MLA (Modern Language Association) style is one of the most commonly used formats for researching and writing papers in the humanities and social sciences. When writing a research paper using MLA style, it’s important for students to properly format their paper and cite sources using the MLA guidelines. While the rules may seem complex at first, using an MLA notes organizer can help students keep track of their sources and format their paper correctly.
One key tool for writing a paper using MLA style is an MLA notes organizer. An MLA notes organizer allows students to take notes on their research in an organized fashion that makes it easy to reference later when writing their paper. The notes should be formatted in a consistent manner with the citation for each source listed at the top followed by key quotes, paraphrases, or summaries taken from the source. By keeping all the citation information and research notes together in an MLA notes organizer, students have everything they need at their fingertips when it comes time to draft their paper.
When taking notes using an MLA notes organizer, it’s important to record all relevant citation information for each source. The citation should include the author’s name, the title of the source, the title of the container that houses the source (such as the book or website title), any volume or issue numbers, the publication date, and the URL or publisher if applicable. This citation information will be needed later when citing sources in the paper text and creating a works cited page. It’s a good idea to also include page numbers for any direct quotes that are taken from the source to make them easy to find later.
In addition to the citation information, the MLA notes organizer should have space to record key details from each source such as direct quotes, paraphrased summaries, or interpretations of information. When taking notes, students should aim to condense the source information into their own words as much as possible rather than copying long passages verbatim. Paraphrasing the key ideas maintains academic integrity while also helping the student digest and process what they are learning from the sources.
Some students find it helpful to color code their MLA notes organizer by source type such as books in blue, journals in red, and websites in green. This makes it quick and easy to distinguish between different types of materials when reviewing notes. Dividers or tabs can also be used to separate sources by type or topic within the organizer. Maintaining neat, organized notes in the MLA style from the beginning stages of research pays off tremendously when it comes time to assemble the research paper.
When writing the paper itself, students should continue following MLA guidelines for formatting elements like font style, font size, margins, indentation, spacing, page headers, and citations. The font used should be 12-point Times New Roman with 1 inch margins all around. Paragraphs are indented half an inch, also known as a hanging indent. Text is double-spaced throughout the entire paper including block quotes which are also single-spaced and indented half an inch from the left margin.
A heading should be placed in the upper left hand corner of the first page only including the student’s name, the instructor’s name, the class name, and the due date. Consecutive pages contain the student’s last name followed by the page number in the header of the top right corner. In-text citations include the author’s last name and a relevant page number enclosed in parentheses that corresponds to a full citation on the works cited page at the end of the paper.
By using an MLA notes organizer for research and carefully following the formatting guidelines, students can effectively keep their research organized and create a polished paper in MLA style. The notes organizer makes the research easily accessible for drafting while maintaining citations and formatting elements in the finished paper ensures academic integrity. Overall, adopting this process of research and organization helps students meet the expectations for an MLA style paper.