Paper Formatting Basics
MLA format traditionally uses this font.
What is Times New Roman, size 12 (optional)
In MLA format, this information is included on the top right as a part of the page numbering.
What is the writer's last name and page number?
The works cited is placed at this place in the paper.
What is after the end of the paper, on its own page?
Short, direct quotes must always be denoted by this punctuation mark in a properly cited MLA paper.
What are quotation marks?
The length of a long quote as defined by MLA format.
What is 5 or more lines of text in the paper?
In MLA format, page numbers should be located on this side of each page.
What is the right side of the page?
The spacing requirement for an MLA-style works cited.
What is double spacing?
Long quotes receive these two special treatments in an MLA-formatted paper.
What is indented and NOT indicated by quotation marks? (also acceptable: period before parenthetical citation)
Citations must be present when incorporating these three forms of research/evidence from sources.
What are quotes, paraphrases, and summaries?
This goes outside the parentheses for a direct quote.
What is the period? "Sharks are scary" (Smith).
In works cited entries, how should titles be capitalized?
What is all of the big words in a title are capitalized? (no articles, no smaller connecting words)
How do I show attribution if I don't use a signal phrase to introduce the author or name of my source?
What is use the author's last name and page number (if available) in parentheses following the quote?
This type of information does not require a citation.
What is common knowledge?
In MLA format, it is necessary to indent new paragraphs by this much.
What is 1/2 inch? What is 5 spaces? What is hitting the Tab key once?
This font style is used to identify titles of longer works that you refer to in a paper.
What is italics? (books, movies, journals, magazines)
This type of indentation is used on an entries in a MLA-formatted works cited page and also any direct quote that is longer than 4 lines.
What is hanging indentation?
Correct the formatting of this quote so that it is in proper MLA format: She dove into a vat of chocolate Jones, 64.
What is: "She dove into a vat of chocolate" (Jones 64).
The discipline where MLA format is most likely to be used. (subject area)
What is English?
An author must include these pieces of information in the first page left-side header before the title in a correctly MLA-formatted paper.
What is student's name, teacher's name, course name, and date (day, month, then year)?
This punctuation is used when referring to the titles of shorter works in your paper.
What are quotation marks? (chapters, short stories, poems, articles)
Correct the formatting of this quote so that it is in proper MLA format: I was walking along the street she said when I saw a cat and a dog chasing each other Smith 24
What is: "I was walking along the street,' she said, 'when I saw a cat and dog chasing each other'" (Smith 24).
These resources are available for consultation on MLA format.
What are online writing centers (Purdue Owl), the etextbook, and the professor! [Side note: You do NOT need to memorize all aspects of MLA format...just know where to find answers!]