Clayton State University

What is MLA ?

MLA stands for the Modern Language Association

This style of formatting papers and citing information is

recommended by the association for preparing scholarly
manuscripts and student research papers (MLA Style).

Along with APA (American Psychological Association) and

Chicago style, MLA is one the most commonly used
documentation styles. (MLA Style).
Information cited from www.mla.org -Last updated 4/29/2002

MLA style paper format

This format is mostly used for research papers. However, check

with your instructor regarding his or her specific requirements .
Typed on 81/2- by 11-inch paper
One inch margins at the top, bottom and both sides of the
paper
Indent paragraphs five spaces from the left margin
Double-spaced
Heading

Name
Instructors name
Course number
Date

MLA style format

contd

Paper should include a title that is centered

Pages should be numbered and should include the

last name of the author of the research paper. Ex:
Smith 2

Most research papers are followed by a Works

Cited page, which is a list of the sources cited in the
paper. The format is as follows:

The words, Works Cited, should be

centered at the top of a separate page (without
quotation marks or bold letters).

The sources should be listed in alphabetical

order.

The list should be double-spaced and every

line after the first should be indented five
spaces. Example:
Reardon, Kathleen Kelly. They Dont Get It, Do They?:
Communication in the Workplace-Closing the Gap
Between Women and Men. Boston: Little, 1995. Print.

Researching and Writing

your
paper

Do not wait until the last minute to begin your

paper. Take time to think about and fully
consider your topic of choice.

Choose a topic that is interesting to you and

that will engage not only your research and
writing, but also your audience.

Researching and Writing

your
paper

Research various information sources. This will help

you to keep your topic limited as well as help you
decide if you need to switch to another topic, should
your research findings not offer sufficient or reliable
information concerning your topic.

Researching and Writing

your
paper

Understand how far you wish to delve into your

topic, how much information you wish to
include, and how long you wish your paper to
be.

If you encounter problems while researching

information about your topic or when writing
your paper, consult your instructor.

Researching your topic

Become familiar with the library and its resources and learn
how to utilize the librarys services when researching a topic.
Services include
- access to computers, scanners
- photocopying machines
- interlibrary loans
When using the Internet, search for information on sites that
are: 1. recommended by your instructor or the library; 2.
gateway sites, meaning they provide links to other web
pages; 3.peer-reviewed sites, which are sites that have
reviewed and approved by a board of specialists.

Research continued

Evaluate your research information thoroughly:

Who is the author and what are his or her credentials?

Is the information correct when compared to other
material you have researched and is it logical and
unbiased?
Are the authors sources outdated or current?
Would you be able to verify the authors sources?
Find out who published the work
Is the work peer-reviewed?

Information from the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th Edition.

Researching and writing

your
paper

Use a working outline -This is an outline that helps

to provide an overview of your paper as you finish
your research and before you begin writing.

Have a well-developed thesis statement-Your paper

should contain a single sentence that not only
provides the basis for your point of view and topic
and answers any question or issue you have raised,
but also has a specific purpose and audience.

Plagiarism

According to the MLA Handbook for Writers

of Research Papers, plagiarism refers to a
form of cheating that has been defined as the
false assumption of authorship: the wrongful
act of taking the product of another persons
mind, and presenting it as ones own
(Alexander Lindey, Plagiarism and
Originality [New York: Harper, 1952] 2)
(Gibaldi 66).

Plagiarism

Since Clayton State has strict policies

regarding plagiarism, it is important that you
as the writer of the research paper learn to
recognize when you may have plagiarized and
how to avoid it.

How do I know if I have

plagiarized?

If you present any wording from a text as

your own without referencing it as a
paraphrase, quote or summary.
If you copy and paste text from the
Internet without citing your source or
omit quotation marks.

How do I know if I have

plagiarized?

If you present information that is not

common knowledge and fail to state
where you found it.
If you put into your own words someone
elses wording or repeat word for word,
but do not acknowledge the source.

How do I know if I have

plagiarized?

If you paraphrase or present someone

elses argument without referencing or
citing where the information came from.
If you buy or use someone elses
research paper and present all or part of
it as your own.

How can I avoid

plagiarism?

Keep track of the sources you have

consulted during your research by either
making a list or using note cards.
Make distinctions in your notes between
your ideas and the authors, your
summaries of the material and any
quotes (exact wording).

How can I avoid

plagiarism?

Identify whether the source you used is a

quote, paraphrase, idea, argument, or
fact.
Consult your instructor if you have any
questions regarding how to use the
research in your paper.

MLA Resources

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for

Writers of Research Papers. Sixth Ed. New
York: The Modern
Language Association, 2003.
MLA Website, www.mla.org
The Owl website, Purdue University

Parting thoughts

Give yourself plenty of

time to think about your
topic and conduct research.
Use various sources; dont
just rely on one particular
source such as the Net.
Consult your instructor if
you have any questions
regarding your research
paper.