Formatting a rough essay draft is the most crucial part of preparing that work since it’s the format that a reader will see at first glance.
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Formatting an essay defines it, distinguishing it from other types of writing: an essay from a research paper for instance. A well-formatted essay has a uniformity that makes it look neat and organized.
We definitely want to make it eye-catching to anybody who knows how an essay looks like while still leaving it relevant to anyone interested in learning more about essays. There is no comprehensive way of formatting an essay, and different instructors may tell you to format their work differently, which is fine. However, there is a recommended method of formatting an essay whenever special instructions are not given. This method is precisely what we are going to look at just to ensure that anytime you are required to write an essay, you do it the right way.
Basics of Essay Formatting
To begin with, anyone reading your essay should be able to see the black writing on a white background. It’s also important to note that, the writings are on one side of the paper, just do not go writing on the back side of the paper, it should be blank. When you begin to format your essay, ensure that you have a margin of approximately one and a half inches on the top of your paper and the same margin on the left side of your paper. The bottom and the right sides should have a margin of approximately one inch each (1.5 inches on the top and left sides, 1 inch on the bottom and right sides). Well, I can guess that is not too difficult to do.
Headers & Footers
The next thing we want to think of is numbering. Your essay pages must be numbered. On any ordinary paper, the page number can either be centered, placed on the left-hand side, or even on the right-hand side of either the footer or the header. However, on an essay, page numbering is done on the right-hand side corner of the header on each page of the essay.
Perhaps someone needs to be reminded what a header and a footer are. These are the sections on the top or bottom margins of every page in a document respectively. Any text on those margins is also referred to as header if on the top, and footer if on the bottom. For instance, copyright is an example of a footer while a page number can either be a footer or a header depending on whether you place it at the bottom of your page or the page top.
Text Structure
Every essay should have a title, and it should be above the first line of your introductory paragraph. This title should be centered (should be in the middle of the page). Your choices to formatting an essay title are limited too so do not even think of decorating it in any way: DO NOT! Write it in italics, write it in bold, underline it, or even add quotation marks to it. When you have done that, skip three lines to begin the text. The text that follows immediately below the title is the introductory paragraph of your essay. Our next thing is paragraphing. Do not begin paragraphs on the margin; they should be indented. The easiest way to indent a paragraph is by pressing [tab] once. However, if you cannot do that or you want to use a different method, then using the spacebar, move five spaces and begin your first sentence on the sixth space before you begin any paragraph. Remember your lines are double-spaced.
Text Parameters
There is a number of recommended fonts: Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Verdana, and Tahoma. However, always use Times New Roman or Arial unless your instructor says otherwise. If not specified too, the standard font size is 12 for the entire text. Once you have done all that what is remaining is a thorough revision of your essay. Ensure that the spellings are correct and the grammar is good. Crossing out letters is not allowed, to edit, erase and then type the correct letter(s). Before printing your essay, ensure your printer has enough ink so that you don’t mess up with your papers. Also, be sure to use quality papers and not just the standard ones. Arrange your pages orderly and hold them with a paper clip and you are ready to submit your work! Remember: an extra copy of the essay is good, you will never know what could happen to your one copy!
MLA and APA Format Guide
Over the past years, a writing career has grown increasingly popular among people, who’re good at composing creative and well-organized texts. However, the academic writing (essays, research papers, etc.) niche has by now remained pretty challenging, at least for beginners.
The reasoning behind the discrepancy is clear: knowing how to write is just not enough. The point is, doing a college or a scholarship writing project is a bad idea if you don’t have a clue how to write in essay format or how to format an essay according to APA or MLA guidelines.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that a newbie has no chance to succeed and work at famous academic writing resources like Edusson.com, for example, someday. In fact, if a person is eager to master the core formatting and style guidelines, their career opportunities in academic, essay writing will definitely improve.
As mentioned above, there are two main formatting and style standards, generally applied to academic papers – MLA and APA styles. In particular, the academic papers within the humanities and liberal arts are usually set to the MLA (Modern Language Association) format and style, whereas the APA (American Psychological Association) formatting is generally used in social science papers.
The brief guide below is what can help you master the basics and learn how to write an essay in MLA format or an APA formatted paper much faster. Additionally, if you find yourself struggling with formating an argumentative essay, you can always get online to help for you better understand the formatting and style or just buy an argumentative essay at Edusson.
The MLA Style and Formatting
Structural Elements
You should write an introduction in which to set a context and provide a brief overview of why the topic was chosen. It ends with a thesis, where you state a point of view you will develop and sustain throughout an essay.
Connection and fluidity are crucial, and each successive paragraph should include:
- a transition
- a topic sentence
- evidence
- a wrap-up sentence
The conclusion should wrap up the topic of discussion in the essay.
Endnotes (usually, concise) help adding the points that do not match with the rest of ideas.
The Works Cited page includes all sources, cited in the essay.
Paper
An essay should be printed on a computer on the white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
Font
The legible font type (e.g. Times of Roman) and size (12pt.) are required. Regular and italics font types should contrast.
Spacing
Double-spacing with 1-inch margins on each side of the sheet. Paragraphs begin with half-inch indents (the “Tab” key).
Page headers
Page headers include an author’s name and a page number in the upper-right corner consequently from the first page. Each of them is flush right and should have a one-half inch indent from the top.
The Title page
There is no separate title page (unless requested).
The first page includes an author’s name, and instructor’s name, a course and a date (day, month, then year), listed in the upper-left corner.
A title is centered and capitalized (standard capitalization), with no italicization, underlining or quotation marks. A double-space is required between the title and the first paragraph.
Headings
B- and C-level titles are flush left and differ in the font style.
In-text citations
Add in-text citations after a particular quote and before a period (write an author, then a page number without a comma between).
Example: …in the crowd (Smith 67).
If there are three or more authors, add the first one and the “et al.”
Example: …in the crowd (Johns et.al 138).
Shortened or prolonged quotes
Add an ellipsis and the three periods (a space between and after each one is required) for quotes you shorten.
Example: “encourage . . . development”.
Use block quotes, if a quotation is longer, than four lines.
Titles of the published works
Italicize the titles of various published books or other works you mention.
Footnotes
Add a double-spaced footnote (the 12pt Times New Roman font) directly after the referring phrase.
Endnotes
Add endnotes on a separate page after a paper with a centered title “Notes” (the 12pt Times New Roman font) – double-spacing and the one-half inch indent from the left margin are required.
The cited sources
Add the “Works Cited” page after the “Notes”. Capitalize and center its title (the 12pt Times New Roman font).
Double-space each cited work; add a “Print” marker for printed works and a “Web” marker for online sources.
If the author is unknown, put their name in brackets – [].
The APA Style and Formatting
Structural Elements
There is an Author’s note on the first page that identifies an author’s affiliation, the received financial support (if any) and the contact information.
There are four main structural elements: a Title Page, an Abstract, a Main Body and References.
An Abstract, added before the introduction is a brief essay summary (its purpose and the main points).
The introduction covers the main problem or question that an essay addresses.
An Appendix includes the supplement content that is not directly related to the text.
We should write a conclusion to restate the main question or problem and should suggest a set of areas for further examination and research.
The References page includes all sources, cited in the paper.
Paper
Your work should be printed on a computer on the white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
Font
The legible font type (e.g. Times of Roman) and size (12pt.) are required. Regular and italics font types should contrast.
Spacing
Double-spacing with 1-inch margins on each side of the sheet. Paragraphs begin with half-inch indents (the “Tab” key).
Page headers
The page headers (“running head”) include:
- a shortened title of your work (capitalized, 50 characters with spaces or less) flush left;
- a page number – flush right.
The Title page
There is no separate title page (unless requested).
The first page includes a running head.
A title is centered in the upper half of the page, typed in upper and lower case letters. It should not exceed 12 words (1-2 lines), be bolded, underlined or capitalized.
An author’s full name without titles and the institutional affiliation are listed below the title (double-spacing required).
An Author’s Note is in the lower part of the page and includes four paragraphs:
- Complete institutional affiliation.
- Changes in institutional affiliation (if any).
- Funding sources, acknowledgements.
- Contact info.
Abstract
The Abstract is a separate page with a centered title (12 pt. Times New Roman, no extra formatting allowed). The text should include no indents and be 150 – 250 words in length (double-spacing required).
Headings
A-level headings (in upper and lower case) are bolded and centered.
B-level headings are bolded and flush left (standard capitalization required).
C-level headings (in upper and lower case) require a one-half inch indent and are bolded.
In-text citations
In-text citations should include an author’s name, a publication date and a page number, separated with commas.
Example: (Smith, 2006, p.67).
If there are three or more authors, add the first one and the “et al.”
Example: (Johns et.al, 2001).
Appendix
The Appendix should begin at a new page after the References page with the first paragraph flush left, and the other ones – indented.
You should label tables with the referring Appendix letter and a number.
Example: Table A2
If you are adding an Appendix, it is necessary to refer to it in the text.
Example: (See Appendix B for more information on…)
References
Add a list of References at a separate page with a centered title “References” (no capitalization required).
The sources should be alphabetized, double-spacing required.
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