MLA style, or the Modern Language Association style, is a citation and formatting style used in the fields of the humanities, particularly in the writing of research papers. An appendix is a section at the end of a document that provides supplementary or additional information to the main text. In an MLA-style research paper, the appendix is used to include material that is not directly relevant to the main argument of the paper, but may be of interest to the reader or provide further context for the research.
There are a few general guidelines to follow when including an appendix in an MLA-style paper.
First, the appendix should be labeled as such and numbered consecutively, either as "Appendix 1," "Appendix 2," etc. or with letters (e.g. "Appendix A," "Appendix B"). The appendix should be placed at the end of the paper, after the Works Cited list.
Second, each appendix should have a title that clearly indicates its content. For example, if the appendix includes a survey questionnaire, the title could be "Survey Questionnaire." If the appendix includes an excerpt from a primary source, the title could be "Excerpt from [Name of Source]."
Third, the content of the appendix should be formatted according to MLA style guidelines. This includes using double spacing, one-inch margins, and a clear and readable font, such as Times New Roman. Any text within the appendix should be cited in the same way as text in the main body of the paper, using in-text citations and a Works Cited list.
Fourth, it is important to keep in mind that the appendix is not a central part of the paper and should only be included if it is necessary to provide additional information or context. If the appendix is excessively long or contains material that is directly relevant to the main argument of the paper, it may be better to incorporate it into the main body of the paper.
Overall, the appendix is a useful tool for providing additional information in an MLA-style research paper. By following the guidelines outlined above, you can effectively use an appendix to provide context and supplementary material for your research.