Day 33: How to Use MLA Formatting Lesson Plan
Instill academic integrity and professional presentation early. In Day 33 of the Grade 9 English course, students take a break from drafting to master an MLA Formatting Lesson Plan. After a brief diagnostic review of the simple present tense, students learn the fundamentals of document setup, proper heading styles, in-text citations, and Works Cited compilation before applying these rules directly to their active essay rough drafts.
75 Minutes | Key Concepts: Academic Formatting, MLA Style, In-Text Citations, Document Layout, Works Cited
Learning Goals and Standards
Students will:
- Understand the purpose and structure of MLA formatting
- Apply MLA formatting conventions to academic writing
- Format headings, titles, margins, spacing, and page numbers correctly
- Recognize why standardized formatting improves clarity and professionalism
- Prepare their opinion essays using proper MLA style
- Continue drafting and revising their essay outlines and body paragraphs
Ontario Curriculum Connections (ENL1W)
- C1.3 Developing Ideas and Organizing Content — organize writing effectively for a specific audience and purpose
- C2.2 Text Patterns and Features — use appropriate organizational and formatting conventions
- C3.1 Producing Drafts — apply writing strategies and formatting expectations when composing texts
- C3.2 Revising and Editing — improve the presentation and correctness of written work
- B2.1 Language Conventions — demonstrate command of grammar, punctuation, and writing conventions
Common Core (Grades 9–10)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.4 — produce clear and coherent writing appropriate to task and audience
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.5 — strengthen writing through planning, revising, editing, and rewriting
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.1 — demonstrate command of standard English conventions
IB Language & Literature (ATL Skills)
- Communication skills through formal academic writing
- Self-management skills through organization and attention to detail
- Thinking skills through the application of writing conventions
Cambridge IGCSE English
- Present written work using accepted academic conventions
- Organize information clearly and effectively
- Demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail in written communication
OECD Global Competence Framework
- Communicate information clearly in formal contexts
- Apply professional standards to written work
- Develop transferable academic and workplace communication skills
Resources
- Simple Present Tense Lesson
- Note on MLA Formatting
- Video on Setting Up an MLA Google Doc
- Student Handout for MLA
Bell Ringer
Imagine you receive two essays. One is neatly organized and professionally formatted. The other has random fonts, inconsistent spacing, and no clear structure. Which one would you expect to be stronger—and why?
After a brief discussion, ask:
Why do schools, colleges, and universities require formatting standards?
This helps students understand that formatting is not simply about rules—it is about making writing easier to read and evaluate.
Lesson Flow
1. Simple Present Tense Review
Start today with a quick review of the simple present tense. This short grammar refresher helps reinforce consistent verb use before students move into essay writing. The simple present tense is one of the most common tenses used in formal writing—it’s perfect for stating facts, summarizing literature, and explaining ideas clearly.
Encourage students to identify examples of the simple present tense in their own writing. They can check their essays for moments where the tense shifts unintentionally and revise those sections for smoother, more professional expression.
2. MLA Formatting Introduction
Once grammar is out of the way, it’s time to introduce MLA formatting.
This style might sound intimidating at first, but it’s really just a set of conventions to help readers easily navigate and understand academic writing. MLA formatting ensures that everyone’s papers look uniform, professional, and credible—a vital skill not only for English class but for all academic work moving forward.
During this lesson, we’ll walk through the major components of MLA formatting, including:
Setting up the document (font, margins, spacing)
Creating a proper heading and title
Formatting in-text citations
Building a Works Cited page
Use the resources (above) to help your students along. You might distribute the MLA Formatting Tipsheet for quick reference. Have students open their essay documents and begin applying the correct formatting as you review each section together. It’s best to let them adjust their own files as you go—active practice makes this skill stick much faster.
3. Work Period: Essay Outline or Rough Draft
If there’s time remaining after the formatting review, have students continue developing their essay outlines or rough drafts.
Encourage them to:
Apply MLA formatting to their current work.
Double-check their essay structure using their outline.
Use today’s grammar review to polish sentences for clarity.
This is also a good opportunity to circulate the room and offer targeted feedback—especially on structure, tone, or citation accuracy.
First-Hand Suggestions
Students often view MLA formatting as a collection of small rules to memorize, but I’ve found it works best when presented as a professional presentation tool. Once students realize that formatting helps readers focus on their ideas rather than distracting errors, they become much more willing to apply the conventions carefully. A quick formatting checklist before submission can prevent most common mistakes.
Differentiation for MLA Formatting
Support Strategies
- Provide a completed MLA sample essay for reference
- Use a visual checklist showing each formatting requirement
- Model the formatting process step-by-step using a projector
- Allow students to work alongside a partner while formatting
- Break formatting tasks into smaller checkpoints:
- heading
- title
- spacing
- page numbers
- font and margins
Support for English Language Learners
Pre-teach key vocabulary:
- format
- heading
- margin
- citation
- spacing
- document
Helpful sentence starters:
- “The purpose of MLA formatting is…”
- “This section belongs at the top because…”
- “The document should be formatted by…”
Alternative Demonstration Options
Students may:
- complete a formatting checklist instead of explaining rules in writing
- correct formatting errors on a sample document
- demonstrate understanding by formatting a partially completed essay
- receive guided support during the formatting process
Extension Opportunities
Students ready for enrichment can:
- format an entire essay independently from a blank document
- identify and correct MLA errors in sample essays
- explore additional MLA conventions such as Works Cited pages
- peer-review a classmate’s formatting for accuracy
- create a quick MLA reference guide for future assignments
MLA Formatting FAQ
What is the basic page layout for an MLA formatted paper? An MLA paper requires 1-inch margins on all sides, a double-spaced document body, a legible 12pt font like Times New Roman, a left-aligned four-line student heading on the first page, and a running header with the student’s last name and page number in the top right corner.
How do you teach MLA citations to Grade 9 students? The best approach is real-time application. Walk students through document setup step-by-step using a live video guide or modeling, and have them adjust their active essay documents immediately alongside your instruction.
Why do high school students need to learn MLA format? Learning MLA format teaches students academic accountability, prevents accidental plagiarism, and provides a uniform, professional layout standard that scales across high school, college, and university courses.
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