Questions and Answers
What does MLA stand for and what is it used for?
Modern Language Association; it is used to write papers and cite sources.
How should your paper be spaced?
Double
You should press the 'space bar' key ____ after punctuation.
1 time
Margins should be set ____ on ____ sides.
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Indent the first paragraph ____-inch (press ___ key once) from the left margin.
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Should you make a title page?
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The upper left-hand corner of the first page lists your _____, your _____ name, the _____, and the _____.
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____ again and ___ the title. Don't underline your title or put it in quotation marks; with the title in ___.
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_____ between the title and the first line of the text.
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Create a ____ in the upper ____-hand corner that includes your ____ followed by a space with a ____. All pages should be consecutively numbered.
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Begin your Works Cited page on a ____ page at the end of your research paper.
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Label the page ___ (do not underline) and center the words at the top.
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___ all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries.
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____ each word in the titles, avoiding capitalization of articles, short prepositions, or conjunctions unless they are the first word.
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Use ____ for titles of larger works (books, magazines) and ____ for titles of shorter works (poems, articles).
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What is a thesis statement?
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The thesis statement declares the ____ purpose of the entire paper.
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What is a poor example of a thesis statement?
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What is a good example of a thesis statement?
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What are 5 characteristics of a good thesis statement?
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Study Notes
MLA Basics
- MLA stands for Modern Language Association and is used for writing papers and citing sources.
- Double spacing is required throughout the paper.
Formatting Guidelines
- Press the space bar one time after punctuation marks.
- Set margins to one inch on all sides.
- Indent the first paragraph by half an inch using the space bar once.
- Do not include a title page.
Header and Title Formatting
- Upper left-hand corner of the first page should include your name, professor's name, course, and the date. All elements should be double spaced.
- The title should be double spaced from the preceding lines, centered, and formatted in title case without underlining or quotation marks.
Page Numbering and Works Cited
- Create a header in the upper right-hand corner featuring your last name followed by a space and the page number, using Arabic numerals.
- The Works Cited page starts on a separate page at the end of the paper with the same one-inch margins and last name/page number header.
- Center the words "Works Cited" at the top of the page without underlining or using quotation marks.
Citation Formatting
- Double space all citations without skipping spaces between entries.
- Capitalize each word in titles of articles, books, etc, unless they are articles, short prepositions, or conjunctions, unless they are the first word.
- Italics are used for titles of larger works like books and magazines, while shorter works like poems and articles use quotation marks.
Thesis Statement
- A thesis statement is a clear, concise sentence that expresses the main idea of the paper.
- It declares the main purpose of the paper and serves as an organizational tool for both the writer and reader.
- An ineffective thesis statement lacks specificity, while a strong example supports a clear stance or argument.
Characteristics of a Strong Thesis
- Fulfill the assignment requirements.
- Assert one main idea.
- Be clearly stated in specific terms.
- Express an attitude or opinion.
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Description
Test your knowledge on MLA formatting and report writing with these flashcards. Learn essential rules such as spacing, margins, and citation practices. Perfect for students looking to improve their writing skills.
