Divide and Rule: How to Craft an Essay Cover Page Using Different Formats

No matter how many times we have been told not to judge a book by its cover, we still always do it. We are humans, after all, and have an indefinite penchant for everything beautiful, artistic, colorful, and glittery. And as shocking as it may sound, your college professors are the same. And that is the reason why you need to lure them into giving you good grades with the help of some eye candy, which, in this case, will be the cover page of your essay. Not that we recommend – or encourage it – but even if your essay is not exactly Ivy League material, you’ll still earn some brownie points for the efforts alone.

And how can you master the art of making an appealing essay cover page? By trying these different styles, of course:

• APA Style:

Here’s how an APA style essay cover page works:

1. 1. • The full title is placed in the very middle of the page and aligned centrally as well;
      • The personal details of the student, which includes name, institute name, and the date of submission goes at the bottom of the page. This is also center aligned;
      • The running head is the concise title of the essay which will also be in the header of every page in addition to being in the top left corner of the cover page, justified.

And, make sure you check and then recheck your cover page. It works both ways, you know, a cover page has as much power to disenchant as it has to impress. So, make no mistakes, or else your grades will go down, not with a whimper, but with a boom!

• Chicago Style:

If you opt for Chicago style for your essay cover page, follow this format:

1. 1. • The title of the essay is center aligned and is situated about one-third of the way down the page. It is neither underlined or bold;
      • Halfway down the page, mention your name in the center;
      • At the bottom of the page, about two-thirds down the page, mention the course number, a name of the instructor, and date (Month, Day, Year) on unconnected, separate lines.

This style format is usually used by the students of Business, History, and the Fine Arts. When formatted right, this style is enough to impress anyone.

• MLA Style:

In MLA Style, there is no separate cover unless it is mentioned specifically. The title and personal information are on the same page as the starting paragraphs of the essay. Here is the format:

1. 1. • The name of a student and the instructor are along with the course and the date. These should be written in the upper left-hand corner of the cover page;
      • The title is placed right after the date of submission. It is center aligned and double-spaced. Bold, italic, and underlining should not be tried on the title.

To be honest, MLA style cover is not that catchy, but it does show a thoughtful and more studious side of the student.

Not all styles are everyone’s cup of tea. So, once you have experimented with all these formats, you can stick to the one you like. Make sure that the professor is okay with it by asking him/her, “How to make my essay appropriate for the successful submission?”