Essential Question Essay
Additional Explanation - Writing an Argumentative Paper
MLA Format - Citation Tools
Formatting Instructions
- Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
- Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (Times New Roman). The font size should be 12 pt.
- Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.
- Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
- Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. Use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.
- Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.
Reference Page BASICS
- Your list of sources should be typed at the end of the paper on a new page with the centered title, References.
- Alphabetize the entries in your list by the author's last name, using the letter-by-letter system (ignore spaces and other punctuation.)
- All references should use hanging indents, that is, the first line of an entry should go all the way to the left margin, and the second and subsequent lines should be indented 1/2".
Creating an "In-Text" Citation (When quoting or paraphrasing)
An in-text citation is a brief reference within your writing that explains where the quote came from. Creating a citation attributes, or gives credit to the author of, any ideas, paraphrases, or direct quotations you use. You don't give all of the information for the source in the middle of the paper. Rather, the in-text citation directs the reader's attention to your reference page, where the full information is located. For the most part, an in-text citation is the author’s name and the page number (or just the page number, if the author is named in the sentence) in parentheses:
Reformers called progressives were “reform-minded Americans [who] exposed a variety of problems, such as unhealthful city slums and dangerous factory conditions” (Staton 16).
OR
According to Hilarie Staton, progressives were “reform-minded Americans [who] exposed a variety of problems, such as unhealthful city slums and dangerous factory conditions” (16).
When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference, like so (00:02:15-00:02:35).
Again, your goal is to attribute your source and provide your reader with a reference without interrupting your text. Your readers should be able to follow the flow of your argument without becoming distracted by extra information.
Reformers called progressives were “reform-minded Americans [who] exposed a variety of problems, such as unhealthful city slums and dangerous factory conditions” (Staton 16).
OR
According to Hilarie Staton, progressives were “reform-minded Americans [who] exposed a variety of problems, such as unhealthful city slums and dangerous factory conditions” (16).
When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference, like so (00:02:15-00:02:35).
Again, your goal is to attribute your source and provide your reader with a reference without interrupting your text. Your readers should be able to follow the flow of your argument without becoming distracted by extra information.