Formatting in MLA Style
Our Goal:
• Write informative/explanatory texts to
examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts,
and information through the selection,
organization, and analysis of relevant content.
– Establish and maintain a formal style.
MLA Style includes..
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Writing in Times New Roman font
Writing in size 12 font
Double spacing
Having a title
Having a heading
Having a header
Using spell-check
Writing in 3rd person objective POV
Writing in Times New Roman font
• Why?
– available font on most typing programs
– Easy to read
– Uploads well to online forums – google docs,
blogs, etc. (Google docs default to Arial 11)
• How?
Select All
Format, then Font.
Type “Times New Roman,” Regular, 12
MLA Style includes..
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•
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•
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Writing in Times New Roman font
Writing in size 12 font
Double spacing
Having a title
Having a heading
Having a header
Using spell-check
Writing in 3rd person objective POV
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to be in 12 pt. Times New
Roman font?
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to be in 12 pt. Times New
Roman font?
– #1 – Yes
– #2 – Yes
– #3 – No – Arial
Double Spacing
Format, then Paragraph
Line Spacing: Double
MLA Style includes..
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•
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•
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•
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Writing in Times New Roman font
Writing in size 12 font
Double spacing
Having a heading
Having a header
Having a title
Using spell-check
Writing in 3rd person objective POV
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to be double spaced?
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to be double spaced?
– #1 – Yes
– #2 – No – Quadruple Spaced?
– #3 – No – 1.5
Adding a Heading – View, then
“Header & Footer”
Make sure you see the blue box & lines
Format, then Paragraph
Alignment, then Right
Type your last name
Insert, then Page Numbers
Position, then Right, then Ok
MLA Style includes..
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Writing in Times New Roman font
Writing in size 12 font
Double spacing
Having a header
Having a heading
Having a title
Using spell-check
Writing in 3rd person objective POV
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to have headers?
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to have a correct header?
– #1 – Yes
– #2 – No
– #3 – No
Adding the Heading
First and Last Name
Teacher’s Name
Class Name
Date [day month year]
Title
For the title…Format, Paragraphs,
Center Align
MLA Style includes..
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Writing in Times New Roman font
Writing in size 12 font
Double spacing
Having a header
Having a heading
Having a title
Using spell-check
Writing in 3rd person objective POV
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to have correct headings?
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to have the correct
headings?
– #1 – Yes
– #2 – No
– #3 – No – title underlined & in bold print
Using Spell-Check: Tools, then Spelling
and Grammar
Correct mistakes by hitting “change”
Spell-Check
• Will catch:
– Spelling mistakes
– Typing the same word
twice
– Punctuation
(sometimes)
• Will NOT catch:
– Using the wrong word
(there, their, they’re)
– Missing words
– Wrong words (using
work instead of word)
– Punctuation (usually)
– Words that are not
correctly capitalized
MLA Style includes..
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Writing in Times New Roman font
Writing in size 12 font
Double spacing
Having a header
Having a heading
Having a title
Using spell-check
Writing in 3rd person objective POV
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to have used spell check?
Writing in 3rd person objective
• Don’t use I thinks, I feels, I believes, etc!
– Teens need to study more for tests in school.
NOT
– I think that teens need to study more for tests in
school.
Trick #1: Drop it Off
• I think that teens need to study more for tests in
school.
• I think that teens need to study more for tests in
school.
• Teens need to study more for tests in school.
Trick #2: Use “One” instead of “You”
• You should consider joining the band = second
person
• One should consider joining the band = 3rd
person objective
MLA Style includes..
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Writing in Times New Roman font
Writing in size 12 font
Double spacing
Having a header
Having a heading
Having a title
Using spell-check
Writing in 3rd person objective POV
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to have been writing using
3rd person objective POV?
Look at the examples…
• Do these appear to have been written using
3rd person objective POV?
– #1 – no – uses “we”
– #2 – No – uses “we” and “I”
– #3 – Yes, except for use of “you” in conclusion
How would these essays do?
Secure
Developing
Beginning
- I can format with a
heading, header, title, 12
point Times New Roman
font, double spaced
- I can format with a
heading and title, doublespace and use 12-point
font
- I can format with name
and title; double-space
-I can use proper grammar,
spelling, punctuation, and
capitalization
- I can attempt proper
grammar, spelling,
capitalization, and
punctuation with only
limited errors
- I use grammar, spelling,
capitalization and/or
punctuation that has errors
- I can establish and
maintain a 3rd person
objective POV
- I can attempt a 3rd person
objective POV