MLA (Modern Language Association) style is a set of guidelines for writing and formatting papers in the humanities and liberal arts. It is most commonly used in the fields of English and foreign languages. The MLA style manual provides guidelines for formatting papers, citing sources, and constructing a works cited page.
One key aspect of the MLA style is the use of a specific format for the essay itself. This includes the use of a specific font, margins, and spacing. In this essay, we will go over the basic elements of an MLA essay template, including the header, margins, font, and line spacing.
The header of an MLA essay should include your last name and the page number, flush right. It should be placed in the top right corner of each page. The header can be created using the "Header" function in Microsoft Word or other word processing software.
The margins of an MLA essay should be set to one inch on all sides. This includes the top, bottom, left, and right margins. To set the margins in Microsoft Word, go to the "Page Layout" tab and click on "Margins" in the "Page Setup" section. From there, you can choose the "Normal" margin setting, which will set the margins to one inch.
The font of an MLA essay should be legible and easy to read. The MLA style manual recommends using a standard font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, in a 12-point size.
Line spacing in an MLA essay should be double-spaced. This means that there should be two lines of text for every one line of white space. To set the line spacing in Microsoft Word, go to the "Home" tab and click on the "Line Spacing" button in the "Paragraph" section. From there, you can choose the "Double" option.
In addition to these basic formatting elements, the MLA style also has specific guidelines for citing sources. This includes both in-text citations and the works cited page at the end of the essay.
The MLA style uses a parenthetical citation system, which means that in-text citations are placed in parentheses after the quoted or paraphrased material. The citation includes the author's last name and the page number of the source. For example: (Smith 123).
The works cited page is a list of all the sources that you have cited in your essay. It should be placed at the end of the essay and should be formatted according to the MLA style guidelines. This includes the use of hanging indents and alphabetical order.
In conclusion, the MLA essay template consists of several key elements, including the header, margins, font, and line spacing. Following these guidelines will help you create a professional-looking and well-formatted essay. It is also important to properly cite your sources using the MLA style, both in the text of your essay and on the works cited page.