1. Introduction to MLA Format
Created by: Mrs. withers

2. What is MLA? MLA – Modern Language Association
MLA is a style of formatting and writing research papers.

3. Why do we need MLA? Allows readers to find your sources easily
Provides consistent format
Gives you credibility as a writer
Protects you from plagiarism

4. When should I cite When in doubt, give credit to your source!
-Many students plagiarize unintentionally. Remember, whenever you summarize, paraphrase or quote another author's material you must properly credit your source.
-If you are using another person’s idea, you must also cite your source!
My mother always
said, “Make your bed”
(Mom 12).
When in doubt, give
credit to your source!

5. What your paper should look like
12 point Times New Roman – everything on page
1 inch margins all around
Heading in top left – Name, Class, Teacher, Date
Last Name and Page Number on every page. (ex. Straw 3) Top Right header
Double Spaced throughout paper.

6. Sample first page-mla format
MLA format does not require a title page.
On the first page, the student includes a heading (name, professor, course number and date). The first page heading begins on the first line of text (not the header) and is double spaced.
The title appears centered in plain text after the first page heading.
The header contains only the student’s last name and page number.

7. Citing Your Sources: 2 parts
In-Text Citations or Parenthetical Citations – in the text of your paper.
Works Cited Page – list of all sources used in paper (last page of paper)

8. When to use In-text citations?
When summarizing facts and/or paraphrasing ideas from a source, you should cite the source
Summarizing means to give a brief statement of the main points
Paraphrasing means to express the meaning of something or reword it
Even if you use your own words, you still have to cite it!!

9. Example of in-text citation: Summary or paraphrase

10. When to use in-text citations?
Any time you directly quote words from another source you must cite that source.
A direct quote is a report of the exact words of an author or speaker.
Direct quotes are surrounded by quotation marks and “are immediately followed by an in-text citation”.

11. Example of in-text citation: direct quote

12. Works Cited Page
At end of typed report, list all sources used in MLA format.
Include as much of this information as available:
Author – Last Name, First Name (Ex. Smith, John)
Title – italicized
Publication Information – where/how source was published
City of Publication: Publisher (New York: Random House)
Database information (If database is used)
Magazine, Journal, Website Name (Newsweek) (Greek Mythology)
Date of Publication – when the information was published or accessed

13. Works Cited page (continued)
List sources in ALPHABETICAL ORDER by the first word of source.
Whatever is listed first on Works Cited page should be what is listed in Parenthetical Citation in your text.
First line is left aligned! Every line following should be indented!

14. All citations end in a period (.)
*Sources are listed alphabetically
Title “Works Cited” is centered
at the top of the page
Indent all lines after
the first ½ inch for
each work listed
Be sure that each citation has a format descriptor (properly placed within the citation); e.g., Web, Print, Film
All citations end in a period (.)
The entire Works Cited page is double-spaced

15. Most citations will include:
Author
Title
Publication information
Format descriptor
Gore, Albert. An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming. New York: Viking, Print.
Last Name, First Period
Italicized Title
Period
Format descriptor
Period
Year
City Colon Publisher Comma

16. Helpful resources For specific citation guidelines, try these sources:
Purdue Online Writing Lab This comprehensive site from Purdue University provides free writing resources for students and teachers. Check out the “Research and Citation” section for guidelines for citing sources according to MLA or APA styles.
Also, there are online citation machines that do the work for you! (YAY!) You just have to enter the information for your sources and it does the rest!
Easybib.com – One of the best! Just make sure that you enter the information correctly!

17. Questions?