How to Write a Research Paper

MLA Style

Your Instructor

Is ALWAYS

Right!

Rule Number One:

8 ½” x 11” paper Double-space EVERYTHING 10/12 pt. Times New Roman font, left aligned Only 1 space after punctuation 1 inch margins, all around Indent paragraphs 1” (first line only) Header with page numbers in upper right

corner The Purdue OWL

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/11/

General Guidelines:

NO title page Double-space EVERYTHING Upper left corner

◦ Your Name◦ Instructor’s Name◦ Course Title (No underline, italics, quote, or bold)◦ Date (day month year)

Header◦ Upper right, ½” from top, 1” from right◦ Your Last Name◦ Page Number

Format: 1st Page

Sample 1st Page

Generally optional Headings in essays should be numbered Consistent in grammar and formatting

Format: Section Headings

Sample Section HeadingsNumbered (all flush left with

no underlining, bold, or italics):

1. Soil Conservation

1.1 Erosion

1.2 Terracing

2. Water Conservation

3. Energy Conservation

Unnumbered (by level):

Level 1 Heading: bold, flush left

Level 2 Heading: italics, flush left

Level 3 Heading: centered, bold

Level 4 Heading: centered, italics

Level 5 Heading: underlined, flush left

HINT: always add references to Works Cited page FIRST!

Parenthetical citations Depend on the medium (print, web,DVD,

etc.) Depend on source’s entry on the Works

Cited page http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/

747/02/

In-Text Citations

Works Cited (separate page, centered) Formats (hanging indent, double-spaced)

◦ BooksLastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of Publication:

Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

◦ Periodicals Magazine

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical Day Month Year:

pages. Medium of publication. Scholarly Journal

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal Volume.Issue (Year):

pages. Medium of publication.◦ Web

Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). “Article Name.” Name of Site. Version number. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher). Date of last update. Medium of publication. Date of access.

◦ Other Personal Interview

Purdue, Pete. Personal interview. 1 Dec. 2000.

Works Cited Page

DatabasesAnd More!

Gale Resources PubMed Central Local Libraries (Need card and PIN)

◦ Kansas City Missouri Public Library◦ Kansas City Kansas Public Library◦ Mid Continent Public Library◦ Johnson County Public Library

Google Scholar

Databases

Gale PowerSearch Limiters

◦ Full Text◦ Peer Reviewed

Search Type◦ Keyword◦ Subject◦ Publication Title◦ Entire Document

Limit Results Format Advanced Search

◦ AND- limits results◦ OR- expands results

Citationshttp://10.10.99.160/sites/KansasCity-MO/SitePages/Home.aspx

Database Search: Basics

PubMed Central (tutorials) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/advanced/ Public Libraries (ask librarians for

assistance) Google Scholar http://scholar.google.com/

◦ Scholarly articles online◦ Related works, citations, authors, and publications

LRC◦ Catalog◦ Current Periodicals

Additional Resources

Questions?

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

http://www.gale.cengage.com/powersearch/enhanced/

Resources used: