Formatting Your Paper
The form that your written work takes depends on the requirements of the assignment. Whether you are writing a letter, a resume, or an essay, there are different requirements for the shape that your written work must take.
Essay Format
Formatting style expectations for your papers will differ, depending on the subject area for which you are writing the paper. The most common formatting styles are
- MLA (Modern Language Association) style is used widely in humanities classes, especially writing on language and literature; therefore, it tends to emphasize the author.
-APA (American Psychological Association) is used in social sciences, including, obviously, psychology, as well as education, business, etc. Because currency of information is so important in these papers, the date of publication tends to be emphasized. -Chicago Style (CMS) uses two different basic systems for documentation: notes and bibliography, and author-date to accommodate various emphases. Purdue Owl has a chart which explains differences between these three formatting styles. |
If the style requirement isn't specified on the assignment, always ask your instructors which style they prefer.
For more information on how to format your paper according to the most up-to-date information in the formatting styles most frequently used at ICC, see Purdue University's OWL for MLA and APA.
For more information on how to format your paper according to the most up-to-date information in the formatting styles most frequently used at ICC, see Purdue University's OWL for MLA and APA.