Unbound Report

Formatting a Multipage Academic Report

Use the following guidelines to set up the margins, spacing, and heading for an academic report in MLA style.

Margins and Spacing
To format a report in MLA style:
1. Use 1-inch top, bottom, and side margins.
2. Double-space the entire report.
3. Indent paragraphs 0.5 inch.
4. Indent quotations that are four lines or longer one inch from the left margin.

First Page	2nd and other pages	Reference Page
Side Margins 1”	Same	Same
Top Margin 2”	Top Margin 1”	Top Margin 2”or QS below report
Bottom Margin 1”	Same	Same
Page # (optional, bottom center if used)	Page # top, right aligned	Same

Heading and Title
The heading appears on the first page of the report and takes the place of a title page. To format a heading in MLA style:
1. Key the heading information (your name, your teacher’s name, the class name, and the date) on separate lines at the left margin.
2. Key the date in military style: 10 May {year}.
3. Begin the title a double space below the heading. Center and key the title with initial capital letters for each important word.

Main Heading (Title); ALL CAPS; centered	14 pt. Bold
Side Heading	12 pt. Bold
Reference Head (can change to WORKS CITED); ALL CAPS; centered	14 pt. Bold

Page Numbering
In an academic report, all pages are consecutively numbered.
1. Position the page number in the upper right-hand corner, flush with the right margin. Leave a 0.5-inch top margin. (Place the page number in the header, if necessary.)
2. Key your last name, followed by a space, and then key the page number.

References
References include the headings WORKS CITED or BIBLIOGRAPHY. It can appear Quadruple Spaced after the report or on a separate page.
References are Single Spaced and listed alphabetically by author’s last name with a hanging indent. Double Space between references.