Custom term papers

Basic Term Paper Format - MLA for research papers

Your term paper should be typed and double spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5x11). The margins should be 1 inch on all sides for normal body text. Most professors do not require a title page, so it is unnecessary unless they specify otherwise. If they do, the title page generally has the centered title of your paper two-thirds of the way up the sheet with your name directly below that. In the lower right hand side on three lines, place the class, instructor, and date unless otherwise instructed. Otherwise, provide a double-spaced entry in the top left corner and list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date.

A custom research paper should have a header that numbers all pages consecutively (Your instructor may ask you to omit the number on the first page; always follow your instructor's guidelines). Then center your title on the line below the header, and then place the actual body of the paper immediately below the title.

Your Works Cited page should be on a separate page from the text of your paper. It should be under the title Works Cited (with no quotations marks or underlining, etc). The title should be centered at the top of the page and you should double-space all entries. Also keep in mind that italics and underlining are equivalents. Use one or the other consistently within your paper.

The number one rule for any formatting guideline is to always be consistent. A formatting mistake is only compounded by proving earlier or later in the paper that you knew the correct way. If you do not know or cannot find the answer to something, at least be consistent with the solution you use. You are encouraged to approach your teacher with any problems or questions you may have, but do not wait until the last minute.

Basic Term Paper Format - APA for essays

An essay term paper should be typed and double spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5x11). The margins should be 1 inch on all sides for normal body text. The pages should be numbered consecutively beginning with the title page as part of your header.

The title page of the term paper should include a running head and page number in the upper right hand corner. It defines the running head that will title all of the pages, and centers the full title in the middle of the pages. Always remember to consult with your instructor if you are writing a paper for a class. He or she may have different guidelines for how a title page should appear. Your references should be on a separate page from the text of the paper. The page should have the title References centered at the top.

In-Text Documentation, Basic Entry for Term Papers

MLA format follows the author-page method of citation. This means that author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation is taken must appear in the text.

APA format follows the author-date-page number method of citation. Page numbers should be preceded by "p." and a space.

In both cases, if no author is available, such as a website with no listed author, use an abbreviated version of the page title. Also, if you are citing a website, do not list a page number.

Long Quotations (block quotes)
In MLA, any quotation longer than 4 lines in a free-standing column is indented 10 spaces (2 tabs). Avoid quotation marks and maintain double spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark.

Works Cited/References Page
In APA, the author's first and middle initials follow. In APA, when you list the pages of the chapter or essay in parentheses after the book title, use "pp." before the numbers (pp. 1-4). This abbreviation does not, however, appear before the page numbers in the periodical reference.

In MLA, if there are more than three authors, you may list only the first author followed by the phrase et al. in place of the other author's names, or you may list all the authors in the order in which their names appear on the title page.