Example of an MLA Formatted First Page
Jane Smith
Ms. Federman
AP US History
28 August 2017
Title is Centered and Not Underlined
After you write your title, hit Enter to move to a new line and start your paper.While your title will be centered on the page, your
paper will be left-justified.Be sure to indent each paragraph. When you finish a paragraph, hit Enter to start a new paragraph on the
next line. Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs! You can do this by hitting the Tabbutton orpressing the space barfive times.
You should always double-space your work, as well. You can set this by using the Paragraphmenu in Word.
On page two, and all subsequent pages, number your pages on the top right hand side of your paper with your last name and page number. The page header should appear on every page of your paper except the first page.
Example of MLA Formatted Second and Subsequent Pages
Smith 2
To make a header for your name and the page number, click on the Insert tab at the tool bar of Microsoft Word. Click on Page
Number. Click on Top of Page. Choose Plain Number Three. Check off the Different First Page box so your page numbers start
on page two. Go to page two and insert your last name before the number 2. Don't put a page number on page one. See the
example at the top right of this box.
If you are not sure whether your paper is formatted correctly, talk to your teacher or a librarian!
Sure, the MLA (Modern Language Association) formatting style is commonly used in academia, particularly in humanities disciplines like history, literature, and the arts. It's used for formatting papers and citing sources within the text and in a bibliography. I can break down the concepts and information related to the example you provided:
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Title Page Formatting: In MLA style, the first page of a paper typically includes the student's name, instructor's name, course title, and date, all aligned to the left. The title of the paper is centered and not underlined. It's important to maintain consistent formatting throughout the paper, including indentation and double-spacing.
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Paragraph Indentation: Each paragraph in an MLA-formatted paper should be indented. This is usually done by pressing the "Tab" key or using the space bar five times at the beginning of each paragraph. Extra spaces between paragraphs should be avoided.
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Page Numbering: Starting from the second page, page numbers are placed in the top right-hand corner along with the author's last name. The header appears on every page except the first, and a specific format, like "Smith 2," denotes subsequent pages.
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Creating Headers and Page Numbers in Microsoft Word: To create headers and page numbers in Word following MLA format, use the "Insert" tab, select "Page Number," choose the preferred format (often "Plain Number Three" for MLA), and check the "Different First Page" option to exclude the page number from the title page.
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Consultation for Correct Formatting: Students are encouraged to consult with teachers or librarians if they're uncertain about whether their paper is formatted correctly. This step helps ensure adherence to MLA guidelines.
The example you provided details the specifics of MLA formatting, from title page layout to subsequent page numbering and offers guidance on how to achieve this format using Microsoft Word. It emphasizes the importance of adhering to the prescribed guidelines to maintain consistency and clarity in academic papers.
