Formatting Guidelines for Outline in MLA Format
Formatting Guidelines for Outline in MLA Format
Creating an outline in MLA format means following specific rules for formatting to ensure clarity and consistency. Here’s a simple guide to get started:
These guidelines help keep your outline neat and professional, which is essential in academic writing. Now that the basics are covered let’s move on to what the outline should actually include.
MLA Style Outline Components
Title
Your title should be centered at the top of the page and written in standard title case (capitalize the main words). Avoid unnecessary bolding, underlining, or italicizing.
For example: “Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture: A Detailed Study”
Thesis Statement
The thesis comes right after the title and is labeled as THESIS in all caps, followed by a colon and your statement.
For example: THESIS: Climate change significantly affects agricultural productivity, requiring immediate action. This format makes your central argument clear from the start.
Headings and Subheadings
MLA uses a hierarchical system to organize information. Here’s how it works:
- Main Headings: Use Roman numerals (I, II, III).some text
- Example: I. Introduction
- Subheadings:
- Use uppercase letters (A, B, C).
- Example: A. Definition of Climate Change
- Further Divisions:
- Use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
- Example: 1. Causes of Climate Change
- Use lowercase letters (a, b, c).
- Example: a. Industrial Emissions
- Additional Subdivisions: Continue with parentheses:some text
- Example: (1) Carbon Emissions
- Example: (a) Historical Data
