The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is commonly used for citing sources and formatting papers in liberal arts and humanities subjects. When students write research papers, they often need to cite their sources and format their papers in MLA style. While each academic institution may have its own variations and preferences for citing and formatting papers, following general MLA guidelines ensures consistency and professional presentation.
This article provides an in-depth MLA format sample to help students properly format their papers and cite sources. It covers key elements of MLA style such as font, margins, headers, page numbers, title pages, running heads, body text, in-text citations, works cited pages, and more. This thorough MLA research paper example can serve as a template for students to follow when writing their papers according to MLA format guidelines.
Cover Page
The cover page for a research paper is the first thing readers encounter. Therefore, it is important to follow standard MLA formatting on the cover page. The cover page for a research paper should contain the following elements:
In the header of the cover page, include your last name and the page number. For the first page, use a short version of your last name (e.g. Doe 1). Page numbers should be placed in the upper right-hand corner, one half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.
Your name, the instructor’s name, the course title, and the paper due date should all be centered on separate lines double-spaced in the middle of the page.
The title of your paper should be centered on the last line of the cover page in title case (capitalizing only the first word, proper nouns, pronouns, and verbs). The title should not be underlined, quoted, italicized, or enclosed in quotation marks.
Here is an example MLA cover page:
Doe 1
Professor Smith
English 101
12 December 2023
The Modern Language Association Style: Formatting a Research Paper
Title Page
The title page also serves to introduce the research topic. In MLA format, it should include:
The title of your paper in the same format as the cover page (centered, neither bolded nor underlined, with only the first word capitalized).
Your name, the instructor’s name, the class name and number, and the date all centered and double-spaced below the title following the same format as the cover page.
Here is an example title page in MLA format:
Doe 2
The Modern Language Association Style: Formatting a Research Paper
Professor Smith
English 101
12 December 2023
Body Text Formatting
The body text should be double-spaced throughout with consistent formatting. Here are the key MLA guidelines for formatting body text:
Use a standard font like Times New Roman or Arial in a readable size, typically 12 points. Font should be the same throughout the entire paper for consistency.
Set all margins to one inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).
-Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch from the left margin using the tab key. Do not skip extra lines between paragraphs.
-Page numbers should be placed in the upper right-hand corner flush with the right margin, beginning with the cover page’s short title as the page number (“Doe 1”). Page numbers continue in Arabic numerals throughout the paper in this same position.
-Double space all body text, including block quotes, citations, works cited entries, etc. The only elements that should be single spaced are footnotes.
-Do not justify the right margin. Leave it uneven or “ragged.” Justified text can cause awkward spaces that disrupt readability.
In-Text Citations
MLA format requires brief citations or parenthetical references within the text that direct readers to the works cited page at the end of the paper. These citations correspond to full bibliographic references listed alphabetically on the works cited page. Here are a few examples of in-text citations:
For a direct quote, include the author’s last name followed by a space and the relevant page number in parentheses: (Doe 12).
For a paraphrase or summary of an idea from another source, include the author’s last name in parentheses: (Smith).
When citing two or more works in the same parenthetical reference, separate the citations with a semicolon: (Doe 12; Smith 45).
If the author’s name is mentioned in the body of the sentence, include only the page number in parentheses: As Doe explains, “MLA style is a consistent formatting standard” (12).
Works Cited Page
The works cited page appears at the end of the research paper and provides full bibliographic details for all sources cited within the text. Here are the basic MLA guidelines for formatting a works cited page:
The words “Works Cited” should appear centered and in title case at the top of the page without formatting like bold or italics.
Entries should be organized alphabetically by author’s last name. If no author is listed, cite by title, ignoring any initial articles like A, An, or The (e.g. “Anthropic”).
Each source cited in the paper gets its own reference entry using hanging indentation formatting (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches from the left margin).
Sources should be double spaced throughout with no extra spaces between entries. Entries follow MLA style guidelines for formatting different source types such as books, journal articles, websites, videos, reports, etc.
Here is a sample MLA works cited page:
Works Cited
Doe, Jane. The Modern Language Association Style: A Concise Guide. New York, Random House, 2015.
Smith, John. “Proper Formatting: Why MLA Style Matters.” College Composition Journal, vol. 45, no. 1, 2019, pp. 12-45.
“MLA Format Basics.” OWL Purdue, 2023, owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html.
MLA Format Conclusion
Following standard MLA format guidelines for citing sources and formatting papers promotes clarity and consistency in academic writing. It helps establish credibility by demonstrating knowledge of scholarly standards. The research paper example provided covers key MLA style elements like font, margins, headers, in-text citations, and more. Using this thorough MLA format sample, students can properly format papers and cite sources according to expectations in the humanities and liberal arts disciplines. Consistent adherence to MLA guidelines ensures smooth readability and professional presentation of research.
Andrew Stroud