Introduction
This sample research paper on diabetes illustrates the process of writing an MLA style paper with the 2022 updates. It features guidelines for formatting a paper using the Modern Language Association (MLA) style with the latest changes regarding titles, in-text citations, and Works Cited page formatting. The paper follows the style recommendations in the MLA Handbook (9th ed.), published by the Modern Language Association. This sample MLA style paper may help you write your own MLA research paper on diabetes or any other topic of your choice.
The MLA guidelines indicate that the paper must use 12-point size font, be double spaced with 1-inch margins all around. Page numbers are placed in the top right corner of each page. The paper should include a title that summarizes the key focus or topic taken up in the paper.
Title: The Impact of Insulin Costs on Diabetes Treatment in the United States
The title captures the main focus of the research paper, which is how the high cost of insulin impacts diabetes treatment and management in America. The title is centered in the first line of the first page. After the title, skip 1 line before beginning the body text of the paper. No additional text like “by” or the author’s name is included after the title.
Body of Paper
The first paragraph should introduce the research topic by providing background context and significance. This helps orient the reader and establishes why exploring this issue is important. For example:
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of Americans each year. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes require treatment with insulin to regulate blood sugar levels and prevent serious health complications. The rising costs of insulin have created a significant barrier to effective diabetes management for many patients. The price of insulin nearly tripled between 2002 and 2013, and prices continue to increase each year despite no substantial changes to the formulations (Henry et al.). Many patients struggle to afford their insulin or are forced to ration doses, putting their health and lives at risk. This paper will examine the impact of high insulin costs on diabetes treatment and patient outcomes in the United States.
The next few paragraphs discuss key findings from research sources to support the argument. They integrate relevant evidence from authoritative sources using signal phrases to introduce citations. For example:
A recent study analyzing insurance claims data found that one in four patients reduced their insulin dosage due to costs in the previous year (Zhang et al. 16). This type of cost-related insulin under-use can lead to worse health outcomes and increased healthcare spending. As Zhang et al. note, patients who cut back on insulin are more likely to be admitted to the emergency room or hospital for issues like diabetic ketoacidosis (16). Higher healthcare utilization drives up overall medical costs associated with diabetes.
Research has also linked insulin affordability problems to increased rates of disease complications. According to a nationwide survey, one-third of patients reported experiencing negative health consequences from skimping on insulin, such as uncontrolled blood sugar levels, vision problems, or wound and circulation issues (Whitman et al. 294). If costs are not addressed, it is estimated that nearly 20% of type 1 diabetics may experience an acute complication from insulin under-use by 2030 (Zhuo et al. 1578). Clearly, the rising price of this life-sustaining medication poses serious risks to diabetes patients.
The conclusion paragraph summarizes key points covered, reasserts the importance of the topic, and may also propose a call to action. For this paper, it could state:
The data strongly indicates that prohibitive insulin costs negatively impact diabetes treatment and management for many Americans. Under-use due to affordability issues puts patients’ health and lives at risk through worsened disease control and increased rates of complications. As the prevalence and economic burden of diabetes continues growing, it is crucial to seek solutions to make lifesaving insulin medications accessible and affordable for all who need them. More must be done to address this healthcare crisis threatening diabetes patients nationwide.
Works Cited
The works cited list provides publication details for all sources cited in the paper in MLA style. Entries are listed in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. If there is no author listed for a source, the entry is alphabetized by the source title. Each entry starts 1⁄2 inch from the left margin and uses a hanging indent for any additional lines.
Henry, Barbara, et al. “Explaining the High Price of Insulin.” Tufts CSDD Evidence Report No. 218, 2020, pp. 1–7.
Whitman, Ira R, et al. “Cost-related Insulin Underuse among Adults with Diabetes in the U.S.” JAMA Internal Medicine, vol. 178, no. 3, Mar. 2018, p. 345-350.
Zhang, Yuting, et al. “Cost-Related Insulin Underuse Among Patients with Diabetes.” JAMA Internal Medicine, vol. 178, no. 1, Jan. 2018, pp. 14-20.
Zhuo, Xin, et al. “Lifetime Cost-Effectiveness of Intensive Glycemic Control for Type 2 Diabetes.” Diabetes Care, vol. 37, no. 11, Nov. 2014, pp. 1573-1581.
The Works Cited page adheres to the latest MLA style guidelines using a plain left-aligned format with each source taking up one line. Hanging indentation is used for any source with multiple lines. All sources are formatted consistently.
Conclusion
As demonstrated in this sample research paper, formatting an MLA research paper involves following guidelines for creating the paper layout, introducing and citing sources using signal phrases, and compiling the Works Cited page. Following MLA style assists readers by providing consistent presentation of sources and allows them to easily locate cited works. Sticking to MLA style conventions results in a clear, credible academic paper that makes a strong argument supported by research evidence. With careful attention to formatting, writers can express their ideas effectively and produce high-quality MLA papers.
Andrew Stroud