MLA format essays use the Modern Language Association (MLA) format. The format is very popular among students writing essays and coursework in liberal arts, social sciences and humanities. The style is ardently followed by people involved in the field of language and literature. Students in schools and colleges use it to write research papers.
It does take some time to adapt to the style of writing. In many ways, it is similar to the APA style but also has distinct variations. The formats used are easy to follow. One of the secrets to a good English essay is to practice writing essays using the MLA style.
The MLA style guide has specified guidelines for writing manuscripts in English. It has established a standard for writers to provide citations within the text using the author-date method. In-text citations use the author’s name and date of publication to provide reference to the source from where they collected the information.
Detail information on referenced material is then tabled in foot notes and end notes. Footnotes are used at the end of each page in MLA format essays, while end notes occur at the end of the essay or research paper. It is advisable to refer to a sample to get a better idea.
Some important changes have been made to MLA style in their seventh edition. Basically, these changes have been made to help in locating referenced material faster. Some of the changes have been listed below. You might want to incorporate them in custom essays you write in the future, if you have been following the standards laid down before April 2009.
1. It has become mandatory to list the medium of reference used in the text of the paper. The medium could be a source from the web, DVD, print, CD-ROM, PDF file, etc. For example, if you have referred to the web, the date you accessed the information would follow the word “Web.”
2. It is recommended that words, phrases, and sentences are to be italicized and not underlined.
3. The URL of a page is no longer required. If the writer feels that readers would find it difficult to access information without the URL, then it can be included.
4. To arrive at the right source of reference, it is recommended to list volume and issue numbers for journal entries. This would ensure that they could be found once archived.
There are many more details that need to be studied by writers and students who wish to use this style. When working online, you could refer to style guides available over the internet. There are many sources that allow free access and download. It is better to save it in the “Favorites” of the browser being used for easy access. Schools, colleges, and universities provide students with online access to the MLA style guide.
Following the MLA style is easy. Reference material is available. Make an effort to practice writing essays following this style. Make a concerted effort to maintain sentence structure while using the formats. The flow of language should be cohesive and logical. You can also buy a cheap essay that details the methods used.
