Formatting A Paper Using Mla Style (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

details.

If you need help with something not explained in this document, visit

Click on MLA Formatting and Style Guide . If you still can’t find the answer, ASK your teacher!

Some teachers have MLA templates available to you. [It is under Writing Info<MLA. You need to open in your writing

app, such as Pages.

You will have to change the header, heading, date, etc. but you can type directly into the

document and it is formatted correctly.]

Quoting Poetry:

Titles of poems are enclosed in quotes. They are neither underlined nor italicized.

Example:

Lord Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shalott” reflects the changing roles of women in the Victorian age.

If you are quoting two to three lines of poetry, use a slash with one space on each side ( / ) at

the end of each poetry line. The lines of poetry are enclosed in quotes. Page numbers are not

cited. Instead, the line number(s), enclosed in parentheses, go after the end quote and before

any end punctuation. You will usually find the line numbers to the left of the poem. You may

have to number them yourself.

Homer begins the Odyssey by invoking the Muse and asking her to “Launch out on his story,

Muse, daughter of Zeus, / start from where you will—sing for our time too” (1.11-12).

Poetry quotations of more than three lines should begin on a new line. Unless the quotation

involves unusual spacing, indent each line one inch from the left margin and double space between

lines, adding no quotation marks that do not appear in the original. A parenthetical reference for

a verse quotation set off from the text follows the last line of the quotation (as in quotations of

prose).

Emily Dickinson writes about heroism:

We never know how high we are

Till we are called to rise;

And then, if we are true to plan,

Our statures touch the skies. (1-4)

Quoting from Shakespeare: When Shakespeare ends the line, indicate by using a / (use one space on

either side of slash). Use act.scene.line numbers in your parenthetical citation. See example below. Do

NOT include an ending slash when you are done quoting.

In Romeo and Juliet , Lady Capulet asks Juliet, “What say you? Can you love the gentleman? /

This night you shall behold him at our feast. / Read o’er the volume of young Paris’ face”

(1.3.79-81). Notice no Roman numerals!

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