Modern Language Association (MLA) Format and Citation
Formatting Paper:
! Margins: Set one-inch margins for the top, bottom, left, and right of each page.
! Page Numbering: Create a header that includes your last name and the page number in the upper right
hand corner of the page, one half inch from the top of the page. Every page has this header.
! Spacing: Double-space every line throughout (including the Works Cited page).
! Font and Typeface: Use a 12-point font in Times New Roman.
! Heading: MLA style does not require a title page; instead, in the upper left corner of the first page of
the paper include: your first and last name, name of the course instructor, name of the course, and the
date (e.g. 24 September 2015).
! Title: Center-align the title. Do not underline, italicize, or bold the title. Remember to capitalize all
words correctly.
! Indenting: Indent the first line of every paragraph by pressing the tab key once.
Andrews 1
Ryan Andrews
Mrs. Henrey
Seventh Grade English
21 September 2015
Reading Response Question Seven
Good sportsmanship is the central idea of the story “When Winning Took a Backseat” by Bruce Nash and
Allan Zullo. The main characters, Scott Bennett and Brad Howes, grow up competing against each other. In this case,
they are racing in a cross country match to not only gain a victory for their individual schools, but to also secure a spot
in the state finals. Scott demonstrates the theme of good sportsmanship in the way that he reacts to the most important
scene of the story. The boys are running a very intense, close race. Suddenly, they collide and Brad trips and falls, too
hurt to continue; Scott is uninjured. Instead of continuing, however, Scott returns and says, “’Give me your hand, Brad.
Let me help you’” (2). He could have kept running and win the race, but he makes the unselfish decision to put
someone else’s needs before his own, for “who won or lost the race no longer mattered” to Scott (2). It is more
important to finish the race fairly; otherwise it would not have really been a victory. The impressiveness of his actions
is further shown when his coach states that he has never witnessed such sportsmanship (3). Crossing the finish line
together, despite the characters’ earlier determination to win, clearly demonstrates the value of having good
sportsmanship.
Parenthetical Citations:
! If you are analyzing one work and have already mentioned the author in your text (ex: in the
introduction, topic sentence, or detail sentence), only put the page number(s) in a parenthetical reference
at the end of the sentence with the direct or indirect quote, before the end punctuation:
o Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful
feelings" (263).
o Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).
! Alternatively, if the author is not yet mentioned in your text, or you are analyzing more than one work,
include the last name of the author with page number inside the parenthetical reference at the end of the
direct or indirect quote, before the end punctuation:
o Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings"
(Wordsworth 263).
! If a source has two authors, use both last names in the parenthetical reference:
o (Zullo and Nash 2)
! If a source has three authors, use the last name of each person listed:
o (Smith, Jones, and Jacobs 25)
! If a source has more than two authors, use the last name of the first author followed by “et al.”
o (Thompson et al. 15)
! If a source has no identified author, give the title of the work in your parenthetical reference. You may
use a shortened version of the title as long as it directs the reader to the correct entry in the works cited
page:
o This example cites information from The Longman Guide to the Web:
" (Longman Guide 137)
o This example cites information from "The Impact of Global Warming in North America":
" ("Impact of Global Warming" 6)
! For videos, articles, or websites online, include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited
entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name). You do
not need to give paragraph numbers or page numbers based on your Web browser’s print preview
function.
o This example cites information from a webisite:
" (Discovery.com)
o This example cites information from a video “Earth 2050: Searching for Utopia”:
" (“Earth 2050”)