APA STYLE

Created by Denise Regeimbal and Amanda Rutstein, 2012

BASIC APA RESEARCH PAPER ELEMENTS

Structure and contentClear and concise organizationMechanics of styleTables and figuresParenthetical citationsReferences

GETTING STARTEDGENERAL DOCUMENT FORMATTING

Setting up a Word documentSelect Font/Font Size

Times New RomanFont Size 12

1” margins all aroundLeft justified with right ragged edge

Double spacedAll paper elements should be double spaced except in-text table/figure notation

Indent the first line of all paragraphs

TITLE PAGE ELEMENTS

HeaderRunning head and paper titlePage numbers

Title page bodyPaper TitleYour NameInstitutionThe university pledge

APA sample title page

BASIC APA ELEMENTS OF A RESEARCH PAPER

Abstract Sample APA style research paper

Basic Elements of a Research Paper Introduction Body of paper

In-text citations Parenthetical     Tables and figures

Conclusion References

Reference page format Order of source information for each resource Order of all sources on reference page (alphabetized) Hanging indent-5 spaces

HEADING LEVELS

Section Headings: 6th Edition of APA

Level One Headings: Centered, bold upper and lowercase

Method

Level Two Headings: Left justified, bold upper and lowercase

Sample and Participant Selection

Level Three Headings: Indented, boldface, lowercase paragraph heading with a period.

Personality and self-esteem.

Level Four Section Headings: Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading with a period.

Self-esteem measurements.

Level Five Section Headings: Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading with a period.

Participant selection.

QUOTATION RULES

Frame all quotes Punctuation goes inside quotation marks Block quotes:

Any quote longer than four lines of text (or at the professor’s discretion)

Indent each line of the quote Omit quotation marks Single space

EXTRAS

Following the professor’s specific instructions Using the MS Word References tab or other formatting

software Whole numbers under 10 are spelled out while whole

numbers over 10 are numerical. Use full name of source the first time and then refer to

source by last name in subsequent references Article titles are not framed with quotation marks in

the reference list When there are more than three sources in a

parenthetical citation, replace all but the first name with “et al.” after the first use of that citation

Do not cite Wikipedia…just don’t

WRITING CENTER INFORMATION

Fredericksburg Campus Writing Center(540) 654-1036Located in Trinkle 107AMonday-Thursday 10-5 and Friday 10-3

Stafford Campus Writing Center(540) 286-8109Located in the lobby of the South BuildingMonday-Thursday 4-8*Handouts regarding APA Style guidelines and punctuation rules are available at both the Fredericksburg and Stafford Writing Centers

WHERE TO GO FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sixth Edition of APA Publication Manual Purchase highly recommended

Stafford Writing Center website Stafford Writing Center website

Fredericksburg Writing Center website Fredericksburg Writing Center website

APA website APA website

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (Purdue Owl) Purdue Owl