MLA Style First page (scroll down for specific instructions on how to set this up in Word)

This is how to format the first page of your essays for this class.  Exactly like this--just substitute your own name, class and section, and the correct date.

Goodman 1

Sam Goodman

Dr. Pardee

EN140-02

23 January 2003

A Deep, Philosophical Argument for Doing Whatever I Want

    Although some teachers might disagree, freedom is the most important thing in life.  Human creativity is severely restricted by the many petty requirements for everything that we encounter in our classes.

Back to Pardee Homepage

These detailed instructions are for Microsoft Word. Alternate instructions for Word 2007 are in purple.

To set up the first page of an assignment in MLA style.

Before starting, check to be sure you have selected a 12-pt. font.  For papers in MLA style, there should be no font-size changes.

First: To format a header:

  1. Be certain that your cursor is at the very top of your paper.
  2. From pull-down menu at the top of your screen select View, then Header and Footer (Choose Insert, then Header)

    2 boxes should be displayed: one at the top to type in your header, 1 lower at left to select autotext (page numbering, etc.).

    (Choose Blank from the style choices displayed)

  3. Align right, using the icon or selecting format, paragraph, alignment (Choose Home, and the right align icon.)
  4. Type last name (Type last name where it says type text)
  5. Space
  6. In the header and footer autotext box, click on the page icon with the # sign. This will automatically number your pages. (Choose Insert, Page Number, Current Position, Plain Style)
  7. Click close. (Choose Header and Footer Tools, Click Close).
  8. Note:  the header may not be visible until the page is printed.

Second: Include Title Page Information

  1. Format for Double spacing:  In Microsoft word, choose Format, Paragraph, Line Spacing, Double. (Home, choose the line spacing icon, 2.0).
  2. Choose left allignment
  3. Type the following at the left margin, entering once (a double space) after each: Your First and Last Name; Dr. Pardee; Class and Section; Date.

Third: Title and Body

  1. Enter just once (one double-space) after the date.
  2. Choose Center
  3. Type title in plain 12-pt. font.  Do not use quotation marks or underline unless there is a title in the title.
  4. Again, enter just once after the title.  No extra white space here. Choose align left.
  5. Tab once to indent, then begin typing the body of your paper.  Word wrap should keep everything in double-space.  For a new paragraph, enter and tab.  No extra spaces between paragraphs, either.

Link to the Southeast Writing Center or the Purdue Writing Center for more MLA style models, including how to do in-text citation and works cited pages.  Use the MLA sample research paper in any recent writing handbook as a guide to format and style.

The Works Cited Page Formatting Tips      

To format a hanging indent in Microsoft Word

Do the following before typing each new entry. For entries already typed but not formatted, highlight the entry, and then do the following.

From the pull-down menu at the top of your screen select

(From Home, choose the bottom right arrow in the Paragraph block. In the Indents and Spacing Tab, using the Special pull-down menu, choose Hanging).

Reminders:

The title of your paper should be in plain 12 pt. font, no large font or quotation marks.

The works cited page should be in alphabetical order by author (or title if there is no author). The whole page should be double spaced, with no extra spaces between entries.  Only works actually cited in your paper should be included in your works cited page. I should be able to find an in-text citation for every item on your works cited page.

In the paper and in the Works Cited page, titles of books, journals and magazines, newspapers, films, and music CDs should be in italics or underlined.  Titles of articles, essays, stories, and individual songs should be in quotation marks.

Back to Pardee Homepage