Typing an Essay in MLA Format

Microsoft Word

Usually, you will be typing your essays in Word. Because there are different versions of Word, some of these directions will be slightly different.

Sample Paper

First of all, here is a sample paper written in MLA format. The paper is not excellent, and has errors, but the formatting is correct (The page number was just typed into the paper instead of using a header because Google Docs wouldn't let me use a header, but you get the idea.):


Sample MLA Paper


Word is already set up with a format, but you need to make some changes. It starts you off with one inch margins at the top and bottom, but with 1.25 inch margins on the left and right sides (it should be one inch all around) for example. On a Mac at least, it gives you Cambria 12 pt. as the default font, when it should be Times New Roman 12 pt., etc.

Here are the main rules:

1. You need one inch margins (format - document - change the ones with 1.25 to 1)
2. Double Space (format - paragraph - line spacing: double)
3. Use Times New Roman 12 pt. font (format - font - Times New Roman - 12 pt.)
4. Add a header/page number (insert - page numbers - Uncheck "Show number on first page" - Top of Page (Header) - Then click OK. It will add the numbers. Click on the number and type your last name in with one space between your name and the number).
5. If you have a title, center it (select the title - format - paragraph - alignment: centered). There is probably an easy button for this in the toolbar, though.
5. When starting a new paragraph, don't forget to hit "tab" on the keyboard to indent.

It sometimes helps if you type first before you begin step 2 or 3.

More Info.

Here is a blog with helpful information about how to use Microsoft Word 2010 to write a paper in MLA format. It basically says what I just said, but in a different way, if that helps you:

MLA Format in Word

And here is a comprehensive (in other words, long) guide to MLA Format from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University:

The OWL at Purdue: MLA Format

Save

Finally, don't forget to save a digital copy of your perfectly formatted paper! The next time you need to type an MLA paper, you can just open the old one, change the date, etc. delete your old text and type in the new. This will save you from having to set up the format every time. You can also save MLA format as your default format if you like.

Grammar: Semicolons

We will have a grammar quiz on semicolons on Monday, September 23rd. Here is the handout:

Semicolons

Here is a website that explains how to use semicolons and includes a video and a quiz.

Semicolon Website

Happy Labor Day!

Yes, you do have to follow the Mythology reading schedule - even today. You will also need to read the flower myths from the first day eventually.

Because the benchmark is this Wednesday and Thursday (not Tuesday and Wednesday) we cannot have our Week 2 vocal. quiz on Thursday. Instead, we will have the Week 2 vocal. quiz on Monday the 9th (the same day as the part of speech grammar quiz). We will NOT skip week 3, however. The week 3 vocal. quiz will be on Monday the 16th.

Parts of Speech Review/How to Study for a Grammar Quiz

Many of you have asked how to improve your grammar quiz scores because you did not do well on the first one. First of all, the first quiz is over, so let's focus on getting ready for the next quiz. Our next grammar quiz is on Parts of Speech and will be on Monday, September 9th. Here is the handout:

Parts of Speech

How can you do better on this quiz than you did on the last one? Try studying more, or in a different way:

If you didn't study at all, try studying. I suggest reading the handout I gave you and take some practice quizzes, then work on the skills you missed on the practice quizzes. You can try taking Cornell Notes from the handout and/or our class discussion then use those notes to study. You can go online to learn about the parts you don't know from the Cornell Notes.

If you did study last time, did you study every day? Studies show that studying every day for, say, fifteen to thirty minutes a day is better than studying for two hours the night before the test. Try studying a little every day leading up to the quiz. If there is a week before the quiz try this schedule (oe whatever works for you):

Monday night: Review the handout and see if you have any questions you want to ask in class tomorrow (we usually do a DO NOW about the grammar on Tuesday).

Tuesday night: Take Cornell Notes on what we discussed in class and on the handout. Review the DO NOW we did in class.

Wednesday night: Quiz yourself from your Cornell Notes and check off the ones you know. Study the ones you did not know by going online, reviewing your notes, etc.

Thursday night: Quiz yourself on the ones you did not know yesterday from your notes. Did you get some of them right? Now you can cross those off. Study the ones you still do not know.

Friday night: Take an online practice quiz. Study the ones you got wrong.

Saturday night: Quiz yourself on the ones you still do not know from your notes. Take another practice quiz if possible and/or just look up exercises on the ones you got wrong last night.

Sunday night: Review everything, but especially the things you still do not know. MAke sure you REALLY know the ones you say you know.

If you studied every night and still did not do well on the quiz, there are a couple of things that might be up. Did you understand the quiz? Did you follow directions? Did you put your name, date, and period on the quiz? HOW did you study? Did you go online and take practice quizzes? Did you write your own Cornell Notes based on the lesson and the handout? If you had questions or if there was something you still did not understand before the weekend, did you ask the teacher or someone else about it?

Try these tips - basically, do more (or do something better) than you did last time and your score should improve.

The Parts of Speech quiz will not have any writing on it, nor will it have any SAT-style questions (those two things were hard for some of you). It will basically be about twenty sentences. Each sentence will have one word underlined and you will be asked to identify the part of speech of that word. Here are a few sample questions (these will not be on the quiz, but they are very similar to the actual quiz questions). The answers are at the bottom of this post.

Parts of Speeh: Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction, Interjection.

1. Ouch! That snake bit me!

2. The teacher told everyone in the class to bring his or her book to class every day.

3. The parrots flew quickly above the heads of the shoppers at the Farmer's Market.

4. I bought my prom dress at the dress store at the mall.

5. Marianne cried bitterly after finally getting a response to her letters from Willoughby.

How do you think you did? Did you study before you took this quiz? Right before? It's better to study, then wait a day or so and then take a quiz. If you take the quiz right after you study, you might get some answers right even though you don't really KNOW them yet. If you take a quiz before you have studied AT ALL you might not do very well. The answers are at the bottom of this post, so you can go check them now.

Finally, here are a few online practice quizzes. The first one is especially good and VERY similar to the one we are going to do in class. Study a little, take the quizzes, make a note of which ones you got wrong, and then study those again. Good luck!


Review: Parts of Speech

Parts of Speech Quiz

This one is only on noun, verb, adjective, and adverb

Finally, here is a Quizlet on the eight parts of speech with flashcards, a quiz, etc.

Here are the answers to the quiz:

1. This is an interjection. Interjections are usually followed by commas or exclamation marks. Watch a video about interjections here.

2. This is a pronoun. Pronouns like everyone are used instead of listing all of the names of each student in the class. Read more about pronouns here.

3. This is a noun. Heads are things. Watch a video about nouns here.

4. This is an adjective. But wait, isn't a dress a thing? So, it's a noun, right? Right - but in this case it is being used as an adjective; it is telling us what kind of store she went to. Watch a video about adjectives here.

5. This is an adverb. It tells us HOW she cried. Many adverbs end in -ly. Watch a video about adverbs here and read Marianne's story in Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility (there's also a great movie version with Kate Winslet as Marianne).

Mythology Reading Schedule and Independent Reading

Here is a copy of the Mythology Reading Schedule and the Independent Reading List, both of which were passed out in class today:

Mythology Reading Schedule

Independent Reading List

Happy Reading!

Back to School Night

Thank you to all of you who attended Back to School Night! If you couldn't make it, or would just like some more information, here is a copy of the handout I passed out:

Back to School Night Handout

Remember, if you have any questions, the best way to contact me is through my school email. If you want to check your child's grades, attendance, etc. please visit the Family Portal.

Thanks again!

Stories and Myths

Here is a copy of the myth of Echo & Narcissus, in case you need it, along with a copy of the Myth Meat & Bones Sheet:

Echo & Narcissus

Myth Bones

And here is an online version of the short story "Everyday Use" which we will discuss early next week:

"Everyday Use"

Don't forget that we are going to the bookroom on Monday to get Lord of the Flies, Mythology, and The Odyssey - bring you I.D. and a backpack!

Grammar: Active vs. Passive Voice

On Monday, August 26th, we will have our first grammar quiz. It will be a multiple choice/true-false clicker quiz on Active vs. Passive Voice. There may also be a short written portion to the quiz.

Here is a handout that explains Active vs. Passive Voice (it's a pdf):

Active vs. Passive Voice Handout

Basically, active voice is (almost always) better than passive voice. Here is a quick example.

      (Active Voice): Sarah bought two tickets for the baseball game.

      (Passive Voice): Two tickets to the baseball game were bought by Sarah.

The first sentence is better. It is clear and follows standard English.



Sometimes, you need to use passive voice (such as when you don't know who committed the action):

      Sarah's tickets were stolen (passive voice) instead of

      Someone who we don't know who it is stole Sarah's tickets. (active, but awkward).


Make sure you can identify if a sentence is in active or passive voice and which one is better. You should also be able to write a sample of each kind of sentence and re-write a sentence written in passive voice so it is written in active voice and vice versa. In your writing, you should avoid using passive voice if possible.

Vocabulary Words

Here is the list of vocabulary words for the first eight weeks of school. I will pass this list out in class on Monday, but you can also get it from Google Docs here:

SAT Vocab. List 1-8

And here is the website where you can find the definitions, practice quizzes, games, etc.:

SAT Vocabulary

This week (Monday, August 19-23) is Week 1. The week 1 quiz will be next Monday, the 26th. Then there is a new quiz every Monday. If there is no school on Monday (or if we are doing an in-class essay or something else that takes the entire period) the quiz will be on Tuesday.

Welcome to 10th Grade Honors!

Welcome to Ms. Naylor's 10th Grade Honors English (English 3/4H) website. This site will be regularly updated with helpful links, worksheets, assignment dates, etc. Here is what you can do today to prepare for success in this class:

Sign up for email updates:
You can sign up on the right to receive an email update whenever I add a post to this website.

Bookmark this page:
For future reference

Check out the Helpful Links on the right. Our School website is being updated as we speak.

I will pass out the syllabus in class, but in case you need it., here it is:

Class Syllabus

MORE TO COME!