\documentclass[12pt]{article} 
\usepackage{palatino,url}  
\begin{document} 
\section*{My first document} 
Hello! This is a short example of a \LaTeX\ document 
I wrote on \today. It shows a few simple features 
of automated typesetting, including
Throughout the book, Derrida discusses the importance of interrogating television 
and being aware of the affect and interpretation that occurs with media \cite{echographies}.

Style guides are good. \cite{strunk-and-white}

\begin{itemize} 
\item setting the default font to 12pt; 
\item specifing `article' type formatting; 
\item using the palatino typeface; 
\item adding special formatting for URLs; 
\end{itemize} 

\subsection*{More information} 

This example was taken from `Formatting Information,' 
which you can download from \url{http://www.silmaril.ie/downloads/} 
and use as a teach-yourself guide. 

\begin{center} 
\itshape Have a nice day! 
\end{center} 
\bibliography{theory}
\bibliographystyle{alpha}

\end{document}