MLA Sample Pages

When writing a paper according to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, sample pages can help you stay on track. While your own teachers’ preferences may vary, MLA is the basic form that most teachers use. 

The parts of a report may include:

  1. Title page (only if your teacher asks for one)
  2. Outline
  3. Report
  4. Images
  5. Appendixes if you have them
  6. Works cited (bibliography)

MLA Sample First Page

The title and other information go on the first page of your MLA report.
Grace Fleming

A title page is not required in a standard MLA report. The title and other information go on the first page of your report.

Begin typing at the top left of your page. A standard choice for the font is 12 point Times New Roman, and you should keep your text left justified. It's also recommended that you do not use automatic hyphenation features and that you only use one space after a period or other punctuation mark unless you're told otherwise. 

1. Starting one inch from the top of the page, left justified, place your name, your teacher's name, your class, and the date. Use double spacing for the lines between each item, and do not use any font treatments. 

2. Still using double spacing for the lines, type your title. Center the title, and do not use font treatments unless MLA style requires it, such as titles.

3. Double space below your title and begin typing your report. Indent with a tab. The standard format for the title of a book is italics.

4. Remember to end your first paragraph with a thesis sentence.

5. Your name and page number go in a header at the top right corner of the page. You can insert this information after you type your paper. To do so in Microsoft Word, go to View and select Header from the list. Type your information in the header box, highlight it, and hit the right justify selection.

Title Page in MLA

 Grace Fleming

If your teacher requires a title page, you can use this sample as a guide.

Place your report title about one-third of the way down your page.

Place your name about 2 inches below the title, as well as the names of any group members you may have. 

Place your class information about 2 inches below your name.

As always, you should check with your teacher before writing your final draft to find out about any specific instructions that differ from examples you find.

Alternate First Page

The first page of a paper in MLA format contains the title.
Use This Format If Your Paper Has a Title Page Your first page will look like this if you are required to have a separate title page. Grace Fleming

You may use this format for your first page when your teacher requires one. 

This format is the alternate format only for papers that contain a title page and is not the standard presentation.

Double space after your title and begin your report. Notice that your last name and the page number go at the right top corner of your page in a header.

MLA Outline

This image shows the format for an MLA outline

 Grace Fleming

The outline follows the title page. The MLA outline should include the small letter "i" as a page number. This page will precede the first page of your report.

Center your title. Below the title provide a thesis statement.

Double space and begin your outline, according to the above sample.

Page with Illustrations or Images

This page shows you how to create a page with an image display.
Formatting a Page With a Figure.

Images (figures) can make a big difference in a paper, but students are often a little hesitant about including them. 

Images should be placed near the related text and labeled as Figure, which is typically abbreviated as Fig. # to show the number of images contained within your piece. Captions and figure labels should appear directly below the image itself, and if your caption contains all the necessary information about the source, that source doesn't need to be listed in your works cited list unless it's cited elsewhere in the text.

Sample MLA Works Cited List

Bibliography
MLA Bibliography. Grace Fleming

A standard MLA paper requires a works cited list. This is the list of sources you used in your research. It is similar to a bibliography. It comes at the end of the paper and on a new page. It should include the same header and pagination as the main text. 

1. Type Works Cited one inch from the top of your page. This measurement is pretty standard for a word processor, so you shouldn't have to make any page set-up adjustments. Just start typing and center.

2. Add a space, and start typing the information for your first source starting one inch from the left. Use double spacing the entire page. Alphabetize the works by the author, using the last name. If there is no author or editor mentioned, use the title for first words and alphabetizing.

Notes for formatting entries:

  • Order of information is author, title, publisher, volume, date, page numbers, access date.
  • If there is more than one author, the first author name is written Last, First name. The subsequent author names are written First name Last name.
  • Book titles are italicized; article titles are put inside quotation marks.
  • If you can’t find a publisher name for an online source, insert the abbreviation n.p. If you can’t find a publication date, insert the abbreviation n.d.

3. Once you have a complete list, you will format so that you have hanging indents. To do this: highlight the entries, then go to FORMAT and PARAGRAPH. Somewhere in the menu (normally under SPECIAL), find the term HANGING and select it.

4. To insert page numbers, place your cursor on the first page of your text, or the page where you want your page numbers to begin. Go to View and select Header and Footer. A box will appear at the top and the bottom of your page. Type your last name in the top header box before the page numbers and right justify.

Source: Modern Language Association. (2018). 

Format
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Your Citation
Fleming, Grace. "MLA Sample Pages." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/mla-sample-pages-4122996. Fleming, Grace. (2023, April 5). MLA Sample Pages. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/mla-sample-pages-4122996 Fleming, Grace. "MLA Sample Pages." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/mla-sample-pages-4122996 (accessed March 28, 2024).