Modern Language Association (MLA)

Modern Language Association (MLA)

What is MLA?

MLA stands for the Modern Language Association, and MLA format is the format the association came up with that is used in a lot of academic writing, mostly in the humanities.

MLA

What is MLA?

First, let's start with the formatting of the text. It's okay if some of this sounds like a review. It all comes down to being thorough and correct. Remember that you should always check your paper's prompt to see if your instructor wants you to format your paper in a way that isn't standard MLA. 

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ELA| MLA

Following the MLA Style for formatting your paper

A properly-formatted MLA-style paper will look like this:

• Typed on 8.5 X 11-inch paper with 12 pt. font​

• ​1-inch margins on all sides

• ​The first line of each paragraph is indented one half-inch from the left margin (pro tip: use the tab key instead of the space bar to ensure perfect indentation)

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ELA| MLA

Continued on next slide

Following the MLA Style for formatting your paper

• The body of the paper must be double-spaced.​

• ​Only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.

• Number all of your pages in the upper right corner. The page numbers should be about a half-inch from the top and in line with your right margin.​

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ELA| MLA

Continued on next slide

Following the MLA Style for formatting your paper

• Before we talk about the rules of MLA citation, I want to talk about some formatting rules for the first page of your paper.

• As a general rule, there is not a title page in MLA format, but if your instructor asks for one, be sure to follow her instructions.​

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ELA| MLA

You'll notice in the upper left-hand corner of the page that I've listed my full name, the name of my instructor the name and number of my course, and the date.

Notice how the first page is formated

Formatting​

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You'll notice my last name and the page number in the upper right-hand corner. Use the header feature in Google Docs to write your last name and insert a page number

Notice the formatting of the first page.

Formatting

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To insert your last name and page number, you need to use the "insert" "Headers & footers"

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Google Docs will place your header correctly.

How to Use Google Docs

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Inserting page numbers in a header is simple. In the header box, select "Options" and then "Page numbers."

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Use the power of Google Docs to help you!

How to Use Google Docs

The title of your page should be centered and should not have any special formatting, such as italics, bold, or all caps. MLA is typically light on that type of formatting unless you're referring to a specific publication, in which case the publication name should be italicized. It's fun to use italics or all caps for emphasis in email, but it's not standard MLA practice.​

The title is important to your essay.

The Title

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Multiple Choice

Read the following statements carefully and determine which are correct.

Statement I: MLA stands for modern language association, and MLA format refers to the format the association created that is commonly used in many areas of academic writing, particularly in the humanities.

Statement II: All MLA papers need to be typed on 8.5 x 11-inch paper with size 12 pt.

Statement III: In an MLA paper, the body text of the paper should be double spaced.

• I and II

• II and III

• II

• All statements are correct

• None of the statements are correct

Multiple Choice

Read the following statements carefully and determine which are correct.

Statement I: You must number all of your pages in the upper right-hand corner - your page numbers should be a half-inch from the top of the paper and in line with your right margin.

Statement II: Like the rest of your paper, this should be double spaced.

Statement III: In the upper right-hand corner, you must include your last name and the page number.

• I and II

• II and III

• II

• All statements are correct

• None of the statements are correct

Multiple Choice

All MLA papers need to be typed on what size paper?

• 8.5 x 11-inch

• 11 x 14-inch

• 9.5 x 11-inch

• 8 x 11-inch

Multiple Choice

What must all MLA papers have on all sides?

• 1-inch margins

• 2-inch margins

• 1.5-inch margins

• .5 margins

In-Text Citations

Avoiding Plagiarism

In-Text Citations

In-text citations are the next distinguishing feature of MLA style that we will discuss. In-text citations are essential for properly crediting your sources. Your instructor must be able to tell which parts of your paper are your own and which are the work of others. Giving credit to your sources and not implying that someone else's words or ideas are yours is hugely important in academic writing.

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ELA| MLA

Avoid Plagarism

In-Text Citations

When creating an in-text citation for your paper, you'll need to know the name of the author (or authors) of the work you're citing as well as the page number on which the information you're using can be found. This allows your instructor or any reader to find the source you used on your Works Cited page (which we'll get to shortly) and look it up for himself, either to confirm that your information is correct or to learn more about the topic you've addressed in your paper.

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ELA| MLA

Avoid Plagarism

In-Text Citations

It's a good idea to keep track of the pages in your sources where you find information that you know you'll use in your paper while you're still in the research phase. This way, when you're citing at the end of your process, you won't have to flip through all your sources to find the right page numbers for the information.

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ELA| MLA

Avoid Plagarism

In-Text Citations

Depending on how you introduce your source, MLA in-text citations can appear in a variety of ways:

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When mentioning the author, your parenthetical citation should only include the page number. For example, Redd believes that Harry Potter is a far more compelling character than Bella Swan (219). In this case, I've already mentioned the author's name, so the only thing I need to include in the parenthetical reference is the page number.

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ELA| MLA

Avoid Plagarism

In-Text Citations

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If you're not mentioning the author, include the author's last name as well as the page where the information you're using was found: According to some scholars, Harry Potter is a far more compelling character than Bella Swan (Redd 219). I didn't include the author's name this time, so I put it in the parenthetical reference along with the page number.

ELA| MLA

Avoid Plagarism

Works Cited Page

Yes! It is its own page

Works Cited Page

Today's work cited page is a basic overview. We will have an in-depth lesson soon.

MLA| ELA

Works Cited Page

Works Cited

A Works Cited page includes detailed information on all of the sources you used to write your paper. An MLA Works Cited page must be painstakingly formatted in accordance with MLA guidelines. I'm sure you don't find that surprising at this point. 

ELA| MLA

The Works Cited page is its own page

Works Cited Format

Your Works Cited page should...

• ​Be a separate page at the very end of your paper

• ​Have the same one-inch margins, double-spacing, and page number format as the rest of the paper

ELA| MLA

The Works Cited page is its own page

Works Cited Format

Your Works Cited page should...

• ​List citations in alphabetical order

• ​Be titled just 'Works Cited,' with the title centered - again, this title shouldn't be bolded, italicized, or anything else of this nature

• ​Have 1/2 inch indentations for the 2nd (and 3rd, 4th, etc. as appropriate) lines of each citation

ELA| MLA

The Works Cited page is its own page

Works Cited Format

Your Works Cited page should...

• ​List citations in alphabetical order

• ​Be titled just 'Works Cited,' with the title centered - again, this title shouldn't be bolded, italicized, or anything else of this nature

• ​Have 1/2 inch indentations for the 2nd (and 3rd, 4th, etc. as appropriate) lines of each citation

ELA| MLA

The Works Cited page is its own page

Works Cited Format

Your Works Cited page should...

• It should also include the medium of publication for each entry (This means print, web, film, etc.)

ELA| MLA

The Works Cited page is its own page

The following slide will show you how to create a hanging indent. Pay attention. This is crucial for your Works Cited Page

The Works Cited Page

Multiple Choice

True or False: The works cited page needs to be its own page?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

All of the following criteria are indicative of a properly-formatted MLA Works Cited page EXCEPT:

• It should have one-half inch indentations for the second and subsequent lines of each citation.

• It should be on a separate page at the end of your paper.

• It should include the medium of publication for each entry.

• Citations should be listed in the order in which they appear in your paper.