MLA style:

·  Double space everything

·  No title page

·  Page one has in the upper left hand corner the following

o  Student’s name

o  Teacher’s name

o  Course code

o  Date (do not abbreviate)

·  Page one also has the number 1 on the top of the right hand corner (same line as the one which has your first and last names)

o  Do not use a header to show this information

·  The title is on the line after the date, neither underline it nor put it in quotation marks; rather centre the title on the line

·  Indent the first paragraph using the TAB button

·  The subsequent pages of an assignment require the student’s last name and page number. Use right justification at top of page and type the appropriate information. (Do not use a header to do this)

·  Work(s) Cited replaces the bibliography

·  Quotations: indent quotations greater than four written lines. The four written lines refer to what you are typing/writing in the essay, not the four lines you are quoting from a particular text. The rule of thumb is to indent a quotation greater than forty words. When typing double tab to achieve this effect.

·  Cite the source directly in the essay; no footnotes are required, rather directly after the quotation marks, in parentheses, write the author’s last and the corresponding page number. For example, “In his critique he [Bloom] makes reference to William Shakespeare’s use of the tragic hero” (Lamb 75).

·  Note the end punctuation for short quotations (those less than forty words) are outside of the parentheses

·  Longer quotations (those greater than forty words) are indented and the punctuation is not affected


Betty Smith Smith 1

Ms. C. MacDonald

ENG 2D2-04

3 October 2005

Learning MLA style: Writing Tips for First Time Users

To begin something new is always a challenge. Using the MLA style for

the first time is no exception, but with a few pointers students should find this

system of citation quite easy.


Smith 2

The use of double spacing makes the essay more readable for the marker. As

well, the student will discover most universities use this method of citation for

term papers.


Smith 5

Works Cited

Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Maury. New York: Doubleday, 1997.

Carter, Forrest. The Education of Little Tree. Albuquerque, New Mexico:

University of New Mexico Press, 1976.

Ivarone, Mike. Amory: Gas Warfare. Home Page. Updated 12 Nov. 1999. 31

Nov. 1999. <www.world.war1.com/arm006.htm>

Myst. CD-ROM. Novato: CA Cyan Inc. and Broderbund, 1993.

Walkom, T. “Conflict at the Core.” The Toronto Star 13 January 2001: B1, B4.

Water: A precious Resource. Videocassette. Washington: National Geographic.

23 min. 1980.

Zemeckis, Robert, dir. Forrest Gump. Perf. Tom Hanks, Sally Fields, Robin

Wright. Paramount, 1994.