Formal Papers and MLA Format

Formal Paper Guidelines

• Focus– Every paragraph should try to prove thesis– Every sentence in a paragraph should be

related to the topic sentence

Formal Paper Guidelines

• Flow– Use transitions

• then, first, also, as a result, generally, for example, likewise, except, in essence, in conclusion

– Put ideas / sentences/ paragraphs in logical order

Formal Paper Guidelines

• Formality– Do not use informal language

• First person pronouns : I, me, myself, my, mine, we, us, ourselves, our, ours

• Second person pronouns: you, yourself, your, yours

• Contractions: it’s, can’t, don’t, etc. • Informal word choice : kind of, a lot, anyways,

ain’t

– Do not use slang / internet language• cool, lol, , wut, r u ok?, etc.

Formal Paper Guidelines

• Formality– Write out abbreviations, numbers, and

symbols• TV = television, phone= telephone, 2= two, 50=

fifty, &= and

Formal Paper Guidelines

• Agreement– Avoid shifting tenses

• Example: We went to the store. We buy candy.

– Subject -Verb• dog chases/ dogs chase, he is/ they are

Formal Paper Guidelines

• General Rules– Avoid vagueness

• Pronouns must be clear

– Vary Word Choice• Synonyms

– Possession or Plural ?• Geckos are interesting. / The gecko’s habitat is in

the wild.

– There or Their? • There are geckos everywhere. / Their habitats are

everywhere.

MLA Format

• Margins– 1 Inch

• Every Side

MLA Example

1 inch

1 inch

1 inch

1 inch

MLA Format

• Font

– Twelve Point Times New Roman• This is an example of 12 point Time New Roman.

– Black Text

MLA Example

Times New Roman

12 Point

MLA Format

• Header

– Right Side

– Last Name and Page Number

• Kivette 1

– On Every Page

MLA Example

On Right Side

Last Name +

Page Number

MLA Format

• Double Spaced

– Everything

• Paragraphs, Header, Works Cited Page, etc.

MLA Example

Doubled Spaced

MLA Format

• Title of Paper

– Centered

MLA Example

Centered

MLA Format

• Title Page Format– Left Side

• Your Name• Teacher’s Name• Class Title• Date

• ExampleHarry Potter

Snape

Potions

1 February 2010

MLA Example

On Left Side

MLA Format

• Works Cited Page

– Alphabetical Order

– Hanging Indent

• A Name Citation

–More A Name Citation

• B Name Citation

–More B Name Citation

– Double Spaced

Works Cited Example

Alphabetical Order

Doubled Spaced

Hanging Indent