Formatting a Research Paper

© UNT in partnership with TEA 1

Formatting a Research Paper

Using MLA style

Principles of IT TEKS Associated with Lesson

(7) The student applies word-processing technology. The student is expected to: (A) identify the terminology associated with word-processing

software and its functions;

(C) edit a variety of text documents using functions such as pagination, appropriate white space, tab settings, and font style, size, and color;

(E) apply formatting techniques to a multipage research paper using approved publication standards such as American Psychological Association and Modern Language Association

© UNT in partnership with TEA IT: Principles of IT – Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Format 2

Lesson Objectives Identify the purpose of the Modern Language

Association Identify the steps to apply MLA format Identify the characteristics of MLA format Identify functions of word processing software

tools associated with research paper format Apply MLA format to a research paper

including quotations and works cited


Modern Language Association Purpose of MLA

The object of the association shall be to promote study, criticism, and research in the more and less commonly taught modern languages and their literatures, and to further the common interests of teachers of these subjects.

© UNT in partnership with TEA(taken from http://www.mla.org/mla_constitution)

IT: Principles of IT – Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Format 4

MLA Publications MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

seventh edition Step-by-step instructions for formatting a research paper for

high school and undergraduate work at college This format is widely accepted across the world by schools,

colleges, universities, literary journals and magazines MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly

Publishing third edition Step-by-step instructions for formatting research documents for

graduate level work such as thesis or dissertations You can purchase the printed version or the electronic

version© UNT in partnership with TEA(taken from http://www.mla.org)


MLA Publications When you purchase the printed version of the handbook,

you receive an account code The account code will allow you to create a user account

on their website The website allows you access to the electronic version The electronic version contains items and examples that

aren’t in the printed version The electronic version also has a search function for

quick, easy locating of the item in question www.mlahandbook.org

© UNT in partnership with TEAMLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers – page xxi


MLA Research Paper1. Select your topic

2. Obtain writings on this topic

3. Type a draft of your paper

4. Decide where you can insert quotations


MLA Research Paper Formatting Steps5. Look up the

formatting guidelines in the MLA handbook and apply them to your paper

a) Choose Font Style and Size - this is sometimes

given to you by the instructor

- if not given by the instructor use Times New Roman size 12

Tip: Hold Ctrl while pressing the A key on the keyboard. This will select all the text of your document which makes formatting quick and easy.

© UNT in partnership with TEAMLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers – page 116


MLA Research Paper Formatting Steps

5. (CONTINUED) Look up the formatting guidelines in the MLA handbook and apply them to your paper

b) Left align text

c) Tab once at beginning of new paragraph

d) Set Page Margins: Top, Bottom, Left and Right margins should be set at 1”



MLA Research Paper Formatting Steps5. (CONTINUED) Look up the formatting

guidelines in the MLA handbook and apply them to your paper

e) Set line spacing to double

f) Leave one space after the period at the end of a sentence (unless otherwise noted by the instructor)





g) Create the Title Block (1st 5 lines of report)

- Start at left of first line - Type your full name - strike enter - Type instructor’s

name - strike enter - Type course name - strike enter - Type the date - strike enter





g) Create the Title Block

- Type the title (Line #5)Center the title

- Do not use bold, italics, or change the font size

- Use Title case – not all

caps

© UNT in partnership with TEAMLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers – page 116 - 117




h) Create the Header Your last name a space page number

Right aligned

½” below top edge of paper




6 Format the quotations a) Locate each quote and place quotations marks at beginning and end Add ( ) at end of quote followed by ending punctuation mark Place page number of quote inside the parentheses




6 (CONTINUED) Format the quotations

b) Titles should be italicized: Books Magazines Journals Websites

Newspapers Music Albums Movies





c) Titles of articles that appear inside these publications should be in quotation marks:

Books Magazines Journals Websites Newspapers Music Albums Movies





d) If a quote takes up more than 4 lines it should be set apart by beginning it on a new line and indenting it from the left margin by 1”.





d) If a quote takes up more than 4 lines it should NOT have quotation marks and the punctuation mark should NOT be moved to outside the parentheses. The quotation should be preceded by a colon





e) If quoting a short piece of a poem or lines of lyrics, place in quotation marks and separate the lines by a slash mark (/)





f) If quoting a long piece of a poem or lines of lyrics (more than 3 lines), it is formatted the same as a long quote





g) If the author of the quote isn’t presented in the text preceding the quote, then add the author’s last name inside the parentheses, before the page number





h) Using a chart Identification goes

below the chart

The chart is numbered in sequence

A descriptive caption is given




7 Format the Works Cited Section

a) Begin the works cited section on the next page (Hold Ctrl and press Enter to go to the top of next page)

Type the title Works Cited Center the title – do not bold or use caps




7 (CONTINUED) Format the Works Cited Section

b) Each entry begins on a new line Each entry begins at the left margin Set the paragraph format to hanging indent





c) Books are formatted using this structure: Last name of author, First name of author. Title of Book. Publication City:

Name of Publisher, Year of Publication. Manner in which you viewed the book.





c) Books are formatted using this structure: Last name of author, First name of author. Title of Book. Publication City:

Name of Publisher, Year of Publication. Manner in which you viewed the book.





d) Books with two authors are formatted using this structure: Last name of author, First name of author, and First name of author Last

name of author. Title of Book. Publication City: Name of Publisher, Year of Publication. Manner in which you viewed the book.





e) Magazine Articles are formatted using this structure: Last name of author, First name of author. “Title of Article.” Name of

Magazine Date of the Issue: Page numbers of the article. Manner in which you viewed the article.





e) Magazine Articles are formatted using this structure: Last name of author, First name of author. “Title of Article.” Name of

Magazine Date of the Issue: Page numbers of the article. Manner in which you viewed the article.





f) Poem within a book is formatted using this structure: Last name of author, First name of author. “Title of Poem.” Trans. Name

of Translator. Name of Book. Ed. Name of Editor. City of Publication: Publisher, Publication Date. Page numbers of the poem. Manner in which you viewed the article.





g) The final step of the works cited page format is to alphabetize the entries by the first letter of the entry.

8 Submitting Completed work

a) place pages in sequential order

b) staple or paper clip together in upper left corner

© UNT in partnership with TEAMLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers – page 121 – 122, 131


Resources Structure and format rules were taken from the MLA

Handbook for Writers of Research Papers 7th edition. ISBN:978-1-60329-024-1 Published by the Modern Language Association of America Published in New York, 2009

All images of the Research Paper on Pit Bulls were provided by Paula Clothier.


Documents

Formatting a Research Paper