Final answer:
To format your essay in MLA style, follow these guidelines: begin each entry at the left margin and indent subsequent lines one-half inch, alphabetize entries according to authors' last names, double-space the entire page. Use one-inch margins on all sides, double-space throughout the paper, and indent paragraphs one-half inch. Add page numbers in the upper-right corner, and include identifying information and a centered title. Avoid italics, boldface, all capitals, and quotation marks in the title.
Step-by-step explanation:
Formatting Your Essay Slideshow
MLA Essay Formatting Template
Studentfirstname Studentlastname
Professor Firstname Lastname
Class Title (i.e. English 110)
Day Month Year
Begin each entry at the left margin, and indent subsequent lines one-half inch. (In Microsoft Word, you can also highlight the entire page when you are finished and select "Hanging" from the Special options on the Indentation section of the Paragraph menu.)
Alphabetize the entries according to authors' last names. If two or more authors have the same last name, alphabetize by first name or initial. Alphabetize sources with unknown authors by the first word of the title, excluding a, an, or the.
Double-space the entire page.
Margins. Use one-inch margins on all sides.
Spacing. Double-space throughout the paper, including the works-cited page.
Paragraph format. Indent paragraphs one-half inch.
Page numbers. Start numbering on the first page of your paper and continue to the end of the works-cited page number:
page. Place page numbers in the upper-right corner, and add your last name before the "Coleman 3."
Identifying information. Put your name, your instructor's name, the course title, and the date in the left corner of the first page of the body of the paper, not in the header. Double-space this information.
Title. Center the title on the first page. Do not use italics, boldface, all capitals, or quotation marks. Do not add extra space below the title.
Long quotations and quotations from poetry. See Quotations for how to cite long quotations and poetry quotations.