The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is one of the most commonly used approaches for citing sources and formatting papers in college. Using MLA style, a student cites sources both in-text and in a works cited list at the end of the paper. Here are some key guidelines to keep in mind when formatting a college research paper in MLA style:
Formatting the Paper
Use white 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper.
Write your paper using a standard font like Times New Roman in 12 point size.
Double space the entire research paper, including captions, footnotes, and the works cited page.
Leave 1 inch margins on all sides of the document.
Page numbers should be placed in the upper right corner, 1/2 inch from the top and flush with the right margin. Page numbers should be included on all pages.
Your last name and the page number should be included on each page in the header in the top right corner. For example: Smith 1.
Formatting the Title Page
Your paper should include a title page with the following information:
Your name
Your instructor’s name
The course name and number
The due date of the assignment
The title of your paper, centered about 1/3 of the way down the page
Avoid using titles like “A Research Paper on…” and instead make the title clear yet compelling.
Starting the Research Paper
The first page of your text should be page 1. Continue page numbering consecutively throughout the paper, including the works cited page.
Indent the first word of each paragraph by 1/2 inch from the left margin.
Times New Roman 12pt font should be used throughout the paper, including in-text citations and works cited page.
In-Text Citations
MLA uses parenthetical citations to briefly identify the sources you have quoted or paraphrased in your paper in order to avoid plagiarism.
After any quote or paraphrase, provide the author’s last name and page number(s) you are referencing in parentheses. For example: (Smith 12-13) or (Jones).
If the author’s name is already part of the sentence, only include the page number in parentheses at the end, like this: According to Jones, “Lorem ipsum is often used” (5).
Formatting the Works Cited Page
Include a separate works cited page after the conclusion of your paper.
Start the page works cited, centered at the top of the page without bold, italics or quotation marks.
List all sources cited within the text of your paper alphabetically by the author’s last name. The authors should be inverted, like Last Name, First Name format.
The sources should each be double spaced with no extra spaces between sources.
Works cited page entries have a hanging indent of 1/2 inch for all lines following the first line of each citation.
Details for common source types like books, journal articles, and websites are shown in MLA format with examples of properly formatted citations.
An example would be a citation for a book with one author:
Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Publisher, Publication Date.
E.g.
Smith, John. How to Write an MLA Style Research Paper. Academic Press, 2020.
Following the guidelines for formatting an MLA style college research paper will ensure consistency and allow readers to easily follow the flow of ideas through citations and find referenced sources. When used properly, MLA citation helps establish credibility and avoid plagiarism. Students should review MLA guidelines and consult their instructors if they have any other specific formatting requirements for their assignments. Careful adherence to MLA format will result in a well-structured research paper presented in a clear, easy to read style.