MLA Document Setup

 

Step One—Inserting Your Page Number:

 

Click on the insert tab

 

Select Page Number

 

Select top of page

 

Select the third choice

 

Type in your last name and a space (DO NOT DELETE THE # SIGN)

 

 

 

Step Two—Setting Your Spacing and Font:

 

In the paragraph section of the home tab, click on the down arrow next to the line and paragraph spacing icon (up and down arrows next to four lines)

 

Select 2 for double spacing

 

Click on the down arrow again and select Remove Space After Paragraphs

 

Change your font size to 12 point--unless your teacher gives you other specifications

 

Select a font (Calibri, Ariel, or Times New Roman)

 

 

 

Step Three—Typing Your Heading

 

Keep your text aligned to the left

 

Your name (First and last)

 

Teacher name (Title and last name)

 

Class (Please include course – period)

 

Day Month Year (NOTE: there are no commas or slashes in an MLA formatted date)

 

Example

 

Sami Student

 

Mrs. Bilinski

 

English 9 C—1st Hour

 

28 March 2012

 

 

 

Step Four—Center your title

 

In the paragraph section of the home tab, select the Center icon.

 

Type in your creative title (If you can’t think of one right now, put something generic and add a creative one after you have drafted your essay). Hint: using a poetic technique like rhyme or alliteration often makes an effective title.

 

 

 

Step Five—Align your text left and begin your essay

 

Click on the Align Text Left icon in the paragraph section of the home tab.

 

Indent your paragraph by pressing the tab key.

 

      Begin typing your attention getter.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the NW English Dept. for this resource!