There are two ways to format your paper, one is to use a template with all the settings
preconfigured and the other way is to perform the settings yourself.
Method 1: Using a Template:
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On the Google Docs menu, click on File => New => From Template.
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In the newly opened window, search for MLA Format.
Many results will appear and they are all good => lets assume you pick
the first one, click on the Use this template button.
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The template will be copied to your Google Drive and you are ready to
type your essay.
Method 2: How to Perform all the Settings
Yourself:
I. How to Set the Font and Size:
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When you create a new document, the default font is Arial and size 11.
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Click on the font and change it to Times New Roman.
Click on font size 11 and change it to font size 12.
II. How to Set the Margins in Google Docs:
Google uses the default margin of 1 inch for all top, right, bottom & left so there is no need to
change.
If you would like to verify the margins, here are the steps: click on File => Page Setup
III. How To Create a Header in Google Docs:
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Click on Insert => click on Header.
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Notice the font on the Header is NOT Times New Roman => change the
font to Times New Roman and font size 12.
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Notice the cursor is blinking on the left, click on the Right Align icon to
align the cursor to the right.
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Press the Enter key on your keyboard twice.
Type your Last Name => press the Spacebar key on the keyboard once.
Click on Insert => Page Number => Top of Page.
Now click on anywhere below the Header line to close the Header.
IV. How to Setup Line Spacing to Double Spaced:
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Click on the Line Spacing button => Choose Double.
V. How to Enter the First Page Information:
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Type your full name => press Enter.
Type your professors name => press Enter.
Type course title => press Enter.
Type your papers due date => press Enter.
Click on the Align Center icon on the formatting toolbar (to center your
blinking cursor) => Type the title of your paper, capitalizing the first letter and all
major words and proper nouns. Do not use italics, boldfaced type, underlining, or all
caps to format your title. Do not type a period at the end of the title => press Enter.
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Click on the Align Left icon (to bring your blinking cursor to the left).
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Click on the Tab key to indent 1/2 inch to begin your first paragraph. Use
the Tab key on every next new paragraphs. Your completed setting should look like
this:
VI. How to Setup the Works Cited Page:
Follow this how-to when you are ready to work on your Works Cited page. The Works Cited
page has the following characteristics:
A heading Works Cited centered one inch below the top edge of a new
page. Do not bold or underline this heading.
No indent on the first line of each entry. If an entry runs more than one
line, indent the subsequent line or lines 1/2 inch from the left margin.
Alphabetize entries in your list of works cited by the authors last name,
using the letter-by-letter system.
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Immediately after typing the final line of your paper, click on Insert =>
Page Break (to begin a new page). Your header with your last name and automatic
page numbering should appear at the top left of your paper.
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Click on the align center icon so that the text is centered.
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Type Works Cited (do not underline, boldface, italicize, or enclose the title
in quotation marks).
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Press the Enter key once to begin a new line.
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Click on the align left icon so that the text is aligned left.
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Now type your sources. Dont worry about indentation on the subsequent
line/lines yet.
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Once you are done typing your sources => highlight all your sources =>
click on the Left Indent icon and drag it to the 1/2 inch mark.
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Now click on the First Line Indent icon and drag it to 0 inch mark. You are
done setting the Hanging Indent for Google Docs.
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I hope you found this tutorial helpful. Take care!
