Table of Contents
Main Components of an MLA-Formatted Essay
When writing an essay in MLA format, there are several key components to focus on to ensure your work is properly formatted and effectively communicates your ideas. Here are the main components of an MLA-formatted essay:
1. General Formatting
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Font and Spacing: Use 12-point Times New Roman font, with double spacing throughout the document, including the text, quotations, and the Works Cited page.
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Margins: Set all margins to 1 inch to provide space for comments and feedback.
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Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch.
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2. Header
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Page Number and Last Name: Include your last name and page number in the top right corner of each page, starting from the first page of the essay.
3. Title and First Page Information
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No Title Page: Typically, MLA essays do not require a title page. However, if requested by the instructor, include your name, instructor’s name, course, and date in the upper left corner of the first page.
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Title Placement: If a title is included, it should be centered and placed below the first page information, without underlines, bold font, or quotation marks unless part of the title itself.
4. In-Text Citations
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Parenthetical Citations: Use parentheses with the author’s last name and page number for in-text citations (e.g., (Smith 123)).
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Signal Phrases: Use signal phrases to integrate sources smoothly into your text.
5. Works Cited Page
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Format: The Works Cited page should be double-spaced with a hanging indent for each entry.
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Organization: List sources alphabetically by author’s last name.
6. Paragraph Structure
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Claim, Evidence, Discussion: Each paragraph should include a claim, evidence to support it, and a discussion explaining how the evidence relates to the claim.
Example of MLA Essay Components
First Page Information:
Your Name
Instructor's Name
Course
Date
Title (if included):
Centered title without underlines or quotation marks
In-Text Citation Example:
If you’re citing a book by John Smith, the in-text citation would be (Smith 123).
Works Cited Page Example:
Smith, John. Book Title. Publisher, Year of Publication.
By incorporating these components, you can ensure that your MLA-formatted essay is well-structured and effectively communicates your ideas to your audience.
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