This mla term paper sample shows page setup, in-text citations, and a Works Cited page you can model in minutes.
Need a clean MLA term paper you can model without guessing again at spacing, headers, or citations? This page gives you a ready structure, a short sample text, and a Works Cited pattern that matches MLA 9 basics.
What A Standard MLA Term Paper Includes
An MLA term paper has a predictable spine. Once you set the page layout, the rest is repeatable: heading, title, paragraphs, citations, then Works Cited.
If your teacher or department hands out its own rules, follow those first. MLA gives the common defaults used in many classes.
| Part Of The Paper | What To Put There | MLA Format Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Page Setup | Document margins, font, spacing | 1-inch margins, double-spaced text, readable 12-pt font |
| Running Header | Last name and page number | Top right on each page; your word processor can auto-number |
| First-Page Heading | Your name, instructor, course, date | Left-aligned, double-spaced lines |
| Title Line | Paper title | Centered, plain text, no extra spacing above or below |
| Body Paragraphs | Claim, evidence, explanation | Indent first line 0.5 inch; keep spacing consistent |
| Quotations | Short quotes or block quotes | Short quotes in quotation marks; longer prose quotes use block format |
| In-Text Citations | Source credit inside sentences | Usually author last name and page number in parentheses |
| Works Cited Page | List of sources you cited | New page titled Works Cited, entries alphabetized, hanging indent |
| Optional Endnotes | Extra source notes, if assigned | New page before Works Cited; not common in many term papers |
MLA Term Paper Sample With Clean Formatting
The text below shows the first-page pattern many classes expect: a four-line heading, a centered title, then your opening paragraph. Copy the layout, then replace the topic and sources with your own.
Student Name
Instructor Name
Course Name
22 Dec. 2025
Screen Time And Study Habits In First-Year College
Most students know their phone can steal attention, yet many still study with notifications on. A term paper can test that gap by comparing what students plan to do with what they do during a study session. Researchers report that task switching can slow reading and raise error rates, which can weaken note quality (Carr). That pattern fits what students notice in daily life: quick checks turn into longer scrolls, then the textbook sits open with no new notes.
One way to keep the topic narrow is to pick a single setting, like a library study floor, and track one habit, like how often a student opens a phone. You can connect that habit to a clear claim: fewer interruptions can lead to deeper reading and cleaner recall. In a small pilot log, students who silenced alerts often report steadier reading and cleaner notes when alerts stay off (Carr). Your job is to link each data point to your claim, not just stack quotes.
After you build the claim, your next job is source handling. Each time you quote, paraphrase, or use data, add an in-text citation and make sure the source appears on the Works Cited page. If you cite a web page with no page numbers, use the author name or group name alone in the parentheses. Keep the wording tight so the reader hears your voice, not a string of citations.
Title Page Or No Title Page
Most MLA papers do not use a separate title page. Your name, instructor, course, and date usually sit at the top left of page one, right above the title.
If your class asks for a title page, follow that instruction and keep the same spacing and fonts across the file.
What Makes The Sample “MLA”
MLA is less about a single template and more about consistency. The sample uses double spacing, a standard header, paragraph indents, and clear in-text citations that match a Works Cited entry.
If you want an official checklist for page setup, read the MLA Style Center formatting a research paper PDF and match your document settings line by line.
Formatting Rules You Can Apply Fast
Formatting problems waste time at grading. Fix them once at the start, then write without distractions.
Page Setup
- Set all margins to 1 inch.
- Use double spacing for the full document, including Works Cited.
- Pick a readable font and keep it consistent.
- Turn off full justification and auto-hyphenation unless your teacher asks for them.
Header, Page Numbers, And First-Page Heading
Use your last name and the page number in the top right header. Many word processors can place this automatically. On page one, type the four-line heading at the top left and keep it double spaced.
Center the title on the next double-spaced line. Do not bold it, underline it, or add extra blank lines.
Paragraph Indents And Spacing
Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inch. Do not add extra space between paragraphs. Let the double spacing do the work.
If you use section headings inside the paper, keep the style consistent across the whole draft.
Block Quotations
When you quote a long passage of prose, set it as a block quote. Start it on a new line, indent the whole block, and keep it double spaced. Place the citation after the closing punctuation.
Block quotes are easy to overuse. Save them for lines that you will unpack in your own words right after the quote.
In-Text Citation Patterns That Usually Work
Most MLA in-text citations point to an author and a page. The goal is quick credit that still lets the reader keep moving.
Common Patterns
- One author, one page: (Lopez 42)
- Two authors: (Singh and Patel 88)
- Three or more authors: (Nguyen et al. 19)
- Group author: (World Health Organization 7)
- No page numbers: (Khan)
Use the author name in your sentence when it reads clean, then put only the page number in parentheses: Lopez argues that note-taking changes when the room is noisy (42). Keep the citation close to the borrowed idea.
Purdue’s overview of MLA setup and citations is a handy backstop when you feel stuck on a detail: Purdue OWL MLA general format.
Source Use Without Citation Panic
As you draft, mark every borrowed idea right away. Don’t leave citations for later, since you can forget which sentence came from which source. If you paraphrase, change both the wording and the sentence shape, then still cite it. If you quote, quote short, then explain why the line matters in your argument. This keeps your paper readable and keeps your source trail clean.
Works Cited Page Sample You Can Copy
Your Works Cited page starts on a new page right after the last body paragraph. Keep the same header and page numbering. Center the words “Works Cited” at the top, then list entries in alphabetical order.
Use a hanging indent for each entry. That means the first line starts at the left margin and the next lines indent by 0.5 inch.
Works Cited
Carr, Nicholas. The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. W. W. Norton, 2010.
Modern Language Association. Formatting a Research Paper. The MLA Style Center, 2020.
The Purdue OWL. “MLA General Format.” Purdue Online Writing Lab, Purdue University. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
The Purdue OWL. “MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format.” Purdue Online Writing Lab, Purdue University. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
The entries above are models for formatting. Use your own real sources and copy details from the source itself as you build your list. Match every in-text citation to one Works Cited entry.
Step-By-Step Plan To Draft Your Term Paper
A neat MLA layout helps, yet a term paper still lives or dies on the thinking. A simple plan keeps you from writing in circles.
- Pick a narrow question: Choose a topic you can answer in your page limit.
- Build a working claim: Write one sentence that states what you will show.
- Collect sources: Grab a mix of books, articles, and trusted sites that match the claim.
- Outline first: List your sections and the evidence you will use in each.
- Draft fast: Write a full first draft with citations in place.
- Revise for clarity: Tighten the claim, cut repetition, and sharpen topic sentences.
- Proof and format: Fix typos, then run your MLA checks on margins, header, and Works Cited.
Common Slips That Drop MLA Grades
Most points are lost on small, fixable details. Catch them early and you’ll save a late-night scramble.
- Extra blank lines before or after the title
- Paragraphs with no first-line indent
- Quotes with no citation, or citations that do not match Works Cited
- Works Cited entries out of alphabetical order
- URLs pasted with tracking strings or messy line breaks
- Inconsistent font or spacing across pages
Final Check Before You Turn It In
Use this table as a quick pass right before submission. It’s built for the last ten minutes when you want to catch easy fixes.
| Check | What To Look For | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Margins | All sides set to 1 inch | Open Page Setup and apply 1-inch margins |
| Spacing | Double spacing across body and Works Cited | Select all text and set line spacing to double |
| Header | Last name plus page number on each page | Insert a header with automatic page numbers |
| Title | Centered with no bold or extra lines | Remove extra formatting and keep one title line |
| In-Text Citations | Every borrowed idea credited | Add (Author Page) or author-only when pages are missing |
| Works Cited | Alphabetical list, hanging indents | Sort by author; set hanging indent at 0.5 inch |
| Proofread | Spelling, names, and page numbers | Read out loud once, then run spellcheck |
Before you upload, export a PDF and scroll page by page. Check that page numbers stay aligned, indents hold, and lines do not jump. Fix layout, then submit once, cleanly, online.
How To Use This Layout In Your Own Draft
If you want a quick start, copy the structure from this mla term paper sample into a blank document, then swap in your topic, thesis, and sources. Keep the header and spacing in place while you write.
When you’re done, skim for citation matches: each parenthetical note should point to one Works Cited entry, and each Works Cited entry should show up in the body at least once.
This page gives you a model, not a finished paper. Your best work shows up when your claim is narrow, your sources fit that claim, and your paragraphs prove one point at a time.
If you need to label the file for later, use a name with your topic and course so you can spot it fast in folders.