MLA Format

MLA format is a very precise style for writing.  Many colleges deem MLA format necessary for papers.  The formatting style is very specific!  A paper that is correctly formatted must:

• be in Times New Roman
  be in all black type
• be completely in 12 point font
• be completely double spaced
• have 1 inch margins
• have a running header of your last name and the page number in the top right corner of the page
• contain no wordart, pictures, colored type or "cute" anything
• have a works cited page that is titled "Works Cited, and is double spaced, each entry has a hanging indent, and entries are in alphabetical order.
• Dates are in the format of day month year example: 12 Jan. 2008 (months are abbreviated except May, June, and July).

What to include in each entry:  If information is not available from the source, leave it off and continue with the next part of the entry.

Book:  Author last name, author first name.  Book Title.  City: Publisher, copyright date. Print.

Thompson, Karl.  The Victorian Age.  New York: Facts on File, 1988. Print.

Newspaper or Magazine Article: Author last name, Author first name. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper or Magazine. date: pg #s. Print.

Robertson, Joe."Standing Up For Troubled Youth." Kansas City Star. 30 Nov. 2009: A1. Print.

Scholarly Journal: Author last name, Author first name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal Vol.#.Issue# (Year): pg #s. Print.

Bickmore, Steven T."Do I Stay or Do I Go?" English Journal 99.2 (2009): 87-90. Print.

Book and criticism: Author (of article) last name, Author (of article) first name. "Title of Article." Title of Book. By Author first name Author last name (author of book). City: Publisher, copyright date. pg #s of article. Print.

Shipley, Joseph T. "Arthur Miller's New Melodrama is Not What It Seems to Be." The Crucible: Text and Criticism. By Arthur Miller. New York: Penguin Books, 1996. 201-203. Print.

Newspaper/magazine article from a database:  Author last name, Author first name.  "Title of Article."  Title of newspaper or magazine  Date of publication: pg #. Title of database. Web. Date of access.

Ford, Shelley. “Victorian London.” New York Times 8 Aug. 2006: A10. SIRS. Web. 18 Oct. 2007.    

Scholarly Journal from a database: Author last name, Author first name. "Title of Article." Journal Title Vol #. Issue # (Year): page numbers. Title of database. Web. Date accessed.

Stabile, Bonnie. "National Determinates of Cloning Policy." Social Science Quarterly 87.2 (June 2006): 449-459.Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.  Web. 14 Sept. 2009.

Ebook article:  Author last name, Author first name.  "Title of Article."  Title of Book .  Editor.  City: Publisher, Copyright year.  Database Title. Web. Date accessed.

"The Education of Mothers."  Family in Society: Essential Primary Sources. Eds. K. Lerner, Brenda Lerner, and Adrienne Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006.  Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 14 Feb. 2008.

Website:    Author last name, Author first name.  "Title of web page."  Title of web site. Sponsoring organization, Date created or updated (if none put n.d.). Web. Date accessed <URL>.

“Cruchley's New Plan Of London Improved To 1827. Including The East and West India Docks.” Dictionary of Victorian London.  Lee Jackson. 19 Aug. 2005, Web. 14 Feb. 2008 <http://archivemaps.com/mapco/cruchley/cruchley.htm>.

Song: Artist last name, Artist first name.  "Title of Song."  Title of album or CD.  Recording label, Year. Medium (CD, LP, mp3).

Keith, Toby.  "Should've Been a Cowboy."  Toby Keith 35 Biggest Hits.  Universal Music Enterprises, 2008. CD.

Image from website: Photographer last name, first name. "Title of Image." Year of image. Title of Website . Web. Date of access <URL>.

"Wikipedian Protester-796058." 2007. Cyberspace Law and Policy Centre. Web. 21 Sept. 2009 <www.cyberlawcentre.org/ unlocking-ip/blog/2007>.

 

Example Works Cited Page (with correct formatting)