The process of writing academic papers is far more complicated and demanding than writing non-academic ones. In fact, as long as you cannot merely write an essay randomly, you must always stick to some specific formatting style. Among the wide range of various styles there is the one which is used most frequently – MLA format. We have prepared a couple of things you need to take into account to write research papers without any upcoming difficulties.
1.First and foremost, remember about the title
It is commonly known that essays and research papers written in MLA formatting style do not require a title page. Instead, it is enough to write your name, teacher’s name, course, and the date in the upper left corner of the first page. Therefore, creating a title page would be a mistake, unless your teacher tells you to do so.
2.Keep in mind some mere formatting requirements, such as:
- the paper has to be written in Times New Roman font, 12 pt.
- titles ought to be italicized
- lines need to be double-spaced
- each line of the paragraph should be indented with the help of the tab key
Besides, if you feel like you are struggling to complete all your essays and research papers, you can address essay writing service. With the help of experienced and qualified writers, you will be able to assure the highest quality of your paper. What is more, expert writers are here for you to assist you with writing outstanding research papers according to the MLA citation format and with tightest deadlines.
3. Running head is an essential element
You ought to create a running head which implies placing your last name and the page number in the top right corner. You ought to place the running head on every page of your paper.
4. Quotes must be formatted in a proper way
It is not a mystery that good quotations are a predominant success factor while defending an argument and stating your point of view. Therefore, do not hesitate to utilize relevant and pertinent citations. At the same time, avoid overusing them. For instance, if you use direct quotations, you should better mention the author at the beginning of the sentence by paraphrasing it. Additionally, do not forget to place the last name of the author and the page, provided that you haven’t already mentioned the name in the sentence. What is more, there is no need to place a comma after the last name (for instance, Johnson 9).
5. Paraphrase and again paraphrase.
If you feel like you do not want to include a citation, but you appreciate the thought, figure out how to paraphrase it by, for example, swapping parts of the sentence. Nonetheless, you cannot consider the sentence as paraphrased if you limit yourself to substituting words with their synonyms. There are several practices that are indeed helpful with developing high-quality paraphrases:
- You might take a couple of sentences, read them, and then work out a single sentence that would contain a unique statement. While doing so, use synonyms and change different sentence parts if you are willing to create an outstanding piece.
- Try to find keywords and stick to them. Dedicate some time to the meaning of these words and build on them.
6. Pay thorough attention to appropriate referencing
While working on the list of your sources, remember to put them on a separate paper. Additionally, MLA formatting implies that all words in the name of sources are capitalized, while other styles, such as APA or Chicago formatting styles do not require capitalization. By the way, there is another helpful trick that will substantially ease the process of finishing your essay or a research paper. Precisely, you might simply utilize various citation generators that allow creating correct citations in accordance with the specific formatting style. Besides, begin writing the source at the left margin, and do not forget about the second line indentation.
7. Proofread the text once you have written it.
Initially, you must read the text attentively and figure out whether you haven’t made any grammar or stylistic mistakes. Additionally, make sure you have not mentioned any questions in the text as long as it is considered inappropriate.
Bailey Belmont is a professional writer, blogger and learning geek. She is here to share her thoughts and ideas on how to use writing to expand our personal and professional frontiers.
