The MLA Format

Avoiding Plagiarism and Documenting Sources

Essentials of the MLA Format: Paper Format and The First Page

Paper Format

Always follow your instructor's directions!

• One inch margins on all sides
• Recomended font is 12-point Times New Roman
• Double spaced
• A header on each page in the upper right-hand corner, half (1/2) inch below the top edge that includes:
• Your last name
• The page number

Click here to see an example of a paper correctly formatted in the MLA Format

 

The First Page

• No title page
• In the upper left-hand corner provide:
  • Your name
  • Your instructor's name
  • The course
  • The date
• Center the title of your paper in the next line

Your first page should look like the picture below. Click on the image for a larger view.

 

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