Just about everything you need to know about MLA for your Freshman research paper.

2. Paper
 2-3 pages
 MLA format
 Double spaced, size 12, Times New Roman
 Must use 3 sources – one must be a print sources,
unless the library has no print source for your person
 Must have a complete works cited page

3. Presentation
 2-3 minutes
 DO NOT just read your paper to the class
 Must have a visual component which can include:
 PowerPoint
 Picture
 Poster
 Prop
 Book
 Video

4. What You Need to Know to Write Your Research Paper

5. Thesis
 A statement supported by arguments.
 This is the answer to your research question.

6. Example
 Question: How has __________ influenced
_________?
 How has Graham Greene influenced literature?
 Thesis: ___________ has influenced ________ by
_____________.
 Graham Greene is a famous British author who
influenced the literary world with his innovative style.

7. Citation for Books
 Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City of
Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.
Medium of Publication.
 Ex.
Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science. New York:
Penguin, 1987. Print.

8. Citations for pages of a website
 “Page Title.” Website Title. Website Publisher, date
updated. Web. Day month year accessed.
 Ex.
 "How to Make Vegetarian Chili." eHow. Demand
Media, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2009.

9. Citation for magazine articles
 Author last name, First name. "Title of Article." Title of
Periodical Day Month Year: pages. Medium of
publication.
 Ex.
 Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close Call." Time
20 Nov. 2000: 70-71. Print.

10. In-text citations
 This is the way to give credit to your sources in your
paper without disrupting the flow of your paper.
 There are different citations to use for each type of
source you have. Usually it is the author’s last name in
parentheses.
 The period always goes outside of the citation.

11. Example for Books
 Michael Dobson explains the dangers of the Lady
Macbeth stereotype that the whole of Macbeth can be
boiled down to the point where Lady Macbeth is a
“power-hungry monster of a wife [who] succeeds in
nagging her husband into killing the rightful king” (7).
 The author’s name is used in the sentence so the
citation is just the page number.

12. Example for Books
 However none of these things indicates that Lady
Macbeth participates in the “renunciation of her own
desire” and “unquestioningly seeks to confirm her
husband’s ambition” (Alfar 190).
 (Author’s last name #)

13. For Magazines, Newspapers, etc.
 If there is an author, use their last name in
parentheses.
 If there is no author, use the title of the article with the
quotation marks.
 (“Finding Things”)

14. For Websites
 Give the author’s last name if you have one.
 If you don’t have an author, give the title of the article.
 (“Chili Cook-off Secrets”).

15. Formatting
Header: in far right corner of pages 2-end
Last name pg#
Times New Roman
Double spaced
Size 12

16. From the top
Your first and last name
Teacher’s name
English IV – class period
5 March 2012
Title of your paper
This is where your paper starts!