of the text. Double space between the title and the first line of the text.

6. How to Cite the Purdue OWL in MLA I need to cite the entire website, so here’s what I would type. The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2010. Web. Date of access.

7. Here’s a video… You need to take a page of notes on this video. Bullet points are fine, but also write down any questions you have. Here’s a video… You need to take a page of notes on this video. Bullet points are fine, but also write down any questions you have. Here’s a video… Here’s a video… Let’s talk… Let’s talk…

8. Finally… Grab a Writer’s Inc. Book; you’ll probably need to share. Turn to page 256 and take a quick look through page 283. This is our in-class resource for MLA. Starting today, all major written assignments you turn in in my class will require Works Cited pages. If you quote anyone, paraphrase anyone, or include anything in mini-papers, book reviews, or any other major assignments in my class, you will need a Works Cited Page, which we will practice creating NOW. Starting today, all major written assignments you turn in in my class will require Works Cited pages. If you quote anyone, paraphrase anyone, or include anything in mini-papers, book reviews, or any other major assignments in my class, you will need a Works Cited Page, which we will practice creating NOW.

9. At the end of the notes you took on the video… Select a novel from the class shelf and write a works cited entry for it. Make sure you indent and space it correctly. Select a novel from the class shelf and write a works cited entry for it. Make sure you indent and space it correctly. Grab your yellow text book, and generate a works cited entry for one of the short stories we’ve read in it. Classify it as “A Single Work from an Anthology”. Grab your yellow text book, and generate a works cited entry for one of the short stories we’ve read in it. Classify it as “A Single Work from an Anthology”. Use either your phone or get someone else to share theirs (I will also put some films options on the board) to create a works cited entry for your favorite childhood film Use either your phone or get someone else to share theirs (I will also put some films options on the board) to create a works cited entry for your favorite childhood film Go to the Hershey’s website, and create a works cited entry for the article about Milton Hershey. Go to the Hershey’s website, and create a works cited entry for the article about Milton Hershey.

10. Turn to page 283. This is what a works cited page should look like. The only element that you won’t have to include is the header that says “De Jong 7”. You will be doing a pretty intense research project soon, and will not be able to complete it without a basic understanding of MLA. Do you have any questions?