Hi, I'm Rebecca Balcarcel.
Do you need to put an essay in MLA format?
Well, I can help you.
In most English classes in college, as well as other liberal arts fields
like psychology or sociology, normally we follow the rules that the Modern Language
Association give us for how to layout the print on your paper -- so, what the
format of that page needs to looks like.
MLA tells us all these rules, and we have to follow them.
Here's an example of a paper that's in the proper format.
Now, notice a couple things: First of all, it has
a header.
That is on this side, and it first has your name.
The second thing is your professor's name.
Thirdly, you have the name of the class, maybe the course number,
or maybe just "English" or "Psychology 1," um, and the last piece of information is the
date, and usually that's the date that the essay's due or the date that
you printed it out.
Um, those are the four pieces of information that go in the header.
Now you notice then, that we have the title next, and this title is not in bold.
It is also not in italics, and it is also not big or small compared to the rest of the
paper.
In fact the whole paper is in 12 pt.
font.
That's the preferred font size for MLA.
MLA will also let you do it in 10 pt.
font, but that's it: 10 or 12.
They're really pretty strict, aren't they?
Alright, so you've got your font, you've got your header.
You're gonna put the title, not in any special font or size, but the same as the rest of
the paper.
You're also gonna make the font be Times New Roman.
[sigh] I know, it's kind of a boring font, but it has become the default font for all
MLA papers.
I do believe Courier is allowed, but, um, most folks really do
prefer Times New Roman, so, whatever is similar to that on your word processor, use that.
Okay, so you've got your font, you've got your header, you've got the title,
um, and let me say one more thing about the title: You've got to capitalize almost every
word of that title, but don't capitalize little tiny words like "a" or "or"
inside the title.
If it's the first word of the title, though, then do capitalize it.
Alright, so you've got your title now, and notice that that title is not, uh,
surrounded by extra blank lines.
It is exactly double-spaced, like the rest of the paper.
And while we're at it, yes, the whole thing is double-spaced.
So, not one-and-a-half, not single-, but double-spaced.
And, we have one-inch margins all the way around -- top, bottom, and sides.
Now, probably your word processor is already set for a one-inch margin all the
way around.
If you don't touch it, you're probably fine.
However you should be able to go into some kind of settings, or
format, uh, drop-down menu, and set the margin sizes.
And, for MLA, it's gotta be one inch.
Okay, so, let's see, what else can I tell you?
Oh, notice that these paragraphs are indented.
So the first word of each paragraph is...
You- you need to push or at least space over (tab is better).
Uh, but scoot over that first l- word and continue to let the text wrap
around.
Also, do not make the, uh, text equal on both sides.
The, uh, left margin should be ragged, and the right margin
should be straight.
Okay, I also need to tell you about the page numbers.
Up in the right-hand corner of MLA papers is a page number, but not just a page number.
Actually it has a last name, and then the page number.
So you've got to put your last name '1' on the first page.
On the second page, you put last name '2'.
This can be a little tricky to set up on your computer.
Uh, you have to go into the header (or sometimes they have a little page number field) and
put the last name, change the normal default setting that just puts the number, and then
it'll count for you the rest of the way.
Um, every word processor's a little different, but usually it has a help menu
or, you know, you can find another youtube video that shows you how to do that.
Uh, but for MLA you definitely need your last name and the page number.
Okay, so let's see: You've got the page number, the header, the title, the paragraphing, the
spacing, the margins...
Let's see...
I think...
I think that's it.
And if you put your manuscript in this format, you won't lose any points on format.
Um, now if you're going to start quoting, then you need a whole bunch more information,
and a works cited page at the end of your essay, and, uh, some parenthetical, um, you
know...
In parentheses you'll have to put where your quotes came from, and that
will have to be the subject of another video.
But you're off to a good start here.
Good luck.