Grammar Boot Camp

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This workshop will teach you to

• Use MLA-Style formatting

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What is MLA-style?

• MLA Modern Language Association
• The MLA established the standard of punctuation
  and formatting for writing accepted by academia.
• MLA-style is most often used by fields in the
  humanities.
• As MLA regularly updates its guidelines, it is
  important to stay current on them.

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Why Follow MLA guidelines?

• Having a standard, acceptable method of
  formatting, punctuating, incorporating outside
  sources, and creating works cited pages is
  important because it provides organization and
  uniformity, no matter the subject area.

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Formatting Guidelines

• Paper, Print Presentation
• Paper
• 8 1/2 x 11
• White bond, 2024 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

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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

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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

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Formatting Guidelines

• Sample title page

Symbolism in Shakespeares
Sonnets by Sharon Hayek British Literature
2231.015 Dr. Vanessa Cooke December 5, 2001
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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
• Instructors 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

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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

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Formatting Guidelines

• Sample First Page

Hayek 1 Sharon Hayek Dr. C. Cooper British
Literature 2231.015 December 5, 2001 Symbolism
in Shakespeares Sonnets Becoming popular
during the Renaissance, the sonnet originated
in Italy with the poet Petrarch. By
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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

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Congratulations!

• You have successfully completed Session One of
  Research Paper
• Boot Camp!
• For more information on how to format your
  research paper, visit a friendly, professional
  tutor at the Stone Writing Center.
• SW 104, East Campus 698-1364
  www.delmar.edu/engl/wrtctr