MLA REPORT STYLE

 

            There are many different formats for reports. Academic reports, however, are preferred to be formatted in the MLA (Modern Language Association) style. If you learn MLA documentation style at an early stage in your school career, you will probably have little difficulty in adapting to other styles. Formatting a report in MLA style is necessary before starting to key a report.

 

1. Use one-half inch top margin in setting your header which includes the report author’s last name in initial caps, two spaces on the space bar, and then set consecutive top right page numbering. The left, right, and bottom margins are one-inch.

 

2. Double space the entire report, including the heading which consists of the author’s name, teacher’s name, the class name, and the date (in military style) the report is due. This heading information is keyboarded at the left margin. This heading information replaces the title page.

 

3. Center and type the title in initial capital letters for each important word of the title. Do not underline or put the title in quotation marks, unless you are composing a book summary or review where the title of the actual book will be underlined or italicized. You have the choice throughout the paper of underlining or italicizing book titles, magazine titles, etc. However, make one choice and follow it consistently throughout the paper.

 

4. Indent paragraphs 0.5 inch.

 

5. Use only 8.5 x 11 inch white paper.

 

6. Times New Roman is the font style with a size or pitch of 12.

 

7. Use left justification and turn the automatic hyphenation feature off.

 

8. Print only on one side of the paper.

 

9. Begin the Works Cited section on a new page, continuing the page number(s) from the report.

 

10. When the paper and Works Cited are finished, staple once in the upper left-hand corner of the paper.