MLA (Modern Language Association) format is a widely accepted style for writing academic papers and citing sources in the liberal arts and humanities. This style is commonly used in high school and college courses, as well as in journals and books related to the fields of literature, language, and the arts.
An MLA format essay consists of the following elements:
Page Layout: The essay should be typed and double-spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides. The font should be a legible 12-point font, such as Times New Roman or Arial.
Title Page: Some assignments may require a title page, which should include the title of the essay, your name, and the course or instructor's name.
Headings: If your essay is longer than a few pages, you may want to include headings to help organize the paper and make it easier to read. Headings should be numbered and should reflect the hierarchical structure of the essay.
In-Text Citations: Whenever you use a quote or paraphrase from a source in your essay, you must provide an in-text citation. This can be done using a parenthetical citation, which includes the author's last name and the page number (if available). For example: (Smith 23).
Works Cited Page: At the end of your essay, you must provide a list of all the sources you used in your paper. This list should be called "Works Cited" and should be alphabetized by the author's last name. Each entry should include the author's name, the title of the work, the publication information, and the medium of publication (e.g. print or online).
Here is an example of an MLA format essay:
Title of Essay
Author's Name Class or Course Professor's Name Date
Introduction
The first paragraph of the essay should introduce the topic and provide any necessary background information. It should also include a clear thesis statement that sets the focus of the essay.
Body Paragraphs
The body of the essay should consist of several paragraphs, each of which should support the thesis statement and provide evidence from the sources. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph, followed by several sentences that provide evidence and analysis.
Conclusion
The conclusion of the essay should restate the thesis and summarize the main points of the essay. It should also provide some insights or implications of the research and may include a call to action or a suggestion for further study.
Works Cited
List of sources used in the essay, alphabetized by the author's last name.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your essay is properly formatted according to MLA style, which will make it easier for your instructor to read and understand your work.