Here are the common formatting guidelines for names in essays:
* Italicize book titles, movie titles, journal names, and other long works.
* Use quotation marks for short works like poems, songs, short stories, articles, and chapters.
* Use regular font for people's names, places, and most other things.
Example:
"I read The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger."
Note: There are some specific academic styles (like Chicago) that might have different rules, so always check the specific style guide for your assignment.