MLA Format for your Research Paper

Recommendations here are based on the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

¨ Paper:

· Use white letter sized paper (8 1/2 by 11 inch).

¨ Margins:

· One-inch margins all around the text of your paper -- left side, right side, and top and bottom.

· Paragraphs should be indented half an inch.

¨ Spacing:

· All the work must be double-spaced.

¨ Heading and Title:

· Your research paper does not need a title page.

· At the top of the first page, at the left-hand margin, type your name, your teacher's name , the subject name, and the date -- all on separate, double-spaced lines.

· Then double-space again and center the title above your text.

· Double-space again before beginning your text.

· The title should be neither underlined nor written in all capital letters.

· Capitalize only the first, last, and principal words of the title.

· Titles might end with a question mark or an exclamation mark if that is appropriate, but not in a period.

¨ Page Numbers:

· Number your pages consecutively (including the first page) in the upper right-hand corner of each page, one-half inch from the top.

· Type your last name before the page number.

· Use Header and Footer for this.

"MLA Format." Graphic. Capital Community College. 15 Oct. 2003.< http://webster.commnet.edu/mla/format.shtml>

Capital Community College Library. “Your Research Paper’s Format”. A Guide for Writing Research Papers Based on Modern Language Association (MLA) Documentation. May 2004. http://webster.commnet.edu/mla/format.shtml (8 Aug. 2004)