How to set up a paper and works cited page in MLA Style (format, fonts, spacing, etc.).
Instructions based on Joseph Gibaldi’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2003. Cameron Library has the book on 2nd floor and in Reference at call number: LB 2369 .G53 2003.
For help with setting up the research paper, see these chapters in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers:
Layout (formatting) =Chapter 4. Works Cited = Chapters 5-6. Sample pages = between Appendix B and Index, & also Sec. 4.5.
Open Microsoft Word. (These instructions were created using MS Office Word 2003.)
Layout (see 1st image on the reverse - Layout and Formatting Buttons)
1) Set margins.
Click on the File menu and then on Page Setup. Check margins and layout.
Margins tab: Set margins to 1 inch on the top, bottom, left and right sides. Orientation is Portrait.
Layout tab: Header and footer should be set to 0.5 inches. Click OK.
2) Set tab spacing. Select Format menu and then Tabs. Set Default Tab Stops to 0.5 inches. Click OK.
3) Set font style (name) and size.
Select Format menu, then Font. Change: Font = Times New Roman, Font Style= Regular, Size = 12 point.
Consult section 4.7 for help with tables and figures (illustration, map, drawing, graph, etc.).
4) Set double spaced lines.
Select Format menu, then Paragraph. On Indents and Spacing tab: In Spacing section find Line Spacing and change it to Double. Click OK.
5) Set page header with your last name and automatic page numbering.
Click on the View menu, and then on Header and Footer.
On the Formatting toolbar, select the Align Right button for the Header.
Type your last name, insert one space, and click the insert page number button. Click Close.
Follow your instructor’s preference for this header appearing or not appearing on the first page.
Start Paper (see 2nd image on the reverse - Example of MLA Research Paper)
Note: Research Papers do not have title pages in MLA Style! Use only 1 space after all punctuation.
1) Select Align Left button on Formatting toolbar. Type your name, instructor’s name, course number, and date.
2) On Formatting toolbar select Align Center. Type paper title. Follow capitalization rules in Handbook (3.6.1).
3) Select Align Left on Formatting toolbar. Use Tab button to indent paragraph. Begin typing the paper.
Works Cited Page
1) Force a new page (start new page)
Click on Insert menu, then Break, and under Break Types click Page Break then OK.
2) At top of new page: on Formatting toolbar select Align Center. Type Works Cited and press Enter.
3) Select Align Left on Formatting toolbar. Type works cited entries. Use Enter key after each works cited entry.
4) To indent citation: highlight entries with mouse. Under Format-select Paragraph, then Hanging Indent.
On Indents & Spacing tab, change Indentation: Special to Hanging.
To start a new page
Force a new page: click on the Insert menu, then Break, and finally Page Break.
