Ready to turn in your completed explanatory essay? Be sure you have completed the Explanatory Essay Planning Guide as it is worth 4 points on the rubric for the final portfolio. You will turn in both the planning guide and essay into the dropbox. (2 Files) Don’t forget that you need to use MLA formatting. If you are unsure how to format your paper, please review the MLA Formatting & Style Guide.

It sounds like you're preparing to submit your explanatory essay along with the planning guide. Here are some pointers to ensure that both documents are polished and adhere to MLA formatting:

### MLA Formatting Guidelines:
1. **General Format:**
- Use a standard, readable font (e.g., Times New Roman) in 12-point size.
- Double-space your text, including any notes and the works cited page.
- Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.

2. **Header and Page Numbers:**
- Include a header in the upper right corner that contains your last name followed by the page number.
- On the first page, include your name, instructor’s name, course name, and date, all aligned to the left.

3. **Title:**
- Center the title of your essay, and do not underline, italicize, or place it in quotation marks.

4. **Citations:**
- Use in-text citations whenever you quote or paraphrase sources in your essay.
- Create a Works Cited page that follows MLA format at the end of your essay.

### Submitting Your Work:
- Make sure both your explanatory essay and the planning guide are saved in a compatible format (e.g., .docx, .pdf).
- Review both documents for any grammatical or formatting errors before submission.
- Clearly label each file: for example, "YourName_ExplanatoryEssay" and "YourName_PlanningGuide."

### Final Checklist Before Submission:
- [ ] Completed the Explanatory Essay Planning Guide.
- [ ] Ensured essay is formatted according to MLA guidelines.
- [ ] Included a Works Cited page if necessary.
- [ ] Edited for clarity, coherence, and grammar.
- [ ] Saved both files properly.
- [ ] Submitted them to the dropbox as required.

Following these steps will help ensure that your submission meets the requirements and presents your work effectively. Good luck!