Session One:How to Format Your Research

Paper

Research Paper Boot

Camp Presents…

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This workshop will teach you to…

– Use MLA-Style formatting:• Paper, Print & Presentation• Margins, Spacing & Font• Title Page• Heading & Headers• Justification & Paragraphs

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What is MLA-style?

MLA Modern Language Association

– Established the standard of punctuation and formatting for writing accepted by academia.

– Most often used by fields in the humanities. – Important to stay current on guidelines.

Why Follow Guidelines?

• Standardizes paper writing:– Formatting– Punctuating– Incorporating outside sources– Creating works cited pages

• Provides organization and uniformity, no matter the subject area.

Formatting Guidelines

Paper, Print & Presentation• Paper

– 8 1/2” x 11” – White bond, 20—24 pound – Unlined

• Print– Black ink; print quality should be set on “normal” or “best” for

dark, easily readable print– Desk jet or laser printer produce best quality– Do not turn in a photo copy of your research paper

• Presentation– Staple or paper clip your paper– Unless instructed to do so, do not place in a binder or folder

Formatting Guidelines

Margins, Spacing & Font• Margins

– One-inch for left, right, top and bottom margins

• Spacing– Double space between lines throughout paper– Use one space after each period, question mark, or

exclamation point, unless required to use two

• Font– Use a simple, readable font– Acceptable fonts: Times New Roman, Arial or Courier– Be consistent

Formatting Guidelines

Title Page• Title Page

– Not required for MLA-style papers– However, if you are instructed to make a title page, use the following format:

• Double space and center all information• One-third down page, write title of paper

– Do not underline, italicize or put quotation marks around your title, unless your title includes the title of a short story, book, poem, article, or other published work

• On next line, write “by”• On next line, write name• Either immediately below your name or at the bottom of page, write

course and section, instructor, and date, each on a separate line

Formatting Guidelines

Sample title page:

Symbolism in The Scarlet Letterby

Jane Smith

Honors English 11Mrs. T. Peterman5 December 2008

Formatting Guidelines

Heading & Headers• Heading

– Top left-hand corner, one-inch from top of page– On first page only– List consecutively on separate lines:

• Name• Instructor’s name• Course name and section number• Date

– One double space under the date, center the title of your paper

• Header– Set a header for top right-hand corner, 1/2” from top of page:

• Last name• Page number• One space only between last name and page number• Do not use “p” or “page” before the number

Formatting Guidelines

Justification & Paragraphs• Justification

– Right Margin: header and page numbers– Left Margin: heading and the paper itself– Center: the title of your paper

• Paragraph breaks– Indent each paragraph by five spaces– Indent the first line only– Do not justify the right side of the paragraph

Formatting Guidelines

Sample First PageSmith 1

Jane Smith

Mrs. T. Peterman

Honors English 11

5 December 2008

Symbolism in Shakespeare’s Sonnets

Becoming popular during the Renaissance, the

sonnet originated in Italy with the poet Petrarch. By …

Formatting Tips

• Always look up guidelines– As rules are very precise, do not rely on memory– As rules periodically change, stay current on guidelines

• Be accurate– Be precise with punctuation– Be aware of proper order of information

• Be consistent– Do not combine MLA-style with any other style– Avoid inconsistency with punctuation and/or order of

information

Congratulations!

You have successfully completed the How to Format Your Research

Paper workshop!

Power point contents by:

SW 104, East Campus 698-1364 www.delmar.edu/engl/wrtctr