An MLA thesis is a master’s level work of a certain length, usually 60-100 pages, that follows the Modern Language Association’s writing guidelines (MLA). A thesis can also be a shorter senior project completed before receiving a bachelor’s degree. As with the term thesis statement, this type of thesis may require MLA formatting or may serve as the primary point of argument in any length paper. Most humanities disciplines use the first type of MLA thesis, which is usually a requirement of graduation from a master’s program. Students in the social and natural sciences are more likely to use different citation and writing styles for their theses.
An MLA thesis can cover a wide range of topics, but all must follow the same formatting guidelines. When people write a creative thesis, there is one distinction. They could do a creative piece and then write a short paper (20-30 pages) about the process. Citations aren’t usually included in the creative portion, but they may be in the paper, and they must be in proper MLA format. MLA guidelines must also be followed for any type of bibliography, works cited, or consulted list.
MLA handbooks and guidelines specify how a page should appear in an MLA thesis, which represents a standard research project. They may specify margins on both sides of the page to the inch, line spacing to the millimeter, where the name should appear on a page, and whether or not pages should be numbered. MLA guidelines also explain how to cite different types of works and different lengths of quotations within the thesis and any accompanying works such as works cited lists or annotated bibliographies, as well as how to capitalize, italicize, underline, or put into quotations works of others mentioned in a paper. Though these citations may appear nitpicky, they are the industry standard for the individual’s field of study, and having a standard format allows everyone doing research to better understand the work of others.
Most students working on an MLA thesis are already familiar with the MLA format and have used it to write shorter research papers. Even with a larger body of research, it can be difficult to ensure that everything is properly formatted, and theses can be rejected due to noncompliance with guidelines. Anyone entering a graduate program that requires this format should master it as soon as possible, and many schools offer research seminars to assist students in becoming experts. Students should study the MLA format using guidebooks and online tools like Purdue’s O.W.L. even if they don’t have access to such a class. Familiarity with the format can pay off in the form of fewer potential errors in the final thesis.
Before an MLA thesis is accepted, it is read by an MLA expert at some schools. Getting to know teachers who are particularly knowledgeable about the form could be beneficial, as they could act as advisors during the early stages of thesis writing, pointing out errors to students.