MLA Format Basics
What does MLA stand for?
Modern Language Association
What goes inside the parentheses of an MLA in-text citation?
author’s last name and page number
What is the title of the page where all sources are listed?
Works Cited
What is the line spacing used in MLA format?
double spacing
True or False: MLA requires a title page.
False
What size and style of font is recommended for MLA format?
Any legible 12-point font
How do you cite a source with no known author in-text?
use the title of the work (shortened) and page number
How are entries on the Works Cited page arranged?
alphabetically by author's last name
How should paragraphs be indented in MLA format?
yes, use a half-inch indent
What is a common mistake with in-text citations and punctuation?
I'll take a few things here.
Putting the period before the citation instead of after.
Putting a comma before the parenthetical citation.
Putting a comma between the author's last name and the page number.
Putting punctuation before the citation and after.
What are the standard MLA page margins?
1 inch on all sides
What punctuation comes after an in-text citation?
a period
What information comes first in a standard citation?
author’s name
Where should the title of your paper be placed?
centered, below the heading and above the first paragraph
When quoting a source directly in MLA, when are quotation marks not needed?
block quotation
What goes in the top right of every page?
(Ms. Witty doesn't really care about this.)
How do you cite two authors in one in-text citation?
(Author1 and Author2 page number)
What line formatting is used for citations on the Works Cited page?
hanging indent
Should the title be bolded, underlined, or italicized?
none of the above—it should be plain text
What’s a common mistake students make when copying a citation from a website or generator?
not checking for errors in formatting, capitalization, or missing information.
Bonus 100pts if you mentioned "straight" or "curly" quotation marks.
What four items go in the top left corner of the first page (in order)?
your name, instructor’s name, course name, and date
What do you include in an in-text citation if the source has three or more authors?
use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” and the page number
How do you cite a source with no author?
start with the article title
What specific information should be included in the running header of an MLA-style paper?
The student's last name and the page number.
A student writes:
According to Garcia, “students learn differently” (Garcia, 18).
Identify two MLA errors
Remove the comma from the parenthetical citation and, if Garcia is already named in the sentence, the citation can simply be (18).