Skip to Main Content

Literature Research: Citation

Research guide for finding plot summaries, author biographies, and literary criticism pertaining to novels, short stories, poetry, and plays.

MLA Handbook

MLA Paper Format

Margins:  1 inch on all sides

Font:  Times New Roman 12 point font

Title:  Centered

Include your last name and the page number in the upper right-hand corner of every page, including page one.

Double space the entire paper

Do NOT include a title page, instead include your name, course, and the date in the upper left-hand corer of the first page (see sample below)

 

MLA Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page appears at the end of your paper.  

It begins on a new page.  

List your sources in alphabetical order by author.  If the author is unknown, alphabetize by title ignoring any initial A, An or The.  

Use a hanging indent for any entry longer than one line.  

Continue the heading in the upper right-hand corner - Your Last Name space Page Number - and continue the page numbering from the body of the paper.  

Continue 1 in margins and double-spacing throughout the paper including the Works Cited page.  

MLA Works Cited Example

MLA Template in Microsoft Word

File - New - type 'mla' in search bar - choose template (double-click)

If you want to use the same template for future uses, just 'pin it' and it will be available whenever you choose New; no need to search for it again.  

Citation Tools