How to Write an Essay Cover Page – MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard Formats

For an academic paper to get good marks, it must adhere to all set standards. A cover page for an essay is a requirement that must be met in almost all papers. However, the way the page is formatted depends on the citation style.

That is why students prefer to know how to do a cover page in any writing format. To help make the writing process easier and ensure good grades are attained, our professional writers have developed this guide.

This post is designed to help students, regardless of academic level, understand the correct way to write a cover page, be it in MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard style.

What Is a Cover Page?

It’s a representation of the author. It’s also known as a cover page and is the first thing the professor or teacher will see when they get your academic essay.

The format for the cover page for an essay will differ based on the citation style you are using. However, the content work to introduce your essay to the reader. Hence, your name, course, and the title of the essay should always appear on the cover page.

The purpose of formatting the cover page is to give it a formal appearance and give the reader what the essay is about and who the author is.

How to Make a Cover Page for an Essay

As aforementioned, the content that will appear on a cover page depends on the citation style selected. However, it should be simple. Here are the different types of cover pages and their formats.

 

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MLA Essay Cover Page Format

The MLA title page is the front page of an essay that lets the reader identify what the essay is about before reading the introduction. By formatting your paper correctly, it will have a professional look. However, in most institutions, the MLA format cover page is not required.

However, what differentiates MLA from other cover page formats is that it includes the university’s name at the top of the page, which is then centered. You have to skip to a third of the page before adding other information. Next, skip a few lines before adding the essay title at the middle of the page, followed by:

• Name of the author
• Course name and number
• Name of the professor
• Date

The most common formatting rules of an essay cover page are to have 1-inch margins, 12 point font Times New Roman and double or single-spaced depending on specifications provided.

APA Essay Cover Page Format

The cover page format for APA differs from any other style in that it has a running head positioned at the top left of the page. The header should not exceed 50 characters and must be capitalized. The page number is inserted on the right side.

The title should be within 12 words and should not contain any abbreviations. Hence, the title alone should not exceed two lines. Furthermore, the title should be in title case.

Looking at a well-written APA format cover page example from our writing service will help you understand the correct format to use. After the title, the following content should be added:

• Name of author
• Institution
• Date

Compared to another formatting style, the APA cover page has a running head, and the contents are centered. The author’s education qualification and any titles they have are not included on this cover page.

Chicago Essay Cover Page Format

How do you make a cover page for an essay in Chicago? The cover page should be the first section of the essay. The title of the essay should appear first in the middle of the page. Ensure it’s halfway down. Under the title, add your name and center it.

The teacher’s name follows and then the course title. Space three lines and add the date of submission and center it. The cover page essay for this format should not be bold, underline, or use a fancy font. Instead, stick to Ariel or Times New Roman, 12 size and double spaced.

Unless the instructions given by your teacher specify otherwise. The correct Chicago essay cover page will not have a page number or running head and is not included in the total page count.

Harvard Essay Cover Page

The title page for essays in Harvard has a specific format. It starts with a header section containing the shortened version of the essay. The information is aligned to the right ad preceded by a page number. Halfway through the page, the title written in all capital letters is added and centered.

The author’s name is added three lines from the title, and four lines down the course name, code, name of professor, university name, the city the university is located, and date of submission are added.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are more common questions that students tend to ask to know more about the different types of cover page formats.

How do I do a cover page for an essay?

First, read the instructions provided by your professor to know the specified formatting style. Then ensure the cover page is the first page that the reader will see and include all relevant information such as the title of the essay, your name, and due date. In some formatting styles, such as APA and Chicago, you have to include a running head and page number.

What should an essay cover page look like?

It should be simple, straightforward, and have a professional look. Avoid any abbreviations or unnecessary words that might crowd the page.

How do you do a cover page in MLA format?

It should start with the university’s name, followed by the essay’s title, your name, course name, number, professor’s name, and end with the due date.

What do you put on a title page for an essay?

The title should be short and summarize what the essay is about. It should be in title case and at the information centered. The basic information to include in a title or cover page is the title, name of the author, course, and date.

A cover page will not be mandatory in every assignment. That is why it’s essential to read all the provided instructions before you begin writing an essay. Remember, some professors will deduct marks if the cover page is included or fails to follow a specific format. Should you require help formatting your essay in any style, our expert essay writers will always come in handy.