MLA ESSAY FORMAT
For Arts and Humanities Subjects
Based on the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Seventh Edition, 2009
Heading and Title
An essay or research paper in MLA does not need a separate title page.
Type your name, your teacher’s name, the course code, and the date on separate lines, flush left and 1” from the top of the
first page. Double space every line. Centre your title, use upper and lower case and do not use underlining or quotation
marks. Set up the first page using the following example:
Linton 1
Meghan Linton
Header:
last name
and page
number
Mrs. E. Cadman
English 4U
Title is
centered
9 January 2010
Politics in Hamlet
[Tab] White
it is common to examine Shakespeare’s play Hamlet as a study of
Body is
double-spaced
character, it is possible to also see it as a reflection of contemporary politics….
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vjoe wrnaw nfj oewnfn joew nifoewnfr ioew rwen. Nrower eiwornn. Ehh,“ bewi
nkla sdfn orew” (Johnson, 2008). Jniewro wer ewrhweo iorwerjwoei ien….
In-text citation
Additional Information
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Keep the default page layout setting when you open a new document to type your essay.
Indent the first word of a paragraph ½” (tab once) from the left margin.
Double-space throughout, including quotations, notes, and Works Cited and Works Consulted pages.
Number all pages consecutively throughout in the upper right-hand corner, ½” from the top and
flush with the right margin. (This must be done inside a header.)
 Type your last name before the page number.
 Do not use the abbreviation p. before a page number.
 Use in-text citations (parenthetical references) for your sources.
GCVI: P.G. Reid Resource Centre
Compiled by Mrs. Mulholland