MLA Style
The MLA style is usually used in the subjects of English and Social Studies. Science uses the APA style in citations.
Topics:
MLA Running Header
In-Text Citations
Works Cited
If you have questions beyond what is explained here, be sure to check out OWL Purdue's more in-depth explanations of common and special cases.
Topics:
MLA Running Header
In-Text Citations
Works Cited
If you have questions beyond what is explained here, be sure to check out OWL Purdue's more in-depth explanations of common and special cases.
MLA Running Header
Format:
Your Name Your Teacher's Name Class/Course You Are Taking Date Month Year (Remember: no commas!) |
Example:
Jane/John Doe Mr./Mrs./Ms. Example English I 31 August Year |
In-Text Citations
In MLA formatted in-text citations, the general form includes the author's last name (or source name if there is no author) followed by a singular space and the page number (or paragraph number/time for electronic sources, although teachers will usually tell you to leave this out). For example, if you are citing a quote or paraphrased information an article written by Jane Doe on page 17, it will look something like this:
(Doe 17)
The following is an example paragraph taken from an AP English III Language and Composition Report-At-Large Research Paper by YJP. The highlighted portions are the example citations.
Works Cited
Proper Works Cited are always done in Times New Roman font, 12 pt. size, and double spaced lining (unless your teacher states otherwise). There should be one inch margins.
The header should always have a right justified "Last Name Page Number."
The first line should always have the words "Works Cited" in center alignment.
Each source actually USED in the paper should have its own citation and should be listed in alphabetical order by last name of the author or the source name if there is not author. These lines should be left justified with as a half inch hanging indent. A hanging indent basically means that the first line starts all the way to the left and the second line "hangs" half an inch to the right. The ruler in Microsoft Word should look like the following picture.
The header should always have a right justified "Last Name Page Number."
The first line should always have the words "Works Cited" in center alignment.
Each source actually USED in the paper should have its own citation and should be listed in alphabetical order by last name of the author or the source name if there is not author. These lines should be left justified with as a half inch hanging indent. A hanging indent basically means that the first line starts all the way to the left and the second line "hangs" half an inch to the right. The ruler in Microsoft Word should look like the following picture.
The following is an example Works Cited from an English II Honors Independent Research Novel Project by YJP. The last name has been changed to Doe.