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Formal Papers and MLA Format
Formal Papers and MLA Format
Formal Paper Guidelines
• Focus– Every paragraph should try to prove thesis– Every sentence in a paragraph should be
related to the topic sentence
Formal Paper Guidelines
• Flow– Use transitions
• then, first, also, as a result, generally, for example, likewise, except, in essence, in conclusion
– Put ideas / sentences/ paragraphs in logical order
Formal Paper Guidelines
• Formality– Do not use informal language
• First person pronouns : I, me, myself, my, mine, we, us, ourselves, our, ours
• Second person pronouns: you, yourself, your, yours
• Contractions: it’s, can’t, don’t, etc. • Informal word choice : kind of, a lot, anyways,
ain’t
– Do not use slang / internet language• cool, lol, , wut, r u ok?, etc.
Formal Paper Guidelines
• Formality– Write out abbreviations, numbers, and
symbols• TV = television, phone= telephone, 2= two, 50=
fifty, &= and
Formal Paper Guidelines
• Agreement– Avoid shifting tenses
• Example: We went to the store. We buy candy.
– Subject -Verb• dog chases/ dogs chase, he is/ they are
Formal Paper Guidelines
• General Rules– Avoid vagueness
• Pronouns must be clear
– Vary Word Choice• Synonyms
– Possession or Plural ?• Geckos are interesting. / The gecko’s habitat is in
the wild.
– There or Their? • There are geckos everywhere. / Their habitats are
everywhere.
MLA Format
• Margins– 1 Inch
• Every Side
MLA Example
1 inch
1 inch
1 inch
1 inch
MLA Format
• Font
– Twelve Point Times New Roman• This is an example of 12 point Time New Roman.
– Black Text
MLA Example
Times New Roman
12 Point
MLA Format
• Header
– Right Side
– Last Name and Page Number
• Kivette 1
– On Every Page
MLA Example
On Right Side
Last Name +
Page Number
MLA Format
• Double Spaced
– Everything
• Paragraphs, Header, Works Cited Page, etc.
MLA Example
Doubled Spaced
MLA Format
• Title of Paper
– Centered
MLA Example
Centered
MLA Format
• Title Page Format– Left Side
• Your Name• Teacher’s Name• Class Title• Date
• ExampleHarry Potter
Snape
Potions
1 February 2010
MLA Example
On Left Side
MLA Format
• Works Cited Page
– Alphabetical Order
– Hanging Indent
• A Name Citation
–More A Name Citation
• B Name Citation
–More B Name Citation
– Double Spaced
Works Cited Example
Alphabetical Order
Doubled Spaced
Hanging Indent
