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MLA Format Workshop
By Tatevik and Melissa
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Student Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this workshop…

Students will have a clearer understanding of MLA Format.

Students will feel more comfortable implementing MLA
Formatting procedures on their own.

Students will understand the importance of citing sources.

Students will become aware of plagiarism and will know how
to avoid plagiarizing.

Students will be able to create their own works cited page to
document the sources they use in essays.
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Modern Language Association:
 The
Modern Language Association's writing
format is a series of regulations and guidelines
for writers.
 It
is more organized for most essay writers to
use a consistent writing style for essays and
citations.
 In
college, using an organized format also
allows your teachers and fellow readers to
clearly understand your essays.
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Basics Features
of MLA:

Times New Roman font, 12 point size.

Double-space entire paper.

All margins should be set to 1”.

Include a header with your last name
and page number at the upper-right
hand corner of your essay.

Include a heading in the left-hand
corner of the first page, including your
name, instructor’s name, class name,
and the date.

The title must follow the heading and
will be centered. Do NOT underline,
bold, or “quote” your title.

Include in-text citations and works cited
page.
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Example:
First page of an essay in MLA format.
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Citations:
What are they and why are they important?

Citations are used to credit a source that you obtain
information from.

This is necessary in any and all writing pieces, as it is
important to credit the work of others.

Avoid unintentional plagiarizing.

PLAGIARISM: The act of using another person’s
words or ideas in the attempt of passing them off as your
own.

Consequences for plagiarizing, even if unintentional, can
result in academic suspension and even expulsion.
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Citations: continued.

Citations are not just used when quoting.

If you summarize or rephrase another individual’s ideas, then
you must still cite them as a source.

If the information is taken verbally (interview, class lecture)
you must still cite that information.

Even if you are taking information from your previous essay,
you must still cite it.
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How to cite: in-text citations.

There are many different methods of citing in your text.

In-text citations usually consist of the author’s name and the
page number the information/quote was found on (placed at
the end of the sentence).

Examples:
In the novel The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, the narrator indentifies
her insecurities when she states, “Even without makeup, I could
never pass for true Chinese” (142).
In Wuthering Heights, Mr. Earnshaw’s health “. . . began to fail. He
had been active and healthy, yet his strength left him suddenly. . .”
(Brontë 44).
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Works Cited

The works cited page should include a
detailed list of all the outside sources
used in the essay.

It should be written on a separate page.

The sources should be stated in
alphabetical order.

Use hanging indentation for every
source.

Books, magazines, online sources,
videos, movies and all other sources
have to include their own citation.

Pay special attention to punctuation and
order of the information provided.
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Works Cited page:
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Works Cited:
Books
Bronte, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York: Signet Classic, 1993.
Last, first name
of author.
Title.
Place of publication: Publisher, Date of publication (year).
42-67. Print.
Page numbers used.
Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. New York: Putnam's, 1989. Print.
Last, first name
of author.
Title.
Place of publication: Publisher, Date of publication (year).
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Works Cited: Articles from a
website.
Mitchoff, Kate Houston. "Web sites." Teacher Librarian 33.1 (2005):
7+. Academic OneFile. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.
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Works Cited

http://www.ehow.com/about_5063067_define-mla-writingformat.html
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In conclusion,
 Any
questions?
 Please
fill out an
evaluation form
before leaving and
don’t forget to take
home our official
handout on MLA
Format!