MLA Style

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MLA Style

• A refresher on the mechanics of your Research
  Paper!

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First Step

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

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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.

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Step Three - Heading

• Your Name
• Mr. Fowler
• English __ - Per ___
• 2 November 2008

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Step Four - Title

• Go to the NEXT LINE
• Center your paper
• Type a creative title that will catch the
  readers interest.

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Citations

• Internal Citations
• 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.

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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, wouldnt you be mad?!

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Common Knowledge When you dont 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
  dont have to cite it.
• Of course you dont have to cite your own
  thoughts and statements.

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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

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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).

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Examples of Works Cited citations.

• Flynn, Stephen. Shoring Up the Soft Spots. U.S.
  News World Report. 19 Feb. 2007 30-35.
• Sinclair, Kim. Rutgers Study Finds Many Students
  Plagiarize. 17 Sep. 2003. Collegian Inc. 10 Nov.
  2004.
• http//www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2003/09/09-17
  -03tdc/09-17-03dnews-02.asp
• Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome and Selected Stories.
  New York Barnes and Noble Books, 2004.

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For More Citations, check out

• The MLA Style Guide
• Available at Ms. Sarnoskis Web Site
• web.mac.com/MicheleEve