MLA Formatting for Opinion Essays: Grade 9 Lesson Plan

MLA formatting for opinion essays: MLA formatting gives students a consistent way to present academic work. Rather than handing students a checklist and hoping they can set everything up, this lesson walks them through an MLA-style document while they make the changes themselves.

Learning goals

Students will learn to:

• Set up margins, spacing, heading, title, and page numbers in an MLA-style document.
• Explain the purpose of readable, consistent academic formatting.
• Apply the correct settings to an opinion essay draft and check them independently.

Classroom resources

Teach the key concept

The Modern Language Association’s MLA style has familiar formatting conventions. For most student papers, teach these practical checks: one-inch margins; double-spaced body text; an easily readable font at about 12 points; a first-line paragraph indent of half an inch; a heading with student, teacher, course, and date; a centered title; and a running head with surname and page number. A separate title page is not normally needed unless instructed.

Make sure students follow their teacher’s submission instructions when those differ. MLA also specifies a separate Works Cited page for papers that cite sources; citation mechanics are addressed in the next lesson.

Step-by-step lesson plan (55–60 minutes)

1. Diagnostic check (8 min): Show two papers with the same content but inconsistent and consistent formatting. Ask students to identify what would make them easier to read and assess.
2. Live demonstration (12 min): Open a blank Google Doc or Word file. Model margins, line spacing, font, title alignment, first-line indentation, and surname/page-number header. Explain the difference between a heading and running head.

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3. Guided setup (20 min): Students open their current opinion essay and apply each setting themselves, referring to the MLA formatting note. Pause after each setting to troubleshoot before proceeding.
4. Partner audit (15–20 min): Students swap screens or files and check the first page and the next-page header. Make corrections and save a properly titled draft.

Assessment and exit ticket

Have each student point to their heading, centered title, correctly spaced paragraph, and page-number header. Collect a screenshot or view their document directly for a quick formative check.

Exit ticket: Name one specific change you made today and explain how it will improve your reader’s understanding.

Differentiation and extension

Provide a screenshot of the required layout with labels and a simple step-by-step checklist; allow students to begin from a teacher-provided correctly formatted copy if setting up the software is a barrier. Challenge others to check hanging indents on a Works Cited page.

Frequently asked questions

Does MLA require Times New Roman specifically?

MLA calls for a legible typeface; Times New Roman at 12 points is common, but consistency and the assignment’s instructions matter.

Should students make the title bold?

The essay title is normally centered and uses the same formatting as the body, without automatic bolding, underlining, or quotation marks.

Continue the unit: ← Writing Conclusions · All opinion essay lessons · MLA Citations and Works Cited →