Writing a research paper requires a significant commitment of time and effort. Whether it is for a class, journal publication, or a conference presentation, the author wants to present a professional, polished finished product. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used for research papers in the humanities, especially languages and literature. Following MLA formatting guidelines helps convey credibility and professionalism in academic writing.
The MLA style focuses on brevity and directs the reader to the source material through use of parenthetical citations that reference sources found in a Works Cited list at the end of the paper. Key formatting specifications for MLA style include one-inch page margins, a header with the author’s last name and page number in the top right corner, double spaced paragraphs, and 12 point Times New Roman font. The title of the paper should be centered and not bolded or underlined. Page numbers should be placed in the top right header starting with the first page of text.
The first page of an MLA paper contains only the header with the page number. The second page then includes the title, centered, without formatting like bold or italics. No extra spacing should be added above or below the title. The next line down is left aligned with the author’s name, without titles like Mr. or Ms. If there is more than one author, their names are reversed First Last and separated with commas.
The body of an MLA research paper focuses on explaining, analyzing, and discussing source material used to investigate the research question or topic. Paragraphs should be indented five spaces and double spaced between. When quoting or paraphrasing sources, parenthetical citations with the author’s last name and page number are inserted to link to the full citations listed in the Works Cited page. For example, (Smith 25) refers the reader to the citation for a work by Smith found on page 25. Long quotes that are over 4 lines should be indented in a block without quotes.
At the end of the paper, a Works Cited page lists all sources used in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. Source citations are double spaced with no extra spaces between citations. The first line of each citation is flush left while subsequent lines are indented five spaces like a hanging indent. Information for proper citation formats varies depending on the source type but may include author, title, publisher or website name, publication date, and URL or DOI. Examples of common MLA citation formats include:
Book:
Last, First M. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.
Journal Article:
Last, First M. “Title of Article.” Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Publication Year, pp. #.
Website:
Last, First M. “Title of Web Page.” Name of Website, Publisher Name, Publication Date, URL. Accessed Date.
Following MLA style contributes to the credibility and readability of an academic research paper. Consistent formatting and citations guides the reader through the body of research and connects ideas to the sources that support the discussion. Taking the time to adhere to MLA requirements earns the respect of professors, publishers, and other professionals in the field and leads to a final paper the author can feel proud to submit. Handling sources and references properly demonstrates the integrity and significance of the research conducted.