This is a general guide with a particular focus on geography students wishing to set up essays that reflect the geographic way of doing things, including geographic-like examples. It includes information on title pages, some general information on essay writing style and format, and questions for review.
Title Pages
The MLA (Modern Language Association) handbook does not require title pages for research papers. However, a proper title page should contain the following:
- exact title of the paper e.g. The Olympics: A Political Event!
- instructor's name to whom the paper is submitted e.g. Submitted to:
- name of the writer e.g. Submitted by:
- the course name, code and period number e.g. World Issues, GWI, pd. 1
- name of the school
- the date of submission (late papers must have the date submitted, not the due date)
Question:
- what would your title page look like for an essay in progress?
Geographic Essay
In addition to general citations, there are instances that particularly apply to a geographic essay when you should acknowledge the source:
- statistical charts
- data for graphs
- diagrams and images
- data for maps if not from primary sources
When does a writer not need to acknowledge sources? Only when the material is common knowledge. Such information could be the population of cities or the whereabouts of a well known park. When in doubt, acknowledge the source.
Style and Format
In a geographic essay, the following style and format rules apply:
Rule #1:
All formal essays must be written in an impersonal essay format. This means that the writer's point of view must be maintained in the third person.
Question:
- Rewrite the following position in an 'impersonal essay format': "I feel that heartlands usually develop in areas which possess favorable qualities and grant good accessibility to markets."
Rule #2:
Maps and diagrams must be integrated into the text by either a direct reference or by a notation in parenthesis.
For example:
- The basic forms of the heartland-hinterland relationship are indicated graphically in Fig. 1.4, which distinguishes staple-producing hinterlands from an industrial heartland.
- About 73 percent of the heartland population is located in seventeen metro areas and large cities (Table 4.3 and Fig. 4.3)
Question:
- Write a sentence from your essay that integrates a map, graph or table into the text.
Rule #3:
The source for a map, image, graph or table are indicated below the item (see image)
Sources:
- Gibaldi, Joseph, and Walter S. Achtert. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 3rd ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2009.
- Hacker, Diana. A Canadian Writer's Reference. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford. St. Martin's 2004.
- Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 4th ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1973.
James Gibson - James Gibson is a retired teacher and small business owner. He is a published writer and has a wide spectrum of interests.
