MLA Format Overview

1. The Awesomeness of
Mla Format
English 101

2. Why do you need MLA?
1. Built-in paper format (YAY!)
2. In-text citations (YAY!)
3. Works Cited List (SUPER YAYYYY!)

3. 1. Paper Format

4. Built-In Paper Format
› No guessing where your name, date, teacher’s
name, page number or class name goes.
Everything is spelled out.
› First page has its own format.
› Works Cited has its own format.

5. Built-In Paper Format:
General Guidelines
• Typed, double spaced text, 1 inch margins on all sides.
• Legible font, ex., Times New Roman, Courier New or
Arial. Font size = 12 point.
• Leave only one space after periods.
• Include a header with your last name, followed by a
space and then the page number, aligned right (on
every single page).
• Begin each paragraph with a half-inch indent.

6. Built-In Paper Format:
First Page
• No title page, unless
requested.
• In the upper left-hand
corner, list
your name, your
instructor’s name,
the course, and the
date , double-spaced.
• Center the title of
your paper. Do not
underline, italicize
or place your title
within quotes.

7. Built-In Paper Format:
Works Cited Page
• Begin on a new page at the end of the paper.
• Label the page Works Cited, centered at the top of the page.
• Double-space everything - both between and within all
citations. Use the hanging indent style (see example).
• Every citation must include the Medium of Publication. Most
entries will be either Print or Web.
• Longer titles are italicized - not underlined. Capitalize principle
words in the titles of articles, books, etc.

8. Built-In Paper Format:
Works Cited Page
Hanging Indent
Longer titles
italicized
Double Spaced

9. 2. In-Text Citations

10. In-Text Citations
• This citation corresponds to a source on your Works
Cited list. – WHY?
• Every time you quote, paraphrase, summarize or use the
ideas of others.
• Either (Rooney 5) or (5)
• Give just enough info to confidently lead your reader to
your Works Cited list.

11. 3.Works Cited List

12. The Works Cited List
 Works hand-in-hand with your in-text citations.
 Each type of source has its own citation style. Books,
magazine, journal articles, movies, online videos –
they are all different and have to be cited properly.
 One author, two authors, NO author, and more than
four authors are all cited differently.
MLA IS WEIRD.

13. The Works Cited List