Style Manuals

The major essay formats, MLA, APA, Turabian and AP, all have published style manuals that will give you guidance for fine-tuning specific issues with your final draft’s visual format.

Personal Preferences

Ask an employer, teacher or professor if he or she has a specific formatting preference. Though basic essay appearance is somewhat standard, minor details change between popular style manuals.

Margins

One-inch margins are preferred among all major essay styles and by many leading professionals. Always double-check the margins, as some word processors have default 1.5-inch margins.

Text Size

Text should be 12 point, Times New Roman font. As recommended in Diana Hacker’s “Rules for Writers,” you should never use larger text for the essay’s title or headings.

Text Format

Do not use special formatting other than simple underlining or italics—even underlining and italics should be used rarely, typically reserved for book titles.

Bibliography

Any essay citing external sources needs to have a bibliography. Depending on the essay style you’re using, the citations themselves will vary, but in every essay style the bibliography appears at the end as a separate page.

Setting up the Document

Before you start writing your essay using MLA style guidelines, set your document up correctly. This entails setting the double space function in the word processing program that you are using. This is vital not only to keep within MLA guidelines, but for pagination as well, since most professors specify the essay page length. The easiest way to set up your document is to go into the “Paragraph Format” section of the document menu and select “Double” under “Line spacing.” This should automatically double space each sentence.

Page Heading

According to the MLA style guideline, essays should not have cover pages Instead, a heading should appear at the top left portion of the essay that contains your name, the professor’s name, the course name and number and the date (written as xx Month xxxx). Type each of these pieces of information on a separate line in the aforementioned order. They must remain double-spaced.

Page Title

The essay must have a title, which should be centered. If the title is divided in two parts and separated by a colon, position the main title on the first line and the second portion of the title on a subsequent line. Again, this section should remain double spaced.

Long Quotes and Citations

Ensure that even long quotes — those longer than three lines in length — are indented and double-spaced. If for some reason the document forces the quote into a single-space format, simply highlight the affected portion of text, click “Paragraph Format” and re-select “Double” as the line spacing preference.

Works Cited

MLA guidelines dictate that even the works cited page be double-spaced. Create the works cited page as its own page after the end of the essay. Write out all of the sources used, making sure each line is double spaced. Then, select each source, go to “Paragraph Format” and select “Hanging” under “Indentation.” Review the essay to ensure double-spacing was used throughout.

Set your document attributes to the correct settings. This involves setting the font to 12 point Times New Roman, page margins to 1 inch all the way around and line spacing to double space. All of these document attributes are standards of MLA format and must be set precisely to the correct values.

Add a header to your paper. The header on each page should be the author’s last name followed by the page number. For example, if your last name is Smith, the header of the fifth page of your essay should be ” Smith 5.”

Create a title block at the top left of your first page. The title block contains valuable information about the paper that any reader should know. The first line should be the author’s first and last name. The second line will consist of the professor’s name, and the third line is the name of the class. The final line in the title block should be the date. An example of a title block is shown below.

John Smith

Professor Jones

Molecular Cell Biology II

April 23, 2011

Think of a unique and attention-grabbing title. The title for a MLA format paper should be centered to the middle of the page and directly beneath the title block.

Write your essay and insert it beneath your title.

Compile a works cited page that includes all of the resources you have used. The works cited page should have the words “Work Cited” centered at the top of its own page following your essay. All the entries should be listed alphabetically according to title, with no extra lines in between entries. The first line of each entry should begin all the way to the left with the next line of the entry indented five spaces to the right.

Write each reference based on the latest MLA citation guidelines. Citation rules vary based on whether the resource was print, online, journal article, video or some other medium. Go online to find the most recent rules for MLA citations and incorporate them into your works cited page. Check the most recent edition of either The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or The MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing for rules and guidelines. See the resources section below for more information.

Title, Abstract and Introduction

The title of the lab report should be short, to the point and reflect the content of the paper. The abstract follows the title. It is a very concise summary of the paper. The abstract includes brief references to the data and conclusions. Its purpose is to inform and draw the reader to review more of the report. The introduction outlines the objectives of the experiment. It offers the purpose of the report, gives background into the subject, and offers a hypothesis for the experiment.

Materials and Procedure

Materials needed to reproduce the experiment, how the materials were used and the location for the experiment (needed in the field study) are listed in the materials section. The procedure should provide specifics to method, but should be concise and actionable. The procedure should be able to be reproduced by another scientist performing the experiment.

Results, Analysis and Citations

Data for the experiment should be organized in a way to make it easy to read. Use tables, graphs and photos to display results. Analysis is the interpretation of the data and may reference other studies and theories. Areas of improvement can be listed in the analysis section. A definitive conclusion should be explained based on the interpretation of the data. Finally, a citation section should list all the studies, papers and books that were referenced in the paper.

Formatting Your Essay

Properly formatting your English essay is an easy task. Basically, it consists of applying the correct settings to your computer’s word processor. Begin by making sure that the font is set to 12-point Times New Roman. Then check your line spacing to ensure that it is set to double space. The entire essay must be double-spaced, with no extra lines appearing anywhere in the paper.

Next, set your margins so that they are 1 inch all the way around, top, bottom, left and right. Also ensure that all text in the essay is aligned left. This means all words down the left margin should be lined up perfectly, except for where you indent for a new paragraph. Paragraph indentations should be 1/2 inch or 5 spaces.

It’s also important that you correctly set your last name and page number to appear in the upper, right-hand corner of every page. For example, beginning with page 1, it would appear as Doe 1. Page 2 would be Doe 2, and so forth. Your name and page number must appear in the header, not the actual body of the essay.

Finally, the first page of your English essay must include a heading in the upper left-hand corner of the page. The heading should appear as follows, double-spaced of course:

Your Name

The Teacher’s Name

The Name of the Class

Day Month Year

Proper Citations

It is likely that you’ll have to cite research material throughout your essay and include a Works Cited page. First, you must offer credit to the author and provide the page number in the body of your essay whenever you use information from a research source. If you do not mention the author’s name prior to or proceeding the reference, you must include his/her last name and the page number in parentheses at the end of the referenced information; for example (Smith 11). Otherwise, if you’ve already mentioned the author’s name, simply provide the page number; for example (109).

If you’ve included research sources in your essay, you will have to write a Works Cited page. This will be the last page of your essay and it will be formatted in the same basic manner. Center “Works Cited” at the top of the paper (minus the quotation marks) and list the citations in alphabetical order according to the author’s last name. Remember, if there is a second line to the citation, it must be indented five spaces. Visit the MLA Formatting and Style Guide offered below for the proper way to list all entries on the Works Cited page.

Using MLA Formatting

Format your paper in MLA style. Your paper should be printed on 8.5-by-11-inch paper and be typed in a generic, double-spaced font such as Times New Roman. The size of the font for MLA style is typically 12 points. Also, there should only be one space between the end of one sentence and the beginning of another.

The paragraphs should also be about 1 inch from all sides. You can set these formats when you begin to print.

Do not create a title on the first page unless you are asked to. Put your name, professor’s name, course title and date in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. This, too, should be double spaced.

Number the pages by going into your text editor’s Format Footer. Choose page number. Then click on the page number in the footer and add your last name before it. This will automatically number the pages and add your last name before it.

Use italics or quotations marks when you are referring to sources in your text. If you need to reference the source without explicitly saying it in your text, you need to use parenthetical citations using the author’s last name and page number where you found the information. For example, if you are using information from John Smith’s book on page 46, your citation would come at the end of the sentence where you typed about the information, and would look as such: (Smith 46).

Create a works cited page to attach to the end of your paper. This page will be used by the reader to see the sources you have used as research, as well as ti understand the parenthetical citations you have used throughout the paper.

Use this format to reference a book:

Author’s Last Name, Author’s First Name. “Title Of Work”. Where It Was Published, Publishing Date.

Use this format to reference a website:

Contributer’s Last Name, Contributer’s First Name. “Title of Article”. Website Name. Date Last Edited. Web Address. Date You Accessed Work.

Body of Paper

Format your paper. MLA papers should adhere to certain formatting guidelines. Set your font to 12-point Times New Roman by clicking on “Format,” “Font” and then selecting your font type and size. Make sure your page margins are only one inch on all sides by selecting “Format,” “Page Setup” then resetting the margin size. Format your paragraphs so they are double spaced by selecting “Format,” “Page Setup” then changing the spacing option.

Write your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date in the upper left-hand corner of the first page.

Create a header in the upper right-hand corner with your last name, a space and the page number by clicking on “View,” “Headers and Footers” then typing in your text. For example, “Smith 1.”

Add the title block. Make sure your title is centered and two spaces below the date.

Write the content of your paper or essay. Check that all copy is double spaced, that you are indenting the first line of each new paragraph 1/2-inch and that you are leaving only a single space after each period.

Sources

If you quote or paraphrase a specific portion of a text from a source or provide a specific statistic, provide a parenthetical citation that includes the author’s last name and the page number. For example, (Smith, pg. 107). If you use a quote that consists of more than three lines of text, you need to use a block quotation. To do this, indent the lines of quoted text one inch from both the right and left margins.

References your sources. MLA has specific guidelines for referencing. First, create a separate “References” or “Works Cited” page.

To cite an article, use the following format: Name of Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical. [Publication Info]: Pages.

To cite a book, use the following format: Name of Author. Title of Book. [Name of editor, translator or compiler.] [Edition.] Location: Publisher, Year. [Page number.]

To cite a web page, use the following format: Name of Author. “Title of Web Page.” [Name of Webmaster or Editor.] [Print Source] [Title of Web Collection.] [Description] [Date of Electronic Publication or Last Update] [Database Name] [[number of paragraphs] or [number of pages]] [Sponsoring Institution] [Date Accessed] .

Write down the points you are trying to convey, argue or discuss in the essay. Narrow them down to three.

Write a thesis statement using these three points. The thesis statement should state what the essay is about.

Write the introduction. The introduction should included necessary background information and end with the thesis. Make the introduction at least five sentences, including the thesis.

Write three paragraphs. Discuss one point of the thesis in each paragraph. Each paragraph should list points, evidence and arguments that support the theme of that paragraph.

Write the conclusion. The conclusion should wrap up all the points made in the thesis. Rewrite the thesis and use it as the closing sentence.

APA format is applied to all textual citations, which are references to work or ideas that don’t originate with the essayist, as well as to the “References” page located at the end of the essay.

Instructions

Set the style. In your Word processing software, set your document preferences to 10- to 12-point type and a standard letter-sized page, which is 8.5 inches by 11 inches, with one-inch margins on all sides. Select Times New Roman or a similar font and double-space your text.

Create a page header. Each page of your document should include a header with the title of your paper and the page number. The title appears on the left, while the pages numbers appear on the right.

Use citations. Include in-text citations for any summary, idea, or direct quotation that is the work of another author. APA format citations must include the author’s last name, the year of publication for the specific source of the material, and the page number where the cited information appears. State the name and date as part of the sentence and include the page number parenthetically at the end. For example: In 2003, Smith found that … (p. 206). Conversely, you may include all or part of the citation parenthetically at the end of the sentence. This would appear as (Smith, 2003, p. 206) within your text.

Use correct placement. If you have included a direct quote, place parenthetical citations after quotation marks and before the ending punctuation. For example: “This is an example of a direct quotation” (Smith, 2003, p. 206).

List references. Create a reference list at the end of your paper that includes complete bibliographic information for each source that is referenced in your document. List in order the first and last name of each author, the complete name of the publication, the article title if it is part of a larger work, the volume and issue numbers, the name of the publisher, and city and date of publication.

Title your reference list. Type “References” at the top of the page and center the word.

Format your reference list with hanging indentations. This means that the first line of each reference is flush left, but each subsequent line within the reference is indented by half an inch.

Italicize certain titles. Italicize the titles of longer works, such as books, journals and newspapers. Article titles are not italicized.

Use specific capitalization rules. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word in the title and subtitle of any work that does not appear in a journal. In the case of journals, capitalize the first letter of all major words.

Create a bibliography. Write the bibliographic entry for a single author book as follows: Author, A.B. (Year of publication). Title of book: Subtitle of book. Location: Publisher.

Write the bibliographic entry for a single author periodical article as follows: Author, A.B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of periodical volume number (issue number), pages.

Write the bibliographic entry for a non-periodical web document, web page or report as follows: Author, A.B. (Date of publication). Title of document. Retrieved from http://Web address

Research your paper. Process essays generally describe a specific process or procedure and may require references to support the implicit claim your essay will make, which is that the process you describe is the correct or best one to use.

Format your paper according to MLA guidelines by double-spacing the text, selecting a traditional 12-point font such as Times New Roman and setting the margins of the document to 1 inch on each side.

Add a header to the upper right-hand corner of your paper. This header will include your last name and the page number.

Type your name, your instructor’s name, your course name and number and the date on separate lines in the top left corner of your first page.

Center the text on the next line after the date and type your title.

Indent and begin writing your paper on the next line.

Introduce each of your references using the author’s first and last name and the title of the work the first time you quote or paraphrase them in your process essay. For example, the first time you quote the article “Writing a Process Essay” by John Smith, write:

In the article “Writing a Process Essay,” John Smith asserts that “…”

If the article has no author, introduce it by title only.

Cite each initial quote or paraphrase using a parenthetical in-text citation that includes the page number of the quote if it came from a print source and the title or a shortened version of the title of the article if no page number is available. Punctuate with a period after the parenthetical citation. For example, for a quote from the print article “Writing a Process Essay” by John Smith, write:

In the article “Writing a Process Essay,” John Smith asserts that “…” (13).

If you found the article online and it does not have page numbers, you may omit the parenthetical citation.

Continue to cite all quotes and paraphrases used in your paper, referring to previously introduced authors by last name only. When you name the author in the text, include only the page number in your parenthetical citation:

Smith argues that process essays require clear organization (35).

If there is no page number, you may omit the parenthetical citation.

When you do not name the author in the text, include both the author’s last name and the page number in the parenthetical citation:

Writers may need to define technical terms in process essays (Smith 25).

If the author’s name is not available, cite using the title of the work referenced:

Writers may need to define technical terms in process essays (“Writing” 25).

Center the first line of a new page at the end of your paper and type “Works Cited.”

List all of your references in MLA format. Do not use blank lines between references. Basic MLA format for Works Cited references looks like this:

Author’s last name, author’s first name. Title of work in italics if a long work, such as a book, or in quotation marks if a short work, such as an essay or article. Italicized title of work the source is in, such as a collection or magazine, if necessary. Place of publication: publishing company, year of publication. Medium (such as print or web).

For example:

Smith, John. “Writing a Process Essay.” Tips for Writers (in italics). New York: Academic Publishers, 2009. Print.

Find specific formats for different source types in your MLA stylebook or an online MLA guide.

Indent the second and subsequent lines of each of your Works Cited reference listings.

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