MLA (Modern Language Association) has a standard format for writing essays and research papers. The headers across the top of the page must contain the author's last name and page number 1/2 inch from the top of each page.
Overall format:
One-inch page margins
Double-spaced paragraphs
A header with author's last name and page number one-half inch from the top of each page
Name of author, name of professor, title of course, date of paper on the first page of the paper
A works cited page beginning on a separate page at the end of the paper