Parts of an Essay
This part of an essay gives background on the topic, presents the controversy, and sets the stage for the argument, usually leading up to the thesis statement.
What is an introduction?
This is the font and typeface recommended for MLA formatting.
What is 12-point Times New Roman?
Citations on the Works Cited page should be arranged in this order, based on the first word of each citation.
What is alphabetical order?
This type of punctuation is needed when using exact words from a source.
What are quotation marks?
T/F: This is a correctly formatted quotation if found in the body of an essay:
"I love to eat pie." (Johnson)
What is false. It should be formatted with the period at the END of the parentheses:
"I love to eat pie" (Johnson).
This part of the essay's outline involves presenting evidence and explaining why it supports the writer’s argument. Each point should be backed by facts or research.
What is the body paragraph?
In MLA format, this is the required margin size for the sides and bottom of each page.
What is one inch?
In MLA format, the Works Cited page continues this formatting from the rest of the paper, including maintaining this spacing style.
What is double-spacing?
This is the definition of plagiarism.
What is using information without giving credit to the source.
T/F: In MLA format, when citing a book by a single author, you should include the author's last name and the page number in parentheses after the quote.
What is true.
This section of the essay acknowledges the opposing view and explains why it is not convincing to the writer's position.
What is the counterargument?
This element of the page should be placed in the upper right-hand corner, including on the first page, and should consist of your last name followed by the page number.
What is the header?
This formatting choice in MLA style is used for the remaining lines of a citation when the citation is longer than one line.
What is the hanging indent?
Name two consequences of plagiarism.
What is failing a course, having to re-write a paper, getting a zero, getting fired from a job, facing legal action, etc. Answers may vary.
T/F: In MLA format, if there are two authors, you should list both authors' last names in the in-text citation, separated by a comma, such as (Jones, Davis).
What is false. (You should separate with and.)
e.g. (Jones and Davis).
A one-sentence summary of the writer’s main argument or position, usually found at the end of the introduction.
What is the thesis statement?
In MLA format, this feature of your paper should be placed directly under the heading, and centered.
What is the title?
According to MLA format, this phrase should be centered at the top of the last page of a research paper, one inch from the top.
What is Works Cited.
List two ways to avoid plagiarism.
What is quoting, paraphrasing, including a works cited, documenting in-text, etc.
T/F: In MLA format, when citing a source with no page numbers, you should omit the page number from the in-text citation.
What is true?
When planning your essay, this part of the outline includes how you will wrap up the argument, restate the thesis, and leave a lasting impression on the reader.
What is the conclusion?
In MLA format, this section includes your name, instructor’s name, course name/number, and date, and is placed at the top left of the first page.
What is the heading?
When citing multiple works by the same author, MLA suggests replacing the author's name with this symbol in the subsequent citations.
What is three hyphens ---.
Two proper ways to use ChatGPT for writing your research paper.
What is brainstorming, editing your grammar and punctuation, and/or help with the outline for paragraphs (answers will vary).
True or False: In MLA format, if a quote is longer than four lines, it should be formatted as a block quote and the in-text citation should come after the closing punctuation, not before.
What is True?