In the mla style, notes are used only for optional content or bibliographic notes.

THE MLA STYLE

WHAT IS A RESEARCH PAPER?

 A research paper is a document you can use to communicate the results of research findings.

 To write a research paper, you learn about a particular topic from a variety of sources (research), organize your ideas from the research results, and then present relevant facts and/or opinions that support the topic.

 Your final research paper combines properly accredited external information along with your personal understandings.

 Thus, no two research papers (even if about the same topic) should be the same.

HOW MANY RESEARCH PAPERS STYLES ARE?

 The two popular documentation styles for research papers styles are:

 1. The Modern Language Association of America (MLA)

 2. American Psychological Association (APA)

 The project in this chapter follows the MLA documentation style.

THE MLA DOCUMENTATION STYLE:

 •Use 12-point Times New Roman, or a similar, font.

 • Double-space text on all pages of the paper

 • Use one-inch top, bottom, left, and right margins.

 • Indent the first word of each paragraph one-half inch from the left margin.

 • At the right margin of each page, place a page number one-half inch from the top margin on each page; precede the page number by your last name.

THE MLA DOCUMENTATION STYLE:

 • The MLA documentation style does not require a title page.

 • Instead, place your name and course information in a block at the left margin beginning one inch from the top of the page.

 • Center the title one double-spaced line below your name and course information.

 •In the text of the paper, place author references in parentheses with the page number(s) of the referenced information.

THE MLA DOCUMENTATION STYLE:

• Notes are used only for optional content or bibliographic notes.

 The MLA documentation style uses the term works cited to refer to the bibliographic list of sources at the end of the paper..

THE MLA DOCUMENTATION STYLE:

 The works cited page alphabetically lists sources that are referenced directly in the paper.

 Place the list of sources on a separate numbered page.

 Center the title, Works Cited, one inch from the top margin.

 Double space all lines.

 Begin the first line of each source at the left margin, indenting subsequent lines of the same source one-half inch from the left margin.

 List each source by the author’s last name, or, if the author’s name is not available, by the title of the source.

THE MLA DOCUMENTATION STYLE: