APA FORMAT
APA format is one of the several different writing formats used for publications, papers, essays, and books today. This particular writing style is is established by the American Physiological Association. Mastering the use of the APA format is very consequential in one's educational career. The APA format is the most common style taught at and used by universities, colleges, and high schools. The APA style establishes standards of writing communication concerning: the organization of content, writing style, and citing references.
The Basics of the APA Style
- General Structure: An APA-style publication should begin with a title page followed by an abstract, the main body, references, footnotes, graphics, then appendices.
- Title Page: Your title page counts as page one. It should have the title at the very center, followed on the next line by your name, and then with your school or organization name under that. After this basic information, you may want to include an optional author note, which is any important note about the project or author, such as 'Funded by the National Institute of Arts' or 'Written as a candidate for the doctorate in sociology at Michigan State University.' At the top of this title page, you'll include a running head.
- Running Head: APA style uses a running head. This is a smaller version of the title of your paper, and it runs throughout your paper at the top of each page. It should be less than 50 spaces, and starts on the top left side of every page. However, on your title page, you should also include the label 'Running Head' directly before it. For example, if your paper title is 'An Analytic Look at the Differences Between Public and Private Schools,' your running head might be 'Differences Between Public and Private Schools,' and your title page running head will be 'Running Head: Differences Between Public and Private Schools' with no punctuation or period after it.
- Abstract: Your abstract is page two. Center the word 'Abstract' below your running head, and then compose a summary of about 150 to 250 words that describes the most important points of your research and paper, such as hypothesis of your research, methodology, and possible conclusions. The abstract should not have paragraph indentations.
- Main Body Structure: The beginning of your body is page three. Format your paper with one-inch margins all the way around. The left-side margin should be flush, except for the beginning of each paragraph, which should be indented five to seven spaces. Type in a 12-pt. type with a common font, such as Times New Roman. Every part of your paper should be double-spaced. Page numbers should appear at the top right. The full title of your paper should appear again at the beginning of the main body.
- References: References generally come immediately after the main body of the work.
- Footnotes: If you use footnotes to compose explanations or asides, these should be listed after the References page. They begin a new page, with the title 'Footnotes' centered at the top. The footnotes are arranged by number and each new footnote number is indented on a new line.
- Graphics: Graphics and other supporting documentation come next, with separate, new pages for each: tables, figures, and appendices (in that order). The pages should be labeled and centered at the top.
Citation Machine is a beneficial website that helps students and professionals properly cite the information and research that they use. It's fast and incredibly easy to use! Click on the bold words to go the homepage!
Here are some other reliable websites that can you guide you through the process:
www.apastyle.org/learn/index.aspx owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/ IN-TEXT CITATIONS
Click on the link below to learn more about in-text citations: www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/cite-website-material.aspx |
"One does not simply write a paper"