Essays and research papers submitted as work for the FVL English Department are to be formatted according to the guidelines specified by the Modern Language Association of America (MLA). The guidelines listed on this web page are taken from the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th edition).
1. All papers should be typed, double-spaced on standard (8.5 X 11 inches) paper with margins of 1 inch on all sides. (NOTE: MS Word default is 1.25 inches -- you must change the defaults!)
2. A title page and an outline are normally expected on all research papers.
3. Number all pages in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. The writer’s name should be typed before the page number. (This is normally done using MS Word's header capability.) Example: Smith 2
4. Follow your teachers instructions on how to handle name & class identification. Standard MLA format for the front page of a typical class paper is to double-space the student name, the teacher's name, the class (& period), and the date on the left-hand margin one inch from the top of the page.
5. Paragraph indents are set 1/2 inch from the left margin. Long quotes (quotes of four or more lines in the text of your paper) are indented one inch from the left margin and run all the way to the right margin.
6. The Works Cited list (bibliography) should be typed on a separate page under the label Works Cited (with no quotation marks, underlining, etc.), centered at the top of the page. Double space all entries, with no skipped spaces between entries. The Works Cited page is a numbered page and includes the header with the writer's last name and the page number.)
7. Graphics, pictures, or diagrams should be included after the Works Cited page as an appendix.
NOTE: In MLA format, underlining and italics are equivalent; select one style and use this throughout your paper. For specific guidelines on citing works, consult A Guide to MLA Documentation (5th edition) available the FVL Media Center. (You may also be able to find these standard guidelines on many web sites.)