Step by Step MLA formatting
Ž Set the Spacing: Double-spaced
MLA (Modern Language Association) style specifies
guidelines for formatting manuscripts and using the
English language in writing.
1.
On the top bar, select the "Home” tab
2.
Ctrt + A (Select All) to select all type
3.
Go to the Paragraph section (3rd from left),
and find the spacing icon, which looks like this:
4.
Select “2.0” for Double-spaced
5.
Select “Remove Space After Paragraph”
Œ
 Joe 1
Joe Student
Ms. Bowen
 American Literature and Composition
12 April 2011
Shades of Grey: Morality in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men
 Ž For most, life is not always black and white. In fact, during one's life, the lines of black
and white seem to blend into more of a grey color. Life in general, is more likely to be full of
gray areas than anything else, because life does not always go according to plan. In the novel, Of
Mice and Men, by George Steinbeck, there are shady areas. It is hard to say whether or not it is
right of George to take the life of his best friend, Lennie. Since Lennie is incapable of selfreliance, it is right of George to kill Lennie, because it saves him from further suffering, hurting
others, and most importantly hurting himself.
By killing Lennie, George saves Lennie from elongated suffering. After finding Lennie
hiding at the Salihas River, George tells him how it is going to be someday when they have a
place of their own. "We'll have a cow...An' we'll have maybe a pig an' chickens...and down the
flat we'll have a... little piece of alfalfa" (105). George describes to Lennie as they look out
across the river. George calms Lennie by painting a beautiful image in Lennie's head of the little
 Set the Name and Title Block
MLA style does not call for a separate title page. Instead,
you should begin your paper with a title block (described
below).
1. On the first line (body of paper, not header), type
the following information in this order. Keep the
spacing double-spaced
Your Name
Teacher’s Name
Title of Class
Date
2. Enter one return between the name block and the
title, but do not bold or change the size of the title.
3. To center the title, don't type spaces to center the
title. Instead, locate at the top of the screen the
Center icon, which looks like this:
.
farm they will someday own. Lennie loves the vision of the living of the land and tending to the
rabbits. Instead of being angry with Lennie for what he did, George leads Lennie into a state of
serenity before shooting him. Lennie's last thoughts of the life he lead was of harmony and
satisfaction. If George had not killed Lennie himself, Curly would have tortured Lennie before
killing him. Goerge knew that killing Lennie would only save him from more pain.
George "pulled the triger...and [Lennie] lay without quivering,"9p.106). Lennie did not
suffer from the up close gun shot, instead he died instantly. George did not want to inflict pain
Œ Set the Margins: 1” on all sides.
1. On the top bar, select "Page Layout” tab
2. Choose the Margins drop down menu.
3. Choose Normal (1” on all sides).
4. Click "OK"
 Set the Font: 12 pt. Times New Roman
1. On the top bar, select "Home” tab
2. Ctrt + A (Select All) to select all type
3. Set the font for Times New Roman,
Regular, and 12 point.
 Set the Page Header: “Smith 1”
The header consists of your last name and the page
number in the upper right of each page. Follow these
instructions carefully so that the page numbers are set
automatically.
1. On the top bar, select “Insert” tab
2. Select “Header” drop down menu, and choose
“Blank” (the first option).
3. The header section will appear inside a gray dotted
square. Inside the square you will see a flashing
cursor.
4. Select the “Page Number” drop down menu, and
choose “Top of Page” and the third option, “Plain
Number 3”
5. Type your Last Name and one blank space
before the number.
6. Change the font to Times New Roman 12 pt.
Test your MLA Prowess
Review the following document and mark and correct five errors in MLA format.
Joe 1
Joe S tudent Ms. Bowen
American Literature and Composition
12 April 2011
S ha des o f G rey: Mora lity i n S teinbec k ’s O f Mic e a nd Me n For most, life is not always black and white. In fact, during one's life, the lines of black and white
seem to blend into more of a grey color. Life in general, is more likely to be full of gray areas than
anything else, because life does not always go according to plan. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, by
George Steinbeck, there are shady areas. It is hard to say whether or not it is right of George to take the
life of his best friend, Lennie. Since Lennie is incapable of self-reliance, it is right of George to kill
Lennie, because it saves him from further suffering, hurting others, and most importantly hurting himself.
By killing Lennie, George saves Lennie from elongated suffering. After finding Lennie hiding at
the Salihas River, George tells him how it is going to be someday when they have a place of their own.
"We'll have a cow...An' we'll have maybe a pig an' chickens...and down the flat we'll have a... little piece
of alfalfa" (105). George describes to Lennie as they look out across the river. George calms Lennie by
painting a beautiful image in Lennie's head of the little farm they will someday own. Lennie loves the
vision of the living of the land and tending to the rabbits. Instead of being angry with Lennie for what he
did, George leads Lennie into a state of serenity before shooting him. Lennie's last thoughts of the life he
lead was of harmony and satisfaction. If George had not killed Lennie himself, Curly would have tortured
Lennie before killing him. Goerge knew that killing Lennie would only save him from more pain.