table of contents research paper mla

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How to Structure the Table of Contents for a Research Paper

4-minute read

• 16th July 2023

So you’ve made it to the important step of writing the table of contents for your paper. Congratulations on making it this far! Whether you’re writing a research paper or a dissertation , the table of contents not only provides the reader with guidance on where to find the sections of your paper, but it also signals that a quality piece of research is to follow. Here, we will provide detailed instructions on how to structure the table of contents for your research paper.

Steps to Create a Table of Contents

• Insert the table of contents after the title page.

Within the structure of your research paper , you should place the table of contents after the title page but before the introduction or the beginning of the content. If your research paper includes an abstract or an acknowledgements section , place the table of contents after it.

• List all the paper’s sections and subsections in chronological order.

Depending on the complexity of your paper, this list will include chapters (first-level headings), chapter sections (second-level headings), and perhaps subsections (third-level headings). If you have a chapter outline , it will come in handy during this step. You should include the bibliography and all appendices in your table of contents. If you have more than a few charts and figures (more often the case in a dissertation than in a research paper), you should add them to a separate list of charts and figures that immediately follows the table of contents. (Check out our FAQs below for additional guidance on items that should not be in your table of contents.)

• Paginate each section.

Label each section and subsection with the page number it begins on. Be sure to do a check after you’ve made your final edits to ensure that you don’t need to update the page numbers.

• Format your table of contents.

The way you format your table of contents will depend on the style guide you use for the rest of your paper. For example, there are table of contents formatting guidelines for Turabian/Chicago and MLA styles, and although the APA recommends checking with your instructor for formatting instructions (always a good rule of thumb), you can also create a table of contents for a research paper that follows APA style .

• Add hyperlinks if you like.

Depending on the word processing software you’re using, you may also be able to hyperlink the sections of your table of contents for easier navigation through your paper. (Instructions for this feature are available for both Microsoft Word and Google Docs .)

To summarize, the following steps will help you create a clear and concise table of contents to guide readers through your research paper:

1. Insert the table of contents after the title page.

2. List all the sections and subsections in chronological order.

3. Paginate each section.

4. Format the table of contents according to your style guide.

5. Add optional hyperlinks.

If you’d like help formatting and proofreading your research paper , check out some of our services. You can even submit a sample for free . Best of luck writing your research paper table of contents!

What is a table of contents?

A table of contents is a listing of each section of a document in chronological order, accompanied by the page number where the section begins. A table of contents gives the reader an overview of the contents of a document, as well as providing guidance on where to find each section.

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What should I include in my table of contents?

If your paper contains any of the following sections, they should be included in your table of contents:

●  Chapters, chapter sections, and subsections

●  Introduction

●  Conclusion

●  Appendices

●  Bibliography

Although recommendations may differ among institutions, you generally should not include the following in your table of contents:

●  Title page

●  Abstract

●  Acknowledgements

●  Forward or preface

If you have several charts, figures, or tables, consider creating a separate list for them that will immediately follow the table of contents. Also, you don’t need to include the table of contents itself in your table of contents.

Is there more than one way to format a table of contents?

Yes! In addition to following any recommendations from your instructor or institution, you should follow the stipulations of your style guide .

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA Formatting and Style Guide

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The following overview should help you better understand how to cite sources using MLA  9 th edition, including how to format the Works Cited page and in-text citations.

Please use the example at the bottom of this page to cite the Purdue OWL in MLA. See also our MLA vidcast series on the Purdue OWL YouTube Channel .

Creating a Works Cited list using the ninth edition

MLA is a style of documentation that may be applied to many different types of writing. Since texts have become increasingly digital, and the same document may often be found in several different sources, following a set of rigid rules no longer suffices.

Thus, the current system is based on a few guiding principles, rather than an extensive list of specific rules. While the handbook still describes how to cite sources, it is organized according to the process of documentation, rather than by the sources themselves. This gives writers a flexible method that is near-universally applicable.

Once you are familiar with the method, you can use it to document any type of source, for any type of paper, in any field.

Here is an overview of the process:

When deciding how to cite your source, start by consulting the list of core elements. These are the general pieces of information that MLA suggests including in each Works Cited entry. In your citation, the elements should be listed in the following order:

• Title of source.
• Title of container,
• Other contributors,
• Publication date,

Each element should be followed by the corresponding punctuation mark shown above. Earlier editions of the handbook included the place of publication and required different punctuation (such as journal editions in parentheses and colons after issue numbers) depending on the type of source. In the current version, punctuation is simpler (only commas and periods separate the elements), and information about the source is kept to the basics.

Begin the entry with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and the rest of the name, as presented in the work. End this element with a period.

Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. Routledge, 1994.

Title of source

The title of the source should follow the author’s name. Depending upon the type of source, it should be listed in italics or quotation marks.

A book should be in italics:

Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House . MacMurray, 1999.

An individual webpage should be in quotation marks. The name of the parent website, which MLA treats as a "container," should follow in italics:

Lundman, Susan. "How to Make Vegetarian Chili." eHow, www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html.*

A periodical (journal, magazine, newspaper) article should be in quotation marks:

Bagchi, Alaknanda. "Conflicting Nationalisms: The Voice of the Subaltern in Mahasweta Devi's Bashai Tudu." Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature , vol. 15, no. 1, 1996, pp. 41-50.

A song or piece of music on an album should be in quotation marks. The name of the album should then follow in italics:

Beyoncé. "Pray You Catch Me." Lemonade, Parkwood Entertainment, 2016, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/.

*The MLA handbook recommends including URLs when citing online sources. For more information, see the “Optional Elements” section below.

Title of container

The eighth edition of the MLA handbook introduced what are referred to as "containers," which are the larger wholes in which the source is located. For example, if you want to cite a poem that is listed in a collection of poems, the individual poem is the source, while the larger collection is the container. The title of the container is usually italicized and followed by a comma, since the information that follows next describes the container.

Kincaid, Jamaica. "Girl." The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories, edited by Tobias Wolff, Vintage, 1994, pp. 306-07.

The container may also be a television series, which is made up of episodes.

“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, performance by Amy Poehler, season 2, episode 21, Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2010.

The container may also be a website, which contains articles, postings, and other works.

Wise, DeWanda. “Why TV Shows Make Me Feel Less Alone.”  NAMI,  31 May 2019,  www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/May-2019/How-TV-Shows-Make-Me-Feel-Less-Alone . Accessed 3 June 2019.

In some cases, a container might be within a larger container. You might have read a book of short stories on Google Books , or watched a television series on Netflix . You might have found the electronic version of a journal on JSTOR. It is important to cite these containers within containers so that your readers can find the exact source that you used.

“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation , season 2, episode 21, NBC , 29 Apr. 2010. Netflix, www.netflix.com/watch/70152031?trackId=200256157&tctx=0%2C20%2C0974d361-27cd-44de-9c2a-2d9d868b9f64-12120962.

Langhamer, Claire. “Love and Courtship in Mid-Twentieth-Century England.” Historical Journal , vol. 50, no. 1, 2007, pp. 173-96. ProQuest, doi:10.1017/S0018246X06005966. Accessed 27 May 2009.

Other contributors

In addition to the author, there may be other contributors to the source who should be credited, such as editors, illustrators, translators, etc. If their contributions are relevant to your research, or necessary to identify the source, include their names in your documentation.

Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason. Translated by Richard Howard , Vintage-Random House, 1988.

Woolf, Virginia. Jacob’s Room . Annotated and with an introduction by Vara Neverow, Harcourt, Inc., 2008.

If a source is listed as an edition or version of a work, include it in your citation.

The Bible . Authorized King James Version, Oxford UP, 1998.

Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. 3rd ed., Pearson, 2004.

If a source is part of a numbered sequence, such as a multi-volume book or journal with both volume and issue numbers, those numbers must be listed in your citation.

Dolby, Nadine. “Research in Youth Culture and Policy: Current Conditions and Future Directions.” Social Work and Society: The International Online-Only Journal, vol. 6, no. 2, 2008, www.socwork.net/sws/article/view/60/362. Accessed 20 May 2009.

Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria. Translated by H. E. Butler, vol. 2, Loeb-Harvard UP, 1980.

The publisher produces or distributes the source to the public. If there is more than one publisher, and they are all are relevant to your research, list them in your citation, separated by a forward slash (/).

Klee, Paul. Twittering Machine. 1922. Museum of Modern Art, New York. The Artchive, www.artchive.com/artchive/K/klee/twittering_machine.jpg.html. Accessed May 2006.

Women's Health: Problems of the Digestive System . American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2006.

Daniels, Greg and Michael Schur, creators. Parks and Recreation . Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2015.

Note : The publisher’s name need not be included in the following sources: periodicals, works published by their author or editor, websites whose titles are the same name as their publisher, websites that make works available but do not actually publish them (such as  YouTube ,  WordPress , or  JSTOR ).

Publication date

The same source may have been published on more than one date, such as an online version of an original source. For example, a television series might have aired on a broadcast network on one date, but released on  Netflix  on a different date. When the source has more than one date, it is sufficient to use the date that is most relevant to your writing. If you’re unsure about which date to use, go with the date of the source’s original publication.

In the following example, Mutant Enemy is the primary production company, and “Hush” was released in 1999. Below is a general citation for this television episode:

“Hush.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer , created by Joss Whedon, performance by Sarah Michelle Gellar, season 4, Mutant Enemy, 1999 .

However, if you are discussing, for example, the historical context in which the episode originally aired, you should cite the full date. Because you are specifying the date of airing, you would then use WB Television Network (rather than Mutant Enemy), because it was the network (rather than the production company) that aired the episode on the date you’re citing.

“Hush.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, performance by Sarah Michelle Gellar, season 4, episode 10, WB Television Network, 14 Dec. 1999 .

You should be as specific as possible in identifying a work’s location.

An essay in a book or an article in a journal should include page numbers.

Adiche, Chimamanda Ngozi. “On Monday of Last Week.” The Thing around Your Neck, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, pp. 74-94 .

The location of an online work should include a URL.  Remove any "http://" or "https://" tag from the beginning of the URL.

Wheelis, Mark. "Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention." Emerging Infectious Diseases , vol. 6, no. 6, 2000, pp. 595-600, wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/6/6/00-0607_article. Accessed 8 Feb. 2009.

When citing a physical object that you experienced firsthand, identify the place of location.

Matisse, Henri. The Swimming Pool. 1952, Museum of Modern Art, New York .

Optional elements

The ninth edition is designed to be as streamlined as possible. The author should include any information that helps readers easily identify the source, without including unnecessary information that may be distracting. The following is a list of optional elements that can be included in a documented source at the writer’s discretion.

Date of original publication:

If a source has been published on more than one date, the writer may want to include both dates if it will provide the reader with necessary or helpful information.

Erdrich, Louise. Love Medicine. 1984. Perennial-Harper, 1993.

City of publication:

The seventh edition handbook required the city in which a publisher is located, but the eighth edition states that this is only necessary in particular instances, such as in a work published before 1900. Since pre-1900 works were usually associated with the city in which they were published, your documentation may substitute the city name for the publisher’s name.

Thoreau, Henry David. Excursions . Boston, 1863.

Date of access:

When you cite an online source, the MLA Handbook recommends including a date of access on which you accessed the material, since an online work may change or move at any time.

Bernstein, Mark. "10 Tips on Writing the Living Web." A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites, 16 Aug. 2002, alistapart.com/article/writeliving. Accessed 4 May 2009.

As mentioned above, while the MLA handbook recommends including URLs when you cite online sources, you should always check with your instructor or editor and include URLs at their discretion.

A DOI, or digital object identifier, is a series of digits and letters that leads to the location of an online source. Articles in journals are often assigned DOIs to ensure that the source is locatable, even if the URL changes. If your source is listed with a DOI, use that instead of a URL.

Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. "Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates." Environmental Toxicology , vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library, doi: 10.1002/tox.20155.

Creating in-text citations using the previous (eighth) edition

Although the MLA handbook is currently in its ninth edition, some information about citing in the text using the older (eighth) edition is being retained. The in-text citation is a brief reference within your text that indicates the source you consulted. It should properly attribute any ideas, paraphrases, or direct quotations to your source, and should direct readers to the entry in the Works Cited list. For the most part, an in-text citation is the  author’s name and the page number (or just the page number, if the author is named in the sentence) in parentheses :

When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference. For example: (00:02:15-00:02:35).

Again, your goal is to attribute your source and provide a reference without interrupting your text. Your readers should be able to follow the flow of your argument without becoming distracted by extra information.

How to Cite the Purdue OWL in MLA

Entire Website

The Purdue OWL . Purdue U Writing Lab, 2019.

Individual Resources

Contributors' names. "Title of Resource." The Purdue OWL , Purdue U Writing Lab, Last edited date.

The new OWL no longer lists most pages' authors or publication dates. Thus, in most cases, citations will begin with the title of the resource, rather than the developer's name.

"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL, Purdue U Writing Lab. Accessed 18 Jun. 2018.

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Table of Contents

Introduction, what is mla.

When Do You Cite?

When Don’t You Cite?

Formatting a Paper

How to Format a Paper

Example Paper

Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Direct Quote

Paraphrasing

Summarizing

In-text Citations

What Is an In-Text Citation?

Two Authors

Three or More Authors

Works Cited Page

What Is a Works Cited Page?

Online Materials

Online Materials from a Database

Print Materials

Interview/Lecture/Performance

Other Media

What Resource Is This?

Identifying a Journal Article

MLA in Minutes Copyright © by Sami Lange; Vicki Brandenburg; and Leila Palis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Write a Table of Contents: Basic, MLA, and APA Styles

Usually, tables of contents are used in documents that consist of several chapters or sections. Creating a table of contents may seem to be a simple task, however, different formatting styles and rules regarding spacing may cause some problems if students are not familiar with these standards.

College-Writers.com decided to help you prepare a good table of contents by explaining the features of the most common styles: MLA and APA. The MLA style is popular in literature, while APA is used in social sciences. If there’s no particular style specified by your professor, you may need to create a basic table of contents.

Basic Table of Contents

First, let’s see what a basic table of contents looks like. This table should demonstrate how your paper is organized, and what topics are addressed in it. You should include every section of your paper and provide a corresponding page number. If your work has big sections, you can benefit from making descriptive headlines so that your audience could easily find the necessary information on any specific subtopic. For example, if this article was several pages long, its table of contents would look like this:

Introduction……………………………………………………….1

Basic Table of Contents…………………………………………3

APA Style Table of Contents……………………………………5

MLA Style Table of Contents……………………………………6

Entries in your table of content should be written using capital letters, just like headlines in your paper. To make your table easy to read, line up page numbers. You can do it manually or use various programs that can format your text documents automatically. These programs can also help with spacing.

APA Table of Contents

You may or may not use the APA style in your papers, depending on your field of study, the type of your paper, and requirements of your school. Literature reviews traditionally don’t have a table of contents, having only a standard title page. In this case, you should also include an introduction and a reference list. If your paper has several major sections, its table of contents may look like this:

Abstract………………………………………………………….2

Introduction…………………………………………………….5

Method…………………………………………………………..6

Results……………………………………………………………9

Tables……………………………………………………………11

References………………………………………………………14

The title shouldn’t be underlined or written in bold font. An APA table of contents should also include an abstract and a list of references. Obviously, you should also follow the general guidelines of the APA style. When creating a table of contents according to the APA style, you may also benefit from making descriptive headlines.

MLA Table of Contents

Your MLA style paper may have a table of contents if it’s long enough. The MLA format doesn’t have any strict requirements regarding breaking up the text so you can approach this issue as you like, taking into account the type of content. Here’s a list of suggested sections for an MLA paper:

• Acknowledgments;
• Introduction;
• Body (three parts);
• Conclusion (Summary);
• Explanatory Notes;
• Appendices;
• Contact Organizations;
• Endnotes (if you don’t use citations in parentheses or footnotes);
• Bibliography;

You should also include a title page, however, there’s no need to number it, unless your title is on the main page of your paper. Don’t forget that the MLA style also requires you to provide a list of tables and illustrations. Here’s an example of a table of contents written according to the MLA format:

Introduction……………………………………………………..2

Arts………………………………………………………………..5

Government……………………………………………………..8

Works Cited……………………………………………………..10

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Cite Your Sources: MLA

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Table of Contents

What is MLA Style?

MLA is a citation format created by the Modern Language Association . It is used for research papers in many college classes, including English . MLA updated their guidelines to the Ninth Edition in April 2021.  

General Guidelines for MLA

• Font is size 11-13 in a legible font like Times New Roman or Arial. Nothing is underlined or bold. Font should be used consistently throughout paper.  
• Center the words “Works Cited” one inch from the top of a new page at the end of the paper. Include only sources that have been quoted, summarized, or paraphrased.
• Double-spacing is used between sources as well as within each source.
• Use a hanging indent: begin the first line of each entry at the left margin, and indent all subsequent lines of an entry one-half inch (5 spaces); you may also use the “Tab” key.
• Alphabetize sources by the author’s last names.  List author by last name, followed by a comma, and then followed by the first name. If the source has no author, alphabetize by title ignoring the words “A,” “An,” or “The.”
• Capitalize all title words except for articles (a, an, the) and prepositions (to, from, between, etc.), and coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, etc.) unless they are the first/last word of the title or subtitle.
• Use italics for titles of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, reference books, databases, and websites.
• Put titles of periodical articles and other short works (such as poems, essays, short stories, and songs) in quotation marks.
• List just the publisher for books. Use the complete version of publishers’ names, except for terms such as Inc. and Co. Use U and P for University and Press. List vol. for the volume, no. for the issue number of a journal, and p. or pp. for the page numbers.
• Separate the author, title, and publication information (publisher and year for books) with periods. Only commas separate the journal title, volume, issue number, date, and page numbers. A period also goes at the end of each source.
• List dates as: day month year. Example: 7 Apr. 2021 (abbreviate names of months except for May, June, and July).
• For a range of two-digit page numbers, list the first and last page (pp. 37-51); for longer numbers, list only the last two digits of the last page number (pp. 137-51). In some cases, though, you may need more digits to clarify the range of pages (199-207). If the article does not appear on consecutive pages, use a plus sign (+) after the first page number (pp. 36+).
• Include as much of the following information about the source as is available: editor, translator, director, performer, version, volume and issue numbers, publisher or sponsor, date of publication, location of the source, page numbers, DOI (digital object identifier), URL, etc. Not all sources will require every element.

In-text Citations for MLA

In-text parenthetical citations : Whenever you use a quotation, a paraphrase, or a summary, you should give the author’s last name (or the title if no author is included) in parentheses; you should also add the page number if you’re using a printed source. A parenthetical source might look like this for an author (Hammond 42) or like this for a title ( MLA Handbook 58).

Parenthetical/In-text citation: (Perry B3).

Introduce the material being cited with a signal phrase that includes the author’s name.   Example:  HVCC librarian Mary Ellen Bolton points out that students who do not use libraries often find frustration in their research efforts (74).  Otherwise, provide the author’s last name and a page number in parentheses.  No comma is used.   Example: (Bolton 74).

For sources with no author listed, use a shortened version of the title of the work. Titles of books are italicized; titles of articles are put in quotation marks.

Example MLA Citations

Citing secondary sources.

Secondary sources should be used sparingly. Try to locate the original source of information cited in the a work if it is possible. If you read an article or book which cites some information that you want to cite, always refer to the source where you found the information, not the original source.

Works Cited List Example:

Hanrahan, Patricia, et al. “The Mothers’ Project for Homeless Mothers with Mental Illnesses and Their Children: A Pilot Study.”  Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal,  vol. 28 no. 3, 2005, pp. 291-294.  APA PsycArticles , doi: 10.2975/28.2005.291.294

In-Text Citation Example:

Dincin and Zeitz’s study of mentally ill mothers (qtd. in Hanrahan, et al. 291)

Cite ChatGPT in MLA style

How do I cite generate AI in MLA style. 

Ask the MLA

HVCC Writing and Research Center (WRC) MLA 8 Handouts

• MLA 9 In-text Citations and General Guidelines
• MLA 9 Citation Examples and Formulas

Online Help with MLA

• MLA Style Center Help from the Modern Language Association
• MLA 9 from Purdue OWL Overview, examples, and tips from the OWL (Online Writing Lab) at Purdue
• UMUC MLA Citation Examples
• YouTube: Microsoft Word --How to Set Up an MLA Format Essay Basic rules for setting up an MLA paper using Microsoft Word.
• YouTube: How to set up MLA paper using Google Docs The trick to setting up MLA format in Google Docs.
• Formatting the first page of your paper MLA doesn't recquire a title page, but sometimes your professor might recommend that you start your paper with one.

CSUDH Library. "Introduction to Citation Styles: MLA 9th ed."  YouTube , 2020, July 9, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7MyM_V8-EA.

What is a doi?

What is a digital object identifier, or  doi ?

A digital object identifier (doi) is a unique alphanumeric string assigned by a registration agency ( the International DOI Foundation) to identify content and provide a persistent link to it's location on the Internet. The publisher assigns a doi when the article is published and made available electronically.

We recommend that when doi's are available, you include them for both print and electronic sources. The doi is typically located on the first page of the electronic journal, near the copyright notice. The DOI will be included in the citation of articles found in our databases.

MLA Sample Paper

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MLA Citation & MLA Format — A Roadmap For Researchers

Table of Contents

MLA Citation provides a standardized method for acknowledging sources in academic writing.

Using the Modern Language Association (MLA) format ensures consistency and clarity, making it easier for readers to locate and verify sources.

This guide offers a comprehensive overview of the MLA format, highlighting its importance in the academic world and offering insights into its correct application.

As we delve deeper, you'll understand the essentials of MLA Citation and its role in producing credible and reliable research.

Without much ado, let's get started!

What is MLA Citation?

MLA (Modern Language Association) citation format is one of the most widely used forms of citation in the academic world today. The MLA citation style is used in the humanities, especially for literature and language studies. It is also the standard citation style in the social sciences, including many journals and articles related to psychology, communication, and cultural studies to cite sources.

The MLA citation style includes in-text citations, which are placed within the body of a paper, and full bibliographic information that is included on a reference page. The purpose of citing sources is to give credit to the original authors or creators of ideas and information. It also allows readers to find more information about the topic by looking at other sources that cite the same work.

The MLA Handbook is an essential reference for writers, editors, students, and professionals for MLA citations. It presents guidelines on all aspects of research tasks: citing sources; gathering source material; organizing that material; writing clearly, and documenting sources in print or electronic format. The latest and 9th edition of the MLA Handbook provides information about documenting sources and avoiding plagiarism, along with examples for citing books, articles, websites, CD-ROM, DVD formats, and more.

The History of the Modern Language Association (MLA)

The Modern Language Association, popularly called MLA, is an association of scholars in the humanities devoted to the study of language and literature. It was founded in 1883 and was one of the first scholarly societies in the United States.

The MLA's mission is to promote the study and teaching of languages and literature. This means that members try to create forums where people can exchange ideas about language and literature. They also try to educate people about how language and literature affect our lives.

The MLA publishes a journal, PMLA (Publications of the Modern Language Association of America), which examines current topics in literary studies and related fields. In addition to its journal, it also publishes a newsletter - PMLA Spectrum; a directory of periodicals; bibliographies on various topics; monographs; and an annual report. The MLA also sponsors several awards for outstanding publications by graduate students, professors, and independent scholars.

The association is best known for its style manual for English-language research papers and citations that have been published since 1906 under various titles (e.g., Publication Manuals [1906], Style Manuals [1952], Guide to Scholarly Publishing).

Click here to view an interactive timeline of the MLA history.

Components of MLA Citation

An MLA Citation has two major components: In-text and Works Cited.

In-text citation vs. Works Cited is a question you may have come across before. It is important to understand that the two are separate and should not be confused with each other.

In-text Citation

An in-text citation is a reference to a source used within your essay or paper. You can use an in text citations when you quote directly from a source or paraphrase someone else's words. If you use another author's words, then it is important to cite them as well so that others will know where you got this information from.

In text citations are used to give credit to your sources within your paper. They are placed in parentheses or quotation marks depending on the type of source you are citing.

For example, if you are writing about Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, you could write, "Einstein believed that time passes more slowly as one travels near the speed of light" (Vander Meer & Walker). This sentence uses Vander Meer & Walker's words (the author) and directs readers back to the page number where they can find more information about this topic.

As a result, in text citations are commonly referred to as "hanging" or "parenthetical" citation format.

Works Cited

The Works Cited page is where all your sources will be listed alphabetically by author’s/authors the last name followed by page number(s) if applicable, along with any other relevant information about the source. The Works Cited page is located at the end of your research paper, and it includes all of the sources you used to write your paper, including both print and electronic sources (e.g., books, articles). MLA works cited page is essential while citing your paper according to MLA citations.

An MLA Works Cited entry is built up of nine core elements:

Author. “Title of the Source.” Title of the Container , Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location.

Using the above nine core elements, MLA works cited entry for any type of source can be created - a book, journal, article, website, or anything.

In-text Citation Examples

Citation and reference styles vary among different fields of study, but they all require that a writer include enough information so that readers can locate the source material. As mentioned earlier, in text citations are also known as a parenthetical citation and means that you place required information about available sources in parenthesis right after you cite or quote in a paragraph.

Here are various in text citations according to MLA format with examples:

Single known author

When using someone else's words, you should identify the author and add the page number if applicable and available. If the author's name is already mentioned in a sentence, you only need to include the page number in the parenthetical citation in MLA style.

• Best writers, according to Collins, usually start with careful planning and strategic thinking (4).
• Best writers tend to start with “careful planning and strategic thinking” (Collins 4).

Multiple book authors

If you must cite two or more authors for a book, list the last author names in the text of your paper or a parenthetical citation.

• Shakespeare’s style of writing, as researched by Andrews and Burke, proved that natural settings are essential for rhyming patterns (7).
• According to authors, natural settings in Shakespeare’s style of writing “have been essential for rhyming patterns” (Andrews and Burke 7).

No author or organization

When there is no known author of a source, use the shortened title of your article. If it is short, just put it in quotation marks, but if it is a long title, then italicize it. If a page number is available, provide it as well.

The impact of plastic bottle pollution in the United States has been carefully monitored, but the State of California had special policies implemented that could “significantly improve this situation by using school children and college students help” (“State of California Environmental Programs”).

No page number

In the MLA-9 style, if there is no page number, you should use chapter or paragraph numbers. However, if there is not a clear indication of chapters or paragraphs in the source, you do not need to include them.

Multiple sources in one citation

In such a case, separate your citations by a semi-colon.

… according to multiple research methods (Allen 4; Downes 32).

Different authors with the same last name

If such an instance occurs, provide the first initials of both or all the authors.

PTSD disorder should be eliminated at early stages, as innovators think (R. Corn 11), and conservators believe that chemical treatment is efficient at any stage (V. Corn 45).

Multiple works from the same author

In such a case, you should also add the title of the book or the article in the MLA style.

• (Walden, “Artistic Creativity in Jazz Music” 32) [if it is an article]
• (Walden, Musical Theory in the Middle East 121) [if it is a book]

Two or more works by the same author in the same year

If such an instance occurs, distinguish the source by adding a lower-case letter after the year in the MLA Style.

The evidence traits have always led to fashion agencies (Laurens, 2005a)

Multivolume works

In such a case, ensure to include the volume number followed by colon and space.

… as Hicks pointed out in Alchimia Naturalle (1: 12-19)

Electronic sources

In case the author is unknown, it comes first in electronic source in-text citation. However, if there is no author, we start with a title.

Indirect sources

An indirect source is cited in another source. In such cases, use “qtd. in” to specify the source you are referring to.

Nash believes that Montessori schools are “too liberal in terms of Physics and Chemistry with a focus on needless art and creativity” (qtd. in Rudnick 231).

Works Citation Examples

The works cited page lists all your sources in alphabetical order by their titles or authors' names. This allows readers to easily find the source they want to look up more information about without having to read through all of your citations one by one.

Here’s a general format of the works cited page:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title in italics . Source or name of publisher, then the year of publishing.

Here are various MLA works citation types with examples.

According to MLA works cited format, if a source has multiple authors, place the authors' names in order as they appear in the journal or book.

Anderssen, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Guide to Teen Tutoring . Carol Publishing, 2000.

If there are three or more authors, mention only the first author, followed by the Latin phrase et al.

Anderssen, Neal Lerner, et al. The Teenage Rebels . University Press, 2007.

Journal Articles and Academic Journals

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal , Volume, Issue, Year, pages.

Brown, Linda. “Conflicting Interests: The Voice of Suburban America.” America’s Social Studies , vol. 11, no. 1, 2014, pp. 21-32.

Website MLA Citation

Editor, author, or organization’s name (if available). Name of Site . Version number, Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available), URL, DOI, or permalink. Date of your access (if applicable).

“Network Security in the State of Utah.” National Security Agency , 2007, nsa.gov/analysis/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2019.

Work in an Anthology

Author, First name. “Title.” Title of Collection , edited by Editor’s Name(s), Publisher, Year, Pages of entry.

Shakespeare, William. “Sonnet 13.” 50 Best-Loved Poems , edited by Philip Bunbury, Penguin Books, 20055, p. 156.

Social Media Citation

YouTube Citation Format:

Last name, First name of the Author. “Title of the film or video.” Title of the website , Publication date, URL.

NOTE: MLA 9th edition style format suggests using real names of the authors instead of nicknames or channel names.

Facebook Citation Format:

Author Last Name, First Name, or Account Name. Description of Post. Facebook , Day Month Year of Post, Time of Post, URL. Accessed Day Month Year post was viewed.

Twitter Citation Format:

Twitter Handle (First & Last Name if available). “The whole tweet copied.” Twitter , Day Month Year of Tweet, Time of Tweet, URL.

Blogs and Magazines

Author or Username (if a real name is not available). “Title of Blog Post.” Name of Blog , Blog Network/Publisher, Day Month Year of the blog post, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Songs Citation

Artist or band name. “Song title in quotation marks.” Album name italicized, Recording manufacturer, publication date.

Movie Citation

Film title. Name of the director, Studio or distributor, release year. If relevant, list performer names after the director’s name.

Lectures and Presentations

Speaker name. “Title of a speech (if available) in quotation marks.” Title of the particular conference or a meeting, name of an organization. Venue and city. Description.

These are some of the many types of work citation types present. And the best part is that you need not remember all these citation formats. Just head over to an MLA Citation Generator and get your citations in a jiffy.

What is MLA Format?

MLA format is a citation style created by the Modern Language Association and used primarily in the humanities to cite sources. It is similar to APA (American Psychological Association) and Chicago (The Chicago Manual of Style) formats - with all three using parenthetical citations to document sources. The key difference between MLA and other citation styles is that MLA allows users to create their footnotes and endnotes within a text.

In MLA format paper, the writer includes a title page that includes information about the source being cited, including its author(s), title, publication date and location (if relevant), publisher's name, volume number, and inclusive page numbers if applicable. The writer then lists all other works cited in alphabetical order on pages that follow directly after the title page. Each entry includes basic bibliographic information about each source, following standard rules for formatting such as punctuation and capitalization requirements. In addition, some entries may include more specialized elements such as annotations or quotations from an article or book chapter.

By now you would have ideally got a good idea about MLA Citation and MLA Format. Before we jump further, it's equally important for you as a scholar or researcher to learn about 'citation' and why does is actually matter.

What is a Citation?

Citation, as defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, is "the act of citing or referencing," but what does this essentially mean? The citation refers to how people acknowledge that a source of information has been used in the writing of their work.

Citation is a reference to any type of information that has been used in research. It helps you acknowledge where your ideas come from and helps others build upon your work. It is an integral part of academic integrity. Without citation, research would be an exercise in guessing what sources might have influenced another person's work.

Why does Citation Matter?

Citations have become increasingly important with the advent of online databases like Google Scholar and JSTOR. These sources have made it easier than ever for researchers to verify the facts and figures used within their papers. However, even though it might be easy to track down information on the web, this does not mean that authors should feel free to copy and paste any piece of information they find without citing its original source.

Citation is an important part of academia and intellectual integrity. It is the formal way to acknowledge that you used information from a source. The purpose of citation is to attribute credit to a source or sources for your research. Citations allow others reading your work to know where you found the information that you used. It provides evidence that you did not steal someone else's work and claimed it as your own, hence giving credit to those who are the original creators of the information. In addition, it helps create a more professional image for yourself within your academic institution by demonstrating initiative and citing all resources used in any research project.

In a nutshell, citations help you avoid any remote chances of plagiarism.

Interested in getting in-depth knowledge on plagiarism? Refer to our Plagiarism Guide and learn more.

Components of a Citation

The three most common pieces of information that are included in citations are — the author's name, the title of the work, and the publication of the information.

Author: The author's last name and first initial (or initials) followed by the year of publication.

Title: The title of the article is in italics.

Publication Information: The name of the journal or magazine, volume number, issue number, pages, date accessed, and URL (if available).

It is important to note that other factors may be included in citations as well, for example, if a quote from a certain text is used within another text or if a certain work is being cited multiple times within another work. This differs from one discipline to another; for example, citations in history textbooks may differ from those in literature textbooks.

MLA Citation - General Rules (9th Edition)

If you already know the basic rules of MLA 8th edition citing and basic MLA guidelines, you will already know the common formatting that must be applied. What has changed for the most part in the MLA 9th edition relates to inclusive language and the “Works Cited and Consulted” tag for your Bibliography page.

Listed below are some general rules for MLA Citation Format 9th edition.

When you type a paper, be sure to print it on a computer using a standard white 8.5 x 11 inches document.

Double-space your text, and use Times New Roman or Arial as the font.

The recommended font size for a document is 12 pt.

Punctuation marks should be followed by only one space unless otherwise specified.

In MLA format, margins are set to 1 inch on all sides.

Your first line paragraph should be indented half an inch from the left margin. Use the tab key to do this.

The header should contain a page number in the upper right-hand corner of every page unless specified otherwise.

When using longer sources, always use italics when referring to the title of the source or when noting the thesis statement.

Footnotes or endnotes should be listed on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Such a section should be centered, unformatted, and named “Notes.”

The title page is not required for an MLA paper unless requested by your instructor. If you are instructed to include a title page, use the MLA Title Page Generator to avoid mistakes.

The title of the paper should be centered. The shortening of the title is acceptable if it does not change the meaning of the title, according to MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

Remember to create a header with your last name in the upper right-hand corner, followed by a space and then the page number.

In MLA 9, seasons are not capitalized in Works Cited entries (Autumn, Summer, Spring, or Winter). They do not relate to the months of the year.

MLA Citation Generator — Every Researchers One Stop Solution

What is mla citation generator.

MLA Citation Generator is a free tool that allows you to create a citation for your research paper in MLA format. It is a free tool that generates citations and bibliographies for books, articles, websites, and more. You can create a citation for any source in seconds. Simply enter the name of the source, select an appropriate template and click "Generate." You can also use the tool to create a bibliography.

Who can use MLA Citation Generator?

This tool is designed for anyone who needs to create a bibliography or reference list in MLA style. It is especially useful for students conducting research in college or university courses that require MLA-style citations. This tool will help you understand how to add citations properly to your work and avoid plagiarism issues. In addition, it can also be used by professors who want to make sure their students cite their sources correctly. If you plan on publishing any of your written work or submitting it as part of an assignment, then you will want to make sure it follows this standard format by using this tool!

Why use MLA Citation Generator?

The main reason for students, scholars, and researchers to opt for a tool like MLA Citation Generator is the scarcity of time or resources to look up citations themselves and to avoid incorrect citations. It also eliminates any potential problems caused by misspelling a source's name or other information about it, which is common when writing manually in MLA-style format. Some of the prominent advantages of an MLA Citation Generator tool include:

• It's fast: You don't have to spend hours manually typing out each entry for every source you need to cite. With just a few clicks of your mouse, your citations will be done!
• It's accurate: MLA Formatting guidelines are followed closely by this generator, so there will never be any mistakes or issues with formatting or spacing when using it! The generator also double-checks each citation to make sure it looks exactly like one should look.

With SciSpace, you do not need a word template to create a generic template for MLA. The platform helps automatically format your research paper to MLA formatting guidelines and citation style. Finally, you can download a submission-ready research paper in pdf, LaTeX, and Docx formats. Sounds cool, right? Try SciSpace Generic Template for MLA format today.

The Final Word

Citations are the backbone of academic writing. They show your work has been reviewed, give credit for any borrowed material, and provide an easy way to track down sources if you need them again. But citations can be hard to create, especially when you're first starting.

One of the best ways to avoid problems with citations is to use an MLA Citation Generator. This tool will generate a properly formatted citation based on your chosen source material in seconds. You can then copy and paste it straight into your paper or project.

SciSpace offers an online citation generator tool that allows you to create citations in MLA format quickly and easily. You don’t need to know the exact citation rules or how to use them – just enter the information needed by the system, and it will do all the work for you! Also, we've created a comparison blog to help you decide pick the right citation generator. Take a look at it here !

Thank you for coming this far! Hope the guide helped you get a fair understanding of MLA Citation and the necessary guidelines around MLA Formatting.

Before You Leave

SciSpace provides researchers, universities, and publishers with all the tools they need. One such tool is SciSpace Discover which can be a useful for researchers, universities, and publishers interested in scholarly writing and publishing.  There are over 200 million research papers in our research repository across multiple disciplines with search engine optimized abstracts, a publicly visible profile that highlights your expertise, a specially designed collaborative text editor, 20,000+ journal templates, and much more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. what is the mla citation format for a website.

MLA style requires that you include all the required information in your works cited entries, including the author’s name, the title of the page (in quotation marks), the name of the website (in italics), the publication date, and the URL (without “https://”).

2. Why should you use MLA citation format in your work?

Using MLA citation while writing papers help your instructor or professor understand your work and also assists in reducing the chances of you plagiarizing someone else's ideas.

3. What are the main formatting features of MLA citation?

MLA citation format consists of the following basic elements — Author's Last Name, First Name; "Title of Source"; Title of Container; Other Contributors; Version, Numbers, Publisher, Publication Date, Location.

4. What is the key difference between MLA and APA styles?

The main differences between the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA) citation styles are how title pages, in-text citations, and reference lists are created. While MLA uses author-page numbering for in-text citations, APA uses author-date style.

5. Can I check my MLA paper for accuracy?

One of the faster and more accurate ways to check your paper for accuracy and MLA citations is by using the SciSpace Generic Template for MLA Format.

6. What version of MLA style should I use?

MLA 9 is the latest version of the MLA citation and comes with significant improvements over the earlier MLA 8 edition. MLA 9 provides ample guidance on both in-text citation and works cited list. MLA 9 offers 333 sample citations as compared to 164 offered by MLA 8.

7. What information should I include in an MLA Works Cited entry?

A standard MLA Works Cited entry consists of the following nine core elements. Author. “Title of the Source.” Title of the Container, Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location. It’s important to note that out of these nine elements, you should only include the information that is relevant to your work.

8. What are the 3 main components of MLA formating style?

The MLA format requires that your paper include the following elements: a body, (if applicable) footnotes, and a works cited page.

9. Why aren’t URLs accepted as sources in MLA format?

The latest edition of the MLA Handbook advises including URLs in works-cited-list entries for online works, but it also cautions readers to consider several drawbacks: they can cause clutter, become obsolete, and have limited use in a print work. URLs may also be inaccessible when the pages to which they refer are behind a paywall.

10. Why are MLA citations important?

MLA Style is the most commonly used style among academic writers because it allows readers to identify and trace citations in a text. Most editors and instructors encourage everyone to use MLA Style so there is consistency of style within a given field.

11. What is the purpose of MLA style?

MLA Style is one of the standard styles used in academic writing, and it has rules for students to follow when writing and formatting papers. Using MLA Style not only helps your instructors read and understand your work, but the act of creating citations and citing sources helps prevent plagiarism.

12. For which area is MLA commonly used?

MLA style is the most commonly used citation style in the language arts, cultural studies, and other humanities disciplines.

13. How do you cite in text MLA?

MLA in-text citation style uses the author's last name and the page number from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken.

14. How do you introduce a citation MLA?

According to the MLA Handbook, one should begin a quotation with an introductory phrase naming the source and follow it with a comma. If you change the case of a letter in a quotation, you must indicate this with brackets.

15. What are the 9 core elements of an MLA citation?

All MLA citations will follow a template of applicable core elements: author, title, container, contributors, version, number, publisher, date, and location.

16. What is standard MLA format?

Use 8 ½ x 11” white paper with one-inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides. The first word in every paragraph should be indented ½” from the left margin. Block quotations should be indented 1" from the left margin. Use a font that is easy to read, such as Times New Roman.

17. What are the two types of research according to MLA?

When writing a research paper, you can choose between two types: an informational paper and an analytical paper. An informational paper presents factual information in a coherent and organized way. An analytical paper includes your own analysis of the topic, as well as research findings from primary and secondary sources.

18. What are the two parts of MLA documentation?

The two most important things to learn about the Modern Language Association parenthetical documentation system are how to compose a list of works cited and how to cite these sources in your paper.

19. How do you write an outline in MLA format?

To write an MLA outline, draft your thesis statement and place it at the beginning of the paper. Then list major points to support your ideas and arguments with Roman numerals. Follow each point with a capital letter label for easier organization of your ideas.

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Home » Table of Contents – Types, Formats, Examples

Table of Contents – Types, Formats, Examples

Table of Contents

Definition:

Table of contents (TOC) is a list of the headings or sections in a document or book, arranged in the order in which they appear. It serves as a roadmap or guide to the contents of the document, allowing readers to quickly find specific information they are looking for.

A typical table of contents includes chapter titles, section headings, subheadings, and their corresponding page numbers.

The table of contents is usually located at the beginning of the document or book, after the title page and any front matter, such as a preface or introduction.

Table of Contents in Research

In Research, A Table of Contents (TOC) is a structured list of the main sections or chapters of a research paper , Thesis and Dissertation . It provides readers with an overview of the organization and structure of the document, allowing them to quickly locate specific information and navigate through the document.

Importance of Table of Contents

Here are some reasons why a TOC is important:

• Navigation : It serves as a roadmap that helps readers navigate the document easily. By providing a clear and concise overview of the contents, readers can quickly locate the section they need to read without having to search through the entire document.
• Organization : A well-structured TOC reflects the organization of the document. It helps to organize the content logically and categorize it into easily digestible chunks, which makes it easier for readers to understand and follow.
• Clarity : It can help to clarify the document’s purpose, scope, and structure. It provides an overview of the document’s main topics and subtopics, which can help readers to understand the content’s overall message.
• Efficiency : This can save readers time and effort by allowing them to skip to the section they need to read, rather than having to go through the entire document.
• Professionalism : Including a Table of Contents in a document shows that the author has taken the time and effort to organize the content properly. It adds a level of professionalism and credibility to the document.

Types of Table of Contents

There are different types of table of contents depending on the purpose and structure of the document. Here are some examples:

Simple Table of Contents

This is a basic table of contents that lists the major sections or chapters of a document along with their corresponding page numbers.

Example: Table of Contents

I. Introduction …………………………………………. 1

II. Literature Review ………………………………… 3

III. Methodology ……………………………………… 6

IV. Results …………………………………………….. 9

V. Discussion …………………………………………. 12

VI. Conclusion ……………………………………….. 15

Expanded Table of Contents

This type of table of contents provides more detailed information about the contents of each section or chapter, including subsections and subheadings.

A. Background …………………………………….. 1

B. Problem Statement ………………………….. 2

C. Research Questions ……………………….. 3

II. Literature Review ………………………………… 5

A. Theoretical Framework …………………… 5

B. Previous Research ………………………….. 6

C. Gaps and Limitations ……………………… 8 I

II. Methodology ……………………………………… 11

A. Research Design ……………………………. 11

B. Data Collection …………………………….. 12

C. Data Analysis ……………………………….. 13

IV. Results …………………………………………….. 15

A. Descriptive Statistics ……………………… 15

B. Hypothesis Testing …………………………. 17

V. Discussion …………………………………………. 20

A. Interpretation of Findings ……………… 20

B. Implications for Practice ………………… 22

VI. Conclusion ……………………………………….. 25

A. Summary of Findings ……………………… 25

B. Contributions and Recommendations ….. 27

Graphic Table of Contents

This type of table of contents uses visual aids, such as icons or images, to represent the different sections or chapters of a document.

I. Introduction …………………………………………. [image of a light bulb]

II. Literature Review ………………………………… [image of a book]

III. Methodology ……………………………………… [image of a microscope]

IV. Results …………………………………………….. [image of a graph]

V. Discussion …………………………………………. [image of a conversation bubble]

Alphabetical Table of Contents

This type of table of contents lists the different topics or keywords in alphabetical order, along with their corresponding page numbers.

A. Abstract ……………………………………………… 1

B. Background …………………………………………. 3

C. Conclusion …………………………………………. 10

D. Data Analysis …………………………………….. 8

E. Ethics ……………………………………………….. 6

F. Findings ……………………………………………… 7

G. Introduction ……………………………………….. 1

H. Hypothesis ………………………………………….. 5

I. Literature Review ………………………………… 2

J. Methodology ……………………………………… 4

K. Limitations …………………………………………. 9

L. Results ………………………………………………… 7

M. Discussion …………………………………………. 10

Hierarchical Table of Contents

This type of table of contents displays the different levels of headings and subheadings in a hierarchical order, indicating the relative importance and relationship between the different sections.

    A. Background …………………………………….. 2

      B. Purpose of the Study ……………………….. 3

      A. Theoretical Framework …………………… 5

             1. Concept A ……………………………….. 6

                    a. Definition ………………………….. 6

                     b. Example ……………………………. 7

              2. Concept B ……………………………….. 8

       B. Previous Research ………………………….. 9

III. Methodology ……………………………………… 12

       A. Research Design ……………………………. 12

             1. Sample ……………………………………. 13

               2. Procedure ………………………………. 14

       B. Data Collection …………………………….. 15

            1. Instrumentation ……………………….. 16

            2. Validity and Reliability ………………. 17

       C. Data Analysis ……………………………….. 18

          1. Descriptive Statistics …………………… 19

           2. Inferential Statistics ………………….. 20

IV. Result s …………………………………………….. 22

    A. Overview of Findings ……………………… 22

B. Hypothesis Testing …………………………. 23

V. Discussion …………………………………………. 26

A. Interpretation of Findings ………………… 26

B. Implications for Practice ………………… 28

VI. Conclusion ……………………………………….. 31

A. Summary of Findings ……………………… 31

B. Contributions and Recommendations ….. 33

Table of Contents Format

Here’s an example format for a Table of Contents:

I. Introduction

C. Methodology

II. Background

A. Historical Context

B. Literature Review

III. Methodology

A. Research Design

B. Data Collection

C. Data Analysis

IV. Results

A. Descriptive Statistics

B. Inferential Statistics

C. Qualitative Findings

V. Discussion

A. Interpretation of Results

B. Implications for Practice

C. Limitations and Future Research

VI. Conclusion

A. Summary of Findings

B. Contributions to the Field

C. Final Remarks

VII. References

VIII. Appendices

Note : This is just an example format and can vary depending on the type of document or research paper you are writing.

When to use Table of Contents

A TOC can be particularly useful in the following cases:

• Lengthy documents : If the document is lengthy, with several sections and subsections, a Table of contents can help readers quickly navigate the document and find the relevant information.
• Complex documents: If the document is complex, with multiple topics or themes, a TOC can help readers understand the relationships between the different sections and how they are connected.
• Technical documents: If the document is technical, with a lot of jargon or specialized terminology, This can help readers understand the organization of the document and locate the information they need.
• Legal documents: If the document is a legal document, such as a contract or a legal brief, It helps readers quickly locate specific sections or provisions.

How to Make a Table of Contents

Here are the steps to create a table of contents:

• Organize your document: Before you start making a table of contents, organize your document into sections and subsections. Each section should have a clear and descriptive heading that summarizes the content.
• Add heading styles : Use the heading styles in your word processor to format the headings in your document. The heading styles are usually named Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, and so on. Apply the appropriate heading style to each section heading in your document.
• Insert a table of contents: Once you’ve added headings to your document, you can insert a table of contents. In Microsoft Word, go to the References tab, click on Table of Contents, and choose a style from the list. The table of contents will be inserted into your document.
• Update the table of contents: If you make changes to your document, such as adding or deleting sections, you’ll need to update the table of contents. In Microsoft Word, right-click on the table of contents and select Update Field. Choose whether you want to update the page numbers or the entire table, and click OK.

Purpose of Table of Contents

A table of contents (TOC) serves several purposes, including:

• Marketing : It can be used as a marketing tool to entice readers to read a book or document. By highlighting the most interesting or compelling sections, a TOC can give readers a preview of what’s to come and encourage them to dive deeper into the content.
• Accessibility : A TOC can make a document or book more accessible to people with disabilities, such as those who use screen readers or other assistive technologies. By providing a clear and organized overview of the content, a TOC can help these readers navigate the material more easily.
• Collaboration : This can be used as a collaboration tool to help multiple authors or editors work together on a document or book. By providing a shared framework for organizing the content, a TOC can help ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals.
• Reference : It can serve as a reference tool for readers who need to revisit specific sections of a document or book. By providing a clear overview of the content and organization, a TOC can help readers quickly locate the information they need, even if they don’t remember exactly where it was located.

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Basic, MLA & APA Table of Contents Examples

• Janelle Martel
• Categories : Help with writing assignments paragraphs, essays, outlines & more
• Tags : Homework help & study guides

Introduction

A table of contents is best used in a paper that can be divided into sections or chapters. Creating a table of contents seems like a simple idea, but can often be frustrating due to the rules of spacing or style issues. This article will give you examples of MLA, Basic and APA table of contents examples. A basic table of contents can be used when no style type is specified, whereas an APA styletable of contents is mostly used in the social sciences, and the MLA style in literature.

Basic Table of Contents

We will first examine a basic style followed by the APA and MLA formats. A basic table of contents should show what topics have been covered in your writing or story, and how your piece has been organized. Each major section or chapter should be recognized in your table of contents, along with the page number it is located on. In terms of reports that contain large sections, it can be useful to use descriptive headlines, so that the reader is easily able to locate the information he or she is looking for. If each section of this article was a separate page, the table of contents would look like this: Table of Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………..1 Basic Table of Contents………………………………………….2 APA Style Table of Contents………………………………….3 MLA Style Table of Contents…………………………………4 Notice how each entry in this table of contents uses capital letters, just as the title of the section does. Lining up the page numbers also makes a visually pleasing table and is easier to read. Word processing programs often have formatting in order to create a nicely spaced table of contents. Although not necessary, in this example an entry with descriptive headlines would look like this: Basic Table of Contents Description\Heading…………………………………………………………3 Example……………………………………………………………3

APA Table of Contents Style

The use of tables of contents in APA-style papers varies, depending on the type of paper that is being written. A literature review usually does not contain a table of contents, but instead contains a standard title page, introduction, and list of references. It would be divided into sections and is thus suitable for a table of contents, which would look something like this: Table of Contents Abstract…………………………………………………………….2 Introduction……………………………………………………..4 Method…………………………………………………………….5 Results………………………………………………………………8 Tables……………………………………………………………..10 References………………………………………………………12 Note that in APA style the table of contents, the title is not underlined or bolded and an APA table of contents must contain an abstract and list of references. Though not shown in the example, the general formatting for APA style must also be followed. Papers written in APA style will most likely make good use of descriptive headlines in its table of contents.

MLA Table of Contents Style

If the paper is long enough, an MLA style paper can have a table of contents. There is also no method for breaking up text in the MLA format, so this is left to your discretion and would depend on the content. Suggested sections include Acknowledgments, Foreword, Introduction, Body (Parts I, II, III), Summary or Conclusion, Afterward, Explanatory Notes, Appendices, Contact Organizations, Glossary, Endnotes (if not using Footnotes or Parenthetical citations), Bibliography, and Index. A title page should also be included, but will not be numbered, unless it is on the same page as the main page of text. Remember also that an MLA style paper requires a list of illustrations and tables. This is similar to the table of contents, but you still need to include this page on your table of contents. A title page in MLA Style might look like this: Contents Introduction……………………………………………………..2 Arts…………………………………………………………………..5 Government…………………………………………………….8 Works Cited……………………………………………………10

References & Further Reading

APA Style Guide MLA Syle Guide

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Last Updated: Aug 09, 2023 Views: 3123

No. MLA Style does not include a table of contents when writing a research paper. 

To see how a MLA paper should be formatted please visit the  Formatting a Research Paper page This link opens in a new window . You can also download a  sample MLA paper This link opens in a new window  from the Online Writing Center.

More Information

• MLA Guide  (Shapiro Library)
• MLA (8th Ed.) Research paper Basics This link opens in a new window  (Hoonuit - log in using your SNHU email username and password)

Further Help

This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Please be sure to speak to your professor about the appropriate way to format your paper in your class assignments and projects.

Campus Students

To access academic support, visit your Brightspace course and select “Tutoring and Mentoring” from the Academic Support pulldown menu.

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How to Write a Table of Contents for Different Formats With Examples

11 December 2023

last updated

Rules that guide academic writing are specific to each paper format. However, some rules apply to all styles – APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard. Basically, one of these rules is the inclusion of a Table of Contents (TOC) in an academic text, particularly long ones, like theses, dissertations, and research papers. When writing a TOC, students or researchers should observe some practices regardless of paper formats. Also, it includes writing the TOC on a new page after the title page, numbering the first-level and corresponding second-level headings, and indicating the page number of each entry. Hence, scholars need to learn how to write a table of contents in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard styles.

General Guidelines

When writing academic texts, such as theses, dissertations, and other research papers, students observe academic writing rules as applicable. Generally, the different paper formats – APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard – have specific standards that students must follow in their writing. In this case, one of the rules is the inclusion of a Table of Contents (TOC) in the document. By definition, a TOC is a roadmap that scholars provide in their writing, outlining each portion of a paper. In other words, a TOC enables readers to locate specific information in documents or revisit favorite parts within written texts. Moreover, this part of academic papers provides readers with a preview of the paper’s contents.

For writing your paper, these links will be helpful:

• Buy Research Paper
• How to Write a Research Paper
• How to Write a Research Proposal
• How to Write a Term Paper
• How to Write a Case Study

Difference Between a Table of Contents and an Outline

In essence, a TOC is a description of first-level headings (topics) and second-level headings (subtopics) within the paper’s body. For a longer document, writers may also include third-level titles to make the text palatable to read. Ideally, the length of papers determines the depth that authors go into detailing their writing in TOCs. Basically, this feature means that shorter texts may not require third-level headings. In contrast, an essay outline is a summary of the paper’s main ideas with a hierarchical or logical structuring of the content. Unlike a TOC that only lists headings and subheadings, outlines capture these headings and then describe the content briefly under each one. As such, an outline provides a more in-depth summary of essay papers compared to a TOC.

How to Write a Table of Contents in APA

When writing a TOC in the APA format , writers should capture all the headings in the paper – first-level, second-level, and even third-level. Besides this information, they should also include an abstract, references, and appendices. Notably, while a TOC in the APA style has an abstract, this section is not necessary for the other formats, like MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard. Hence, an example of a Table of Contents written in the APA format is indicated below:

How to Write a Table of Contents in MLA

Unlike papers written in the APA style, MLA papers do not require a Table of Contents unless they are long enough. In this case, documents, like theses, dissertations, and books written in the MLA format should have a TOC. Even where a TOC is necessary, there is no specific method that a writer should use when writing it. In turn, the structure of the TOC is left to the writer’s discretion. However, when students have to include a TOC in their papers, the information they capture should be much more than what would appear in the APA paper . Hence, an example of writing a Table of Contents in MLA format is:

In the case of writing a research paper, an example of a Table of Contents should be:

How to Write a Table of Contents in Chicago/Turabian

Like the MLA style, a Chicago/Turabian paper does not require writing a Table of Contents unless it is long enough. When a TOC is necessary, writers should capitalize on major headings. Additionally, authors do not need to add a row of periods (. . . . . . . .) between the heading entry and the page number. Moreover, the arrangement of the content should start with the first-level heading, then the second-level heading, and, finally, the third-level title, just like in the APA paper. In turn, all the information that precedes the introduction part should have lowercase Roman numerals. Also, the row of periods is only used for major headings. Hence, an example of writing a Table of Contents in a Chicago/Turabian paper is:

How to Write a Table of Contents in Harvard

Like in the other formats, writing a Table of Contents in the Harvard style is captured by having the title “Table of Contents” at the center of the page, in the first line. Basically, it comes after the title page and captures all the sections and subsections of Harvard papers. In other words, writers must indicate first-level headings in a numbered list. Also, scholars should align titles to the left side and capitalize them. In turn, if there is a need to show second-level headings, authors should list them under corresponding first-level headings by using bullet points. However, it is essential for students not to disrupt the numbering of first-level headings. Moreover, writers should align second-level headings to the left side and indent them by half an inch and capitalize on this content. Hence, an example of writing a Table of Contents in a Harvard paper should appear as below:

A Table of Content (TOC) is an essential component of an academic paper , particularly for long documents, like theses, dissertations, and research papers. When students are writing a TOC, they should be careful to follow the applicable format’s rules and standards. Regardless of the format, writers should master the following tips when writing a TOC:

• Write the TOC on a new page after the title page.
• Indicate first-level headings of the document in a numbered list.
• Indicate second-level headings under the corresponding first-level heading.
• If applicable, indicate third-level headings under the corresponding second-level heading.
• Write the page number for each heading.
• Put the content in a two-column table.
• Title the page with “Table of Contents.”

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Mit essay prompts: free examples of writing assignments in 2024, how to cite a dictionary in mla 9: guidelines and examples.

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• 23 MLA Research Paper

Start-Up Activity

Ask students to envision the layout of a movie theater:

• A ticket window fronts the building.
• A ticket taker greets you at a turnstile or entry lane through which you enter a main atrium.
• Straight ahead are concessions.
• Beyond, you find hallways to doorways with signs marking which screens show which movies.

Moviegoers can easily navigate just about any theater.

Explain that the MLA system shares a similar goal. It provides a consistent format for research writing. In the past, student researchers could never be sure what format their instructors would want them to follow. That meant creating end notes and a complete bibliography in one class and a footnotes and a working bibliography in the next. The Modern Language Association alleviates some of the frustration and burden by establishing a stable set of rules for formatting papers and citing research. This chapter clarifies the rules outlined in the 8th edition of the MLA Handbook and provides a sample MLA paper so that students can see the rules in action.

Students should refer to these other chapters in the Research Center to help them complete their work:

• Conducting Research
• Summaries, Paraphrases, and Abstracts
• Writing the Research Paper

Think About It

“Your consistency says a lot about your commitment.”

– Rasheed Ogunlaru

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.8
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.7
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.6
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.3
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.9

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

Lafs.1112.w.3.8, lafs.1112.w.3.7, lafs.1112.w.2.6, lafs.1112.w.1.2, lafs.1112.ri.1.1, lafs.1112.ri.1.2, lafs.1112.ri.1.3, lafs.1112.ri.2.5, lafs.1112.w.3.9, teks covered in this chapter, 110.38.c.11.e, 110.38.c.11.f, 110.38.c.11.g, 110.39.c.11.e, 110.39.c.11.f, 110.39.c.11.g, 110.38.c.11, 110.39.c.11, 110.38.c.9.e, 110.39.c.9.e, 110.38.c.10.b, 110.39.c.10.b, 110.38.c.4.f, 110.38.c.5.c, 110.38.c.7.d.i, 110.39.c.4.f, 110.39.c.5.c, 110.39.c.7.d.i, 110.38.c.4.g, 110.38.c.5.d, 110.39.c.4.g, 110.39.c.5.d, 110.38.c.7.d.ii, 110.39.c.7.d.ii, 110.38.c.7.e.i, 110.39.c.7.e.i, 110.38.c.4.h, 110.39.c.4.h, page 318 from write for college, citing sources: mla in-text citations.

During the drafting phase or afterward (since most students will work with computers), teach students the Modern Language Association (MLA) standards for creating in-text citations. Emphasize that citations do two jobs:

• Give credit to sources for their ideas
• Help readers find the sources to explore the topic further

Lead students  through the items on this page, pausing at the last bullet point, which discusses punctuating in-text citations. Student writers often struggle to remember where to place end punctuation near citations. Stress that the end punctuation comes after the final parenthesis of the citation. Share these common punctuation errors : 

Doubled end punctuation

• Sherman Alexie has admitted he sees his reservation in Flannery O’Connor’s work . (Peterson 190) .

Misplaced end punctuation

• Sherman Alexie has admitted he sees his reservation in Flannery O’Connor’s work . (Peterson 190)

Sherman Alexie has admitted he sees his reservation in Flannery O’Connor’s work (Peterson 190 . )

Missing parenthesis

• Sherman Alexie has admitted he sees his reservation in Flannery O’Connor’s work (Peterson 190.

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Page 319 from Write for College

Model in-text citations.

The next two pages list examples of in-text citations for common types of sources. Students can refer to these pages when they need to cite source material used in their MLA papers.

For any in-text sources not mentioned in Write for College , refer students to an online resource such as the Purdue Online Writing Lab.

Page 320 from Write for College

Note the first sample citation on this page, "Work with No Known Author." Since Web sources often do not identify an author, students will follow this citation style for many of the Web sources cited in their papers. Let students know that the identifying word(s) they choose to include in quotation marks must clearly refer to an entry from the work-cited page but can be a shortened version of the source's title.

Page 321 from Write for College

Guidelines: mla works-cited list.

Teach students that the in-text citations point to a works-cited page, which gives complete information for each source. The MLA Style Manual, 8th Edition deemphasizes the mode of publication (print, Web, and so on) to instead focus on common elements across modes. This page and the next four describe the major parts of works-cited entries and offer examples of each one.

Read the explanation for each major element and lead students through the examples.

Page 322 from Write for College

Elements of works-cited entries.

Discuss the common elements of works-cited entries. All applicable elements should appear in a given entry, but some entries will not include one or more element.

Make sure students understand the difference between the "Title of Source" and "Title of Container." Every works-cited entry must include a source title, but not every entry will include a container. For larger works, like books and entire Web sites, the source title can stand alone because it also serves as the container.

Page 323 from Write for College

Elements of works-cited entries (cont.).

Note the "Optional Elements" at the bottom of this page. Previous MLA Style Guides included many of these optional elements, when mode of publication was key. Now, with the lines blurred for mode of publication (for example, Isaac Newton's first-printing markup of Principia Mathematica digitally scanned into Project Gutenberg), researchers have many routes to a single source. As with all other MLA citation rules, remind students that they should include optional elements that will help readers find the cited materials .

Page 324 from Write for College

Sample work-cited entries: print sources.

Refer students to this page to create works-cited entries for print sources (books, magazines, newspapers, etc.). If students use an online service such as EasyBib to generate their works-cited entries, make sure they check each entry against those on this page because errors may exist.

Page 325 from Write for College

Sample work-cited entries: electronic sources.

Refer students to this page to create works-cited entries for electronic sources (Web page, online newspaper, blog post, etc.). Students should visit the Purdue OWL for further information on any source type not listed on this page or the last.

Page 326 from Write for College

Mla formatting guidelines.

Closely review the MLA formatting guidelines with students. Point out each element in the sample MLA research paper on pages 327–334. Note: The sample paper does not include a block quotation.

Page 327 from Write for College

Sample mla research paper.

You can have volunteers read the research paper aloud, paragraph by paragraph, as you point out the features indicated in the side notes. However, because of the length and complexity of the report, you can also have students read it silently. Let them know that they will be expected to participate in a class discussion of the report afterward.

Page 328 from Write for College

Sample mla research paper (cont.).

Continue to review the sample paper.

Page 329 from Write for College

Continue to review the research paper.

Page 330 from Write for College

Page 331 from write for college, page 332 from write for college, page 333 from write for college.

After students finish reviewing the sample research paper, lead a discussion with questions like these:

• How does the writer get readers' attention at the beginning? (By comparing local tragedies to global tragedies, offering striking statistics, and introducing a way for individuals to apply business acumen to solve global problems.) Discuss how it is not uncommon for a writer to use multiple paragraphs to develop a thesis statement for a research paper, as demonstrated in the sample. 
• What causes led to the birth of social entrepreneurship?  (Industrialization separated business and social systems, breaking up multi-generational rural families into urbanized nuclear families. As a result, social systems suffered a crisis in cost-effectiveness. To solve the crisis, social sectors applied business lessons.)
• Which example of social entrepreneurship from the paper was most compelling to you? How so?
• What body paragraph is most effective? Cite evidence to defend your choice. (Answers will vary. However, direct students to the first full paragraph on page 329, which elaborates key ideas with multiple levels of details based on sourced material and original thinking.) 
• How does the writer wrap up the ideas in the final paragraph? (By relating the future of social entrepreneurship to its origins)

Page 334 from Write for College

Works-cited page.

Instead of having students read this page, lead them through the side notes, using the entries as examples. Students can find many more examples and deeper information on pages 321–325.

• 01 One Writer's Process
• 02 Traits of Writing
• 03 Prewriting
• 05 Revising
• 07 Publishing
• 08 Improving Sentences
• 09 Building Paragraphs
• 10 Mastering Essays
• 11 Writing with Style
• 12 Writing Terms and Techniques
• 13 Personal Writing
• 14 Narrative Writing
• 15 Explanatory Writing
• 16 Argument Writing
• 17 Literary Response Writing
• 18 Creative Writing
• 19 Conducting Research
• 20 Summaries, Paraphrases, and Abstracts
• 21 Report Writing
• 22 Writing the Research Paper
• 24 APA Research Paper
• 25 Writing in Science
• 26 Writing in Social Studies
• 27 Writing in Math
• 28 Writing in the Workplace
• 29 Reading Nonfiction
• 30 Reading Literature
• 31 Reading Graphics
• 32 Listening and Note Taking
• 33 Speaking Effectively
• 34 Building Vocabulary
• 35 Writing on Demand
• 36 Answering Document-Based Questions
• 37 Taking Exit and Entrance Exams
• 38 Taking Advanced Placement* Exams
• 39 Marking Punctuation
• 40 Checking Mechanics
• 41 Understanding Idioms
• 42 Using the Right Word
• 43 Parts of Speech
• 44 Using the Language
• 45 Student Almanac