MLA Manuscript Format

1. MLA Manuscript Format From A Writer’s Reference by Diana Hacker http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/humanities/manuscript.html Claremont Graduate University

2. Overview Page Set-up Titles Spacing and Indentation Quotations Pagination Punctuation Other Common Problems Claremont Graduate University

3. Purpose • These are the most common errors students make when formatting their papers • Learning to follow one style guide makes it easier to adhere to others in various disciplines Claremont Graduate University

4. Materials • Use only white paper • Use only black ink • Use a paper clip to fasten pages (unless the instructor specifies a staple) • Do not use a binder or folder unless specified by instructor Claremont Graduate University

5. Headings • No title page necessary • Set 1” to 1 ½” margins at top and on sides • Use “File” pull-down menu and select “Page Setup” Claremont Graduate University

6. First Page At left margin, list on separate lines: • Your name • Instructor’s name • Course name and number • Date Double Space the entire paper! Claremont Graduate University

7. Titles • Compose a title that is descriptive of the main idea in your paper • Capitalize first word, last word, and all other words besides articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions (see S3-c) • Don’t underline, “quote”, italicize or bold your own title Claremont Graduate University

8. Double Spacing • Click “Format” then “Paragraph” to find dialog box Claremont Graduate University

9. Spacing • Dialog Box will appear • Select Double Space • (Set indentation and tabs here also) Claremont Graduate University

10. Indentation • Indent each paragraph with one tab (five spaces) • Do not add an extra “return” between paragraphs Claremont Graduate University

11. Long Quotations(more than four typed prose lines or three lines of poetry) • Indent two tabs (ten spaces) • Do not use quotation marks • Double space just like the rest of the paper • Place citation outside of punctuation (see P6-b) Claremont Graduate University

12. Pagination • Use the “header” function to place your last name and page number on each page • Click “view” and “header and footer” Claremont Graduate University

13. Pagination • Type in your last name, space, then click on the # symbol • Do not use p., pg., #, or any other symbol with your page numbers Claremont Graduate University

14. Pagination Link to Microsoft Word Claremont Graduate University

15. Punctuation: ellipses • Leave a space between periods for an ellipsis mark • The typing should look like this . . . and not this…so your reader can see the ellipsis clearly Claremont Graduate University

16. Punctuation: Dashes To type a dash, type two hyphens without a space before or after: • Typing like this: . . .any work of literature--most specifically a novel--can be adapted into film . . . • Should turn out like this: . . .any work of literature—most specifically a novel—can be adapted into film . . . Claremont Graduate University

17. Caution: Using only one hyphen connects, rather than separates the words: . . .any work of literature-most specifically a novel-can be adapted into film . . . Claremont Graduate University

18. Typing an Internet Address • Remove the hyperlink if it is set automatically. • Right-click the hyperlink you want to remove, and then click “Remove Hyperlink.” • Add a space where you want to begin a new line, and the margins will remain consistent. Claremont Graduate University

19. Subject Headings • Check with your instructor before using internal headings in your paper • Make sure the text of your paper includes smooth transitions in addition to the headings Claremont Graduate University

20. Visuals:(graphs, charts, maps, pictures) • Label each visual (Table 1, Figure 4) • If you cannot drop the visual into the text, create an appendix and refer to it in the text • Visuals should always be referred to in the text and should not be expected to stand alone. Claremont Graduate University

21. Sample Paper You can view a sample MLA formatted paper at the Diana Hacker website: http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/humanities/pdf/dalypaper.pdf Claremont Graduate University

22. Acknowledgements • MLA Format Rules: Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. New York: Bedford/St.Martins, 2003. http://www.dianahacker.com/ writersref/ • For header function image: http://www.utexas.edu/ its/training/handouts/word/ • Good hypertextual site for many writing issues—especially good for citing sources: http://web.uvic.ca/wguide/Pages/ StartHere.html • Good Microsoft Word Tutorial and place where I copied images for tool bars: http://www.baycongroup.com/wlesson1.htm#title • Other images from a good interactive Word tutorial site: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/msword_toolbar.htm • Page Setup Image & header and footer image: http://graduate.gradsch.uga.edu/help/numbering.htm • Powerpoint Templates: http://www.brainybetty.com/ educators1.htm Claremont Graduate University

23. Acknowledgements • First Page Image: http://home.earthlink.net/ ~jlsterk/format.html • Formatting Paragraphs Image (single space): http://www.qcc. mass.edu/booth/wordprocess.html • Formatting Paragraphs Image (double space): http://ponce. inter.edu/acad/cdi/TutorialWord.html • Header/footer images, paragraph pulldown: http://www.word-medex.com.au/formatting/pagemsw60_mac.htm • Indenting image: http://www.oit.umass.edu/hds/docs/ thesis/word2000/about-template.html • Sample paper layout: http://www2.gasou.edu/facstaff/ jwalker/tutorials/mlaword.html Claremont Graduate University