MLA Summary

Overall Paper Format - MLA
[http://www.writinghelp-central.com/mla-format-rules.html]


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1.

The paper should be typed and double-spaced, on standard 8 ½” x
11” 20-pound white paper.

2.

All four outside margins should be set at 1 inch.

3.

A header with consecutive page numbering should appear on the

upper right-hand corner of each page. It must be flush with the right margin, and one-half inch down from the top margin.

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4.

A title page is not necessary (unless otherwise requested).

Instead of the title page, four double-spaced entries are made, beginning at the top left-hand corner of the first page, listing author (your) name, course instructor’s name, course name/number, and the date.
The title of the paper should be centered, one double-space from the bottom of the previous entry (either the header, or the date if there was no title page).

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In-Text Citations of Sources - MLA


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5.

When citing a work within the text of a paper, try to mention the

material being cited in a “signal phrase” that includes the author’s name.
After that phrase, insert in brackets, the page number in the work referred to from which the information is drawn. For example: [ In his final study,
Smith said that the response “far exceeded our expectations” (253) ]. The reader can then look up Smith in the works cited list for complete information about the publication for which page 253 is being cited.

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6.

In cases where the author is not mentioned in a "signal phrase" the

author’s name, followed by the page number, must appear in parentheses. Example: [ When he left that job he felt it was time to move back to the sea (Smith 309). ]

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Works Cited List - MLA


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Sources are referred to in a "Works Cited" list that should begin at the top of a separate page after the last page of essay text. (do not capitalize, underline, etc.).

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7.

All entries in the works cited list should be double-spaced with no

extra line spaces between entries.
The first line of each entry in