Creating a Research paper Using Modern Language Association “MLA” Documentation Style Introduction In both academic and business environment, you will be asked to write reports. Business reports range from proposal to cost justifications to five years plans to research findings. Academic reports focus mostly on research findings whether you are writing a business report or an academic report, you should follow a standard style when preparing it. Guidelines presented by the MLA Double – space on all pages of the paper. Using one-inch top, bottom, left, and right margins. Indent the first word of each paragraph one-half inch from the left margin. At the right margin of each page, place a page number one- half inch from the top margin. On each page, precede the page number by your last name. Guidelines presented by the MLA The MLA style does not require a title page. Instead, place your name and course information in a block at the left margin beginning one inch from the top of the page. Center the title one double- space below your name and course information. In the body of the paper, place author references in parentheses with the page number‘s of the referenced information. optional explanatory notes. Guidelines presented by the MLA The MLA style uses in text parenthetical citation instead of noting each source at the bottom of the page or at the end of the paper. In the MLA style, notes are used only for Two popular documentation style for research papers are the Modern Language Association of America (MLA) and American psychological Guidelines presented by the MLA Position explanatory notes either at the bottom of the page as footnotes or at the end of the paper as endnotes. Indent the first line of each explanatory note one- half inch from the left margin. Place one space following the superscripted number before beginning the note text& Double –space the note text .At the end of the note text, you may list bibliographic information for further reference. Guidelines presented by the MLA The MLA style uses the term Work cited for the bibliographical references. The works cited page alphabetically lists works that are referenced directly in the paper. List works by each author’s last name, or, if the author’s name is not available, by the title of the work. Guidelines presented by the MLA Italized or underline the title of the work. Place the works cited on a separate numbered page. Center the title, Works Cited, one inch from the top margin. Double- space all lines. Begin the first line of each entry at the left margin, indenting subsequent lines of the same entry one –half inch from the left margin.