1. A refresher on the mechanics of your Research Paper!
MLA Style
A refresher on the mechanics of your Research Paper!

2. First Step Change all your margins to one inch.
Be sure your font is size 12 Times New Roman.
Double Space your entire paper.

3. Step Two - Header Go to View
Headers and Footers
A new box will come up.
On the RIGHT - Type your last name followed by 5 spaces.
Select the # symbol.

4. Step Three - Heading Your Name Mr. Fowler English __ - Per ___
2 November 2008

5. Step Four - Title Go to the NEXT LINE Center your paper
Type a creative title that will catch the reader’s interest.

6. Citations Internal Citations Where? What? Works Cited Direct Quotes
Facts/Figures
Paraphrased Info
Where?
After sentence
Before punctuation
What?
Authors Last Name
1 Space
Page Number(s)
Works Cited
Any source used in the paper as an internal citation must be on your works cited page.
Alphabetical Order
Double Spaced, just like the rest of the paper.

7. Paraphrasing
Taking information from a source and putting it into your own words.
Paraphrasing is plagiarism if it is not cited.
Why? If you had the idea for the light bulb and someone took it, wouldn’t you be mad?!

8. Common Knowledge: When you don’t have to cite.
Common knowledge is information that is generally accepted by the public as the truth.
Know your audience, I am your public.
If Ms. Sarnoski knows it to be true, then you don’t have to cite it.
Of course… you don’t have to cite your own thoughts and statements.

9. Examples of Common Knowledge
How many teeth are in the human mouth?
What is the capital of New Jersey?
When is D-Day?
Who was the first American to walk on the moon? 32
Trenton
June 6, 1944
Neil Armstrong

10. Examples of Internal Citations
“The bitter weather had driven every one indoors and Ethan had the long rural street to himself” (Wharton 45).
Many of our ports are still at risk for terrorist attacks (Flynn 30-35).
According to a study by Don McCabe, nearly 40% of students surveyed have plagiarized from the internet (Sinclair).

11. Examples of Works Cited citations.
Flynn, Stephen. “Shoring Up the Soft Spots.” U.S. News & World Report. 19 Feb. 2007:
Sinclair, Kim. Rutgers Study Finds Many Students Plagiarize. 17 Sep Collegian Inc. 10 Nov
Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome and Selected Stories. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2004.

12. For More Citations, check out:
The MLA Style Guide
Available at: Ms. Sarnoski’s Web Site
web.mac.com/MicheleEve