The MLA (Modern Language Association) format is widely used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities fields. MLA style guidelines specify writing principles and citation styles when writing a research paper. One of the main aims of MLA format is to have a uniform manuscript to ease the reading and reading process for others. This article provides an in-depth look at creating a research paper in MLA format as a PDF.
General Guidelines for MLA Format PDF Research Paper
The general structure of a research paper in MLA format as a PDF file includes:
Title page: This includes the title of the paper, author’s name, instructor or professor’s name, course name and number, and date. The page number should not show on the title page.
Body of paper: The main section contains the research argument, analysis, and discussion of sources. The text is double-spaced throughout.
Works Cited page: This last page contains the list of all sources used in the paper. The page should have the centered title “Works Cited” (without quotation marks) and continue the page numbering of the paper. Each source cited in the body of the paper must have a corresponding entry on the Works Cited page with a consistent citation style.
Setting Up the Title Page in MLA Format
The title page of an MLA format paper establishes importance and provides required information. Key elements include:
Use the “File” menu to select “Page Setup” and set the margins to 1-inch on all sides.
Center the title approximately one-third of the way down the page without underlining, italics, bold, etc. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word and the first letter of the title and any proper nouns.
Skip two lines after the title and type your name, skip a line, then type the name of your instructor, course number and date on separate lines.
The date should be in numerical form – Day Month Year (e.g. 15 April 2020)
Do not include page number on the title page.
Body Text Formatting in MLA Style
The main body text of an MLA paper in PDF format follows specific style rules:
Double space the entire paper, including title page and works cited page.
Set the first line indent of each paragraph to 0.5 inches (also called a “hanging indent”).
Use 12 point font, usually Times New Roman. If the text requires professional or serious tone, a conservative font like Times New Roman is appropriate.
Insert page numbers in the upper right or lower center of each page, not including the title page. The page number appears 0.5 inches from the top/bottom and 1 inch from the right margin of the page.
Text should be left-aligned (i.e. ragged right) with no extra spaces between paragraphs.
Italicize book and journal titles, but put quotation marks around article and chapter titles within larger works.
Formatting Citations in MLA Style in a PDF
In-text citations are important to provide attribution to sources used in the research paper. The basic MLA format in-text citation guidelines are:
Provide the author’s last name followed by a page number in parentheses after a quote or reference.
E.g. (Smith 25)
If the author’s name is mentioned in the text, only include the page number.
E.g. As Smith notes, “the dog ran quickly” (25).
For sources with no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead.
E.g. (“Shortened Title” 25).
If the page number is not needed, place only the author’s name in parentheses.
E.g. Many experts agree (Smith).
When citing multiple works by the same author, use the author’s name followed by a comma then abbreviated title and page number (if provided).
E.g. (Lincoln, Collected Works 25)
Compiling the Works Cited Page in MLA Format
The last page of an MLA paper is the Works Cited, which provides full citations for all references used. This page:
Begins on a new page and has the centered title “Works Cited” without quotation marks or bolded/underlined text.
Citations are alphabetized by the first significant word of the citation, usually the author’s last name. If no author, alphabetize by title excluding articles (A, An, The).
Each citation appears with a 0.5 inch hanging indent.
Book citations include author name, book title in italics, publication city, publisher name, year published.
Journal/magazine article citations include author name, article title in “quotation marks”, journal title in italics, volume and issue numbers, year published, and page range.
Website citations provide author name (if available), article/page title in “quotation marks”, name of website in italics, publication date, URL.
Once the citations follow MLA style guidelines, the paper formatting is complete. Save and export the document as a PDF for submission. Adhering to MLA format eases reading and establishes credibility for research papers. The consistent citation of sources avoids plagiarism and allows readers to easily find referenced materials.
This article has provided an in-depth look at creating a research paper in MLA format as a PDF document. The key elements covered include setting up the title page, formatting body text, incorporating proper in-text citations, and compiling a correctly structured Works Cited page. Following the MLA style guidelines ensures a research essay or paper is professionally presented and credible.