Creating a Template

  1. Open a new blank template document: File > New > My Templates > Blank Document > Template > OK
  2. Select All (Ctrl + A) and then change the style to the “No Spacing” Style: Home Tab > Styles Group > ¶ No Spacing
  3. Change the Line Spacing to 2 (or double spacing): Home Tab > Paragraph Group > Line Spacing Icon > 2
  4. Change the font to Times New Roman and the font size to 12. These are the defaults used for proper MLA format.
  5. Change the margins to “normal” which is one-inch margins around the entire page.
  6. Type your name (first and last names) on the first line of the document.
  7. Insert a header that includes your last name and then the command to insert the page number. The header will appear on each page of the report, but the page number will change to the current page.

    ·        Double-click in the top margin area (this will also open the header feature)!

    ·        Change the font to Times New Roman and the font size to 12: Home Tab > Font Group > Font & Size

    ·        Change the alignment to “right”: Home Tab > Paragraph Group > Align Text Right icon

    ·        Key your Last Name followed by a space

    ·        Have Word automatically insert the page number: Header & Footer Tools Design Tab > Header & Footer Group > Page Number > Current Position > Simple Plain Number

    ·        Close Header (icon on toolbar or double click on main portion of document.

  8. Return after your name and key the name of your teacher.
  9. Return after your teacher’s name and key the name of the class, in this case Microsoft Office TC.
  10. Return after the class and enter a “dynamic” date on the next line. This will update the date automatically to reflect the current date!

    ·        Insert Tab > Text Group > Quick Parts > Field

    ·        Find the “Date” option in the Field list

    ·        Select the date format that displays in the format “4 September 2011”

    ·        OK

  11. Return after the date
  12. The title will be centered on this next line.

    ·        Home Tab > Paragraph Group > Center icon

    ·        Key “Title” for now (this will change depending on your topic).

    ·        Return

    Change the alignment back to left align. This is where the paragraphs of your report will begin!
  13. Save as a Template that can be used over and over again…

·        File > Save As > Change to your H: directory > Change the file name to MLA Template > Change the file type to Word Template > Save > Close