MLA Format Basics and Guidelines
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MLA Format Basics and Guidelines

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Questions and Answers

What does 'MLA' stand for?

Modern Language Association

What is the proper format for an MLA heading?

Name, Course name, Teacher's name, Due date (Day-Month-Year)

Should your heading be single-spaced or double-spaced?

Double spaced

What belongs in the upper right-hand corner of your paper?

<p>Last name followed by a single space and your page number</p> Signup and view all the answers

What font(s) are allowed in MLA format?

<p>Legible font such as Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri</p> Signup and view all the answers

What size must your font be?

<p>12</p> Signup and view all the answers

How wide must your margins be?

<p>1 inch on all sides</p> Signup and view all the answers

What size paper must you use if you are printing your paper?

<p>8.5 x 11 inches</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where does the title of your paper belong?

<p>Below your heading, centered, before the main portion of your heading</p> Signup and view all the answers

How should the title of your paper be formatted?

<p>Center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks. Write in Title Case.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When you directly quote from, summarize, or paraphrase an outside source, what must you do to avoid plagiarism?

<p>Include an in-text citation at the end of the quote or at the end of the paraphrased or summarized sentence</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the format for an in-text (parenthetical) citation that does not name the author in a signal phrase?

<p>Last name and page number (e.g., (Vreeland 8))</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the format for an in-text (parenthetical) citation that already names the author in a signal phrase?

<p>Page number (e.g., (8))</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a signal phrase?

<p>A phrase, clause or sentence that introduces a quotation. Also called a lead-in</p> Signup and view all the answers

If there is no author given in a work that you are quoting in your paper, how do you cite this work in the in-text (parenthetical) citation?

<p>Use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks (e.g., ('Magdalena' 8))</p> Signup and view all the answers

What spacing should you use for your paper?

<p>Double spacing</p> Signup and view all the answers

In MLA format, should you have additional space between each paragraph of your essay?

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

How should titles of short works, such as poems, articles, and short stories be formatted?

<p>Put them in quotation marks</p> Signup and view all the answers

How should titles of long works, such as novels and plays, be formatted?

<p>Italicize longer works</p> Signup and view all the answers

If your teacher's directions for formatting vary slightly from the official MLA guidelines, which should you follow?

<p>Your teacher's directions</p> Signup and view all the answers

When you use quoted or paraphrased information, where do you place the end punctuation for a sentence?

<p>After the last parentheses following the in-text citation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the bibliography or list of sources called in MLA?

<p>It is called a Works Cited page</p> Signup and view all the answers

Is the Works Cited page numbered?

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Does the Works Cited page count as a page of content or body?

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are entries (sources) arranged in a Works Cited page?

<p>Sources are arranged alphabetically, by author's last name, or by title if no author is present</p> Signup and view all the answers

Are entries numbered in the Works Cited page?

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a hanging indent?

<p>It is the reverse of a paragraph indent where the first line is not indented, but all other lines are indented</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct way to indicate that no date is available?

<p>n.d. is typed in place of the date</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

MLA Format Basics

  • "MLA" stands for Modern Language Association.
  • Standard paper size in MLA is 8.5 x 11 inches.
  • Use legible fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri, sized at 12 points.

Page Layout and Formatting

  • The header in the upper right corner should include the last name followed by a space and the page number.
  • Set margins to 1 inch on all sides.
  • The document should be double spaced throughout without additional paragraph spacing.

Heading and Title

  • MLA heading includes your name, course name, teacher's name, and due date in that sequence, double spaced.
  • Place the title of your paper centered below the heading, using Title Case without underlining, italicizing, or quotation marks.

Citations

  • In-text citations are necessary to avoid plagiarism: include the author's last name and page number if not cited in a signal phrase (e.g., (Vreeland 8)).
  • If the author is named in a signal phrase, only the page number is required (e.g., (8)).
  • For works without an author, cite using a shortened title in quotation marks (e.g., ("Magdalena" 8)).
  • The end punctuation should come after the in-text citation.

Works Cited Page

  • The bibliography is called a "Works Cited" page, arranged alphabetically by author's last name or title if no author is available.
  • The Works Cited page is numbered but does not count as a page of content.
  • Entries on the Works Cited page should not be numbered and must use a hanging indent format.

Additional Formatting Considerations

  • Titles of short works (e.g., poems, articles) should be in quotation marks, while longer works (e.g., novels, plays) should be italicized.
  • If teacher's instructions on formatting differ from MLA guidelines, always follow the teacher's guidance.
  • Indicate the absence of a date with "n.d." in citations.

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Description

This quiz covers essential aspects of MLA format, including page layout, heading structure, and citation rules. Test your knowledge on how to properly format papers according to MLA standards. Ensure your understanding of key guidelines for effective writing and citation.

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