When writing an academic paper, especially at the college level, formatting matters just as much as the content. One of the most commonly used citation styles in the humanities is the MLA formatting style. (If you’re working in the social sciences, you may want to check out our APA formatting guide and common student mistakes as well.) Understanding how to apply this style not only improves the quality and credibility of your work but also helps you avoid unintentional plagiarism.
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course Number
Date
The Title of the Paper Capitalized and Centered
First Level Heading
Unless required in the instructions, headers should be used only in papers that are five pages or more. The introduction of an essay should end with a strong, debatable thesis statement and should take up approximately 10% of the required word count. Avoid weak thesis openers such as “This paper will discuss…” as they do not engage critical thought. Remember, the student’s information, title, headers, and Works Cited page are not counted towards the required word count.
The first sentence of each paragraph should be a clear topic sentence. This sentence states the main idea or argument of the paragraph. Follow it with supporting information drawn from reliable, up-to-date sources. To comply with MLA formatting style, always use in-text citations. For example, include the author’s surname and page number (Pears and Graham 1). If citing a web source without page numbers, use the author’s surname or source title followed by “n.p.” (Research Guides n.p.). Long source titles should be shortened in citations.
Do not end a paragraph with a citation alone. Every paragraph should close with a transition sentence, which acts as a bridge to the next paragraph.
Second Level Heading
Use second-level headings to organize subpoints that support the argument or topic presented under the previous heading. In this format, paragraphs under the second-level heading do not require indentation. Remember, each paragraph should be at least three sentences long but no longer than 200 words. Be specific in your discussion, avoid vague language, and consistently refer back to your thesis statement—this maintains the clarity and direction of your essay.
Conclusion
Short academic papers (up to five pages) typically do not require a “Conclusion” header or any of the headers described above unless explicitly required. Also, there should be no page break before the conclusion. In accordance with MLA formatting style, the conclusion should restate the thesis, summarize the key points made, and should not include any new or external information. Like the introduction, it should take up approximately 10% of the total word count.
For more detailed information about in-text citations (including sources with more than two authors) and other formatting rules related to MLA formatting style, consult the Purdue OWL guide linked below.
Work cited
Pears, Richard, and Graham J. Shields. Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide. Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.
“Research Guides: MLA Citation Style Guide: 8th Edition: In-Text Citations.” Libguides.wvu.edu, 2018, https://libguides.wvu.edu/c.php?g=486188&p=3325207. Accessed 12 Feb 2019.
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