MLA 9th Edition Paper Formatting Guide

Introduction

• Presenter: Derek from GradCoach
• Purpose: Provide guidance on formatting papers using MLA 9th Edition, including margins, fonts, spacing, headings, and citations.
• Resources: Free MLA paper template available via link in the video description.

Page Setup

• Margins: Set to 1 inch all around. Accessible via the 'Layout' tab in Word.

Font Settings

• Fonts: Use well-established fonts like Times New Roman or Calibri.
• Font Size: Generally size 12 or 11.

Line Spacing

• Type: Use double line spacing.
• Adjustment: Remove additional space after paragraphs.

Header

• Content: Last name followed by a running page number in the top right corner.
• Setup: In Word, go to 'Insert' > 'Page Numbers'.

First Page Content

• Lines 1-4:
  • Line 1: Student's name
  • Line 2: Professor's name
  • Line 3: Course name and code
  • Line 4: Date (e.g., "28 October")
• Title: Centered, in title case, not bold or italicized.

Paragraph Formatting

• Indentation: First line of each paragraph indented by half an inch.
• Headings: Consistent formatting across all levels; avoid all caps.

Abbreviations

• Standardized: Use MLA-approved abbreviations (e.g., vol. for volume, ed. for edition).

Citations

• Format: Author's last name and page number.
• Types:
  • Parenthetical: Fully within parentheses.
  • Narrative: Incorporated into the sentence.

Works Cited Page

• Setup: Start on a new page titled 'Works Cited'.
• Order: Alphabetical by author's last name.
• Line Spacing: Double, with a hanging indent for lines spilling over.
• Details: Vary based on resource type (e.g., book, journal).
• Recommendation: Use reference management software (e.g., Zotero, Mendeley).

Additional Notes

• Compliance: Follow specific university guidelines if they differ from standard MLA.
• Services: GradCoach offers editing and formatting services.
• Resources and Links: Available in the video description for further assistance.

Conclusion

• GradCoach provides resources and tutorials to assist with research and academic writing.
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