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Many papers are written using MLA style. MLA style normally does not require a cover page because all of the important information is worked into the first page. However, some instructors do prefer a separate title page. In this case, use the following standards.
Steps
Title Page Help
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Write the title about one third of the way down the page. The title should follow normal title capitalization standards: the first letter of each word should be capitalized with the exception of very short words such as articles or prepositions (e.g. the, and, of, or, a, an, in, to, for). Note that the very first word of the title should be capitalized, regardless of what kind of word it is.
- Do not punctuate your title. It does not need to have quotation marks around it, it should not be underlined, and it should not be in italics. If, however, there is a quotation or a reference to a longer work in your title, that should be punctuated accordingly.
- For example, "To Be or Not to Be:" An Analysis of Hamlet's Soliloquy contains a quote, while An Analysis of Inaction in Shakespeare's Hamlet contains the title of the play, which should be italicized.
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Leave 2-3 lines, then write your name. Be sure to include your first and last name.Advertisement
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Leave 2-3 lines.
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Write the course or class information. You may want to include the section number as well as the name of the course.
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Write the instructor's name on the next line. Be sure to include the appropriate title, particularly if your instructor has a doctorate. For example, Dr. Sarah Smith or Dr. Smith.
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Write the date on the next line. MLA format generally calls for a European style date, with the day, then the month, then the year. For example, 2 February 2014.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhich date do I put on my paper: the date I started, when I finished, or when I will turn it in?Community AnswerYou should put the day that the paper is due, regardless of when you hand it in to your teacher or professor.
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QuestionHow do I do one of these for college? Would it be the same?Community AnswerYes, it would, as long as your instructor wants the essay written in MLA format and has no other specific requirements.
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QuestionWhere would you put an image?Community AnswerUnless it was required by your teacher, do not put an image on the title page. It's not MLA format, and you may lose points for having one. If your teacher told you to include one, ask them for proper placement.
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Tips
- Use a standard 12 point font for all writing.Thanks
- Use a standard 1 inch (2.5 cm) margin.Thanks
- Use a standard font with a serif, such as Times New Roman or Garamond.Thanks
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Warnings
- All information is written in the same size and font; there is no bold, italics or underlining.Thanks
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About This Article
Article Summary
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To do a title page in MLA format, start by writing the title of your paper one-third of the way down the page, using normal title capitalization standards and not underlining or italicizing the title. Then, skip 2-3 lines and write your first and last name. Next, skip 2-3 more lines and write the name of the course or class you're writing the paper for. One the next line, write the instructor's name. Finally, on the next line, write the date with the day first, then the month and year. To learn how to punctuate the title on your MLA title page, keep reading!
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