APA, 5th ed. Format Information

(feel free to print)

 

The following are only highlights of what should be done in your papers, you are expected to refer to your APA manual for details

 

“Main Concepts”

 

   Organization = outline format and headers

   Comparison   = author views and subject matter

   Credibility  = citations and research

 

 

"Parts of the Manuscript"

 

* note: some mention will be made for experimental papers *

 

Title Page (separate page)

 

Title:

 

- should summarize main idea of paper

- no abbreviations

 

Author's Name and Institutional Affiliation:

 

- Author and Institution must be named

- (without the words "by" or "from the")

 

- Author's name (first, middle initial, and last name)

 

Page Headers:

 

- an abbreviation of the running head typically.

- flush right above running head.

- to be found on all pages of the paper except figure page

 

Running Header:

 

- an abbreviated all uppercase title that is printed at the

  top flush left  of the title page only.

- mainly for those to be published.

 

Abstract (separate page)

 

- a list of goals and/or objectives for the reader

  - "will be able to.., to develop.., to understand.., to learn..,

    to appreciate.." etc..

  - list these prior to writing abstract (it will help)

- brief yet comprehensive summary of the lab/paper.

- accurate, specific, non-evaluative, self-contained, readable.

- a paragraph, block style

 

Introduction (state hypothesis for experimental papers only)

 

- presents a specific problem or topic

  - What is the point of the study?

  - How does the hypothesis and the experimental design    

    relate to the problem?

- discuss the literature or background but do not include an  

  exhaustive historical review.

  - assume reader is knowledgeable in the field of study.

- any background requiring citation of and specific credit  

  to relevant earlier works is part of the author's  

  scientific and scholarly responsibility.

- state the purpose and rationale of your research in the  

  closing paragraph(s) of the introduction.

- state your hypothesis (if your doing an experiment).

 

Method (for experimental papers only)

 

- describe in detail how the study was conducted

  - identify participants, apparatus (or materials, and    

    procedure

  - include subheading for each identification of the    

    method.

 

Results (for experimental papers only)

 

- summarize the data collected and any statistical  

  procedure.

- briefly state the main results or findings

- report the data in detail to justify the conclusions

- do not include "raw" data

- include table(s) and figure(s) only on figure page  

  following figure caption page.

 

Text

 

- discuss and elaborate on the topic.

- compare and contrast author viewpoints and manage the text

  using proper headers and citations.

 

Discussion

 

- evaluate and interpret results research.

- open discussion with a clear statement of the support or  

  non-support for your research.

- you are free to examine, interpret, and qualify the  

  results of your research here.

 

References

 

- all citations must appear in the reference list, and all  

  references must be cited in text.

- refer to APA for citations.

 

Figure Caption Page

 

* discussed later

 

Figure Page

 

* discussed later

 

Appendix (for experimental papers, mainly)

 

- used mainly if some description of a certain material is  

  distracting in, or appropriate to, the body of the paper.

- include tests, questions, mathematical proofs, complex  

  equipment list, etc... used in the research.

- not figures, pictures, tables

 

 

"Expression"

 

The APA style of writing is to do TWO MAIN things

 

  1. Place your thoughts and research in an orderly and     

     precise fashion.

 

  2. Express our authors' views by collecting similar     

     research and comparing and/or contrasting it in your     

     paper.

 

 

"Strategies to Improve Writing Style"

 

  1. Writing an outline prior to putting paper together.

  2. Putting aside the first draft, then rereading it after     

     a delay

  3. Asking a colleague to critique the draft

 

  *  Be aware of proper grammar

 

 

"Spelling"

 

* Do not use a hyphen unless it serves a purpose.

  - Mainly do not use a hyphen at the end of a line, carry    

    the word into the next line.

 

"Headings"

 

- Much like an outline (I,II,III, A,B,C,D 1,2.. etc.)

- In APA, headings function as an outline to reveal a  

  manuscript's organization.

  - Avoid having only one subsection heading and subsection    

    within a section (just like an outline).

  - Use at least two subsection headings within any given    

    section. (I w/ A and B = ok, I w/ A = no (leave A out))

  - Regardless of the number of levels of subheading within    

    a section, they should always follow the same top-down    

    progression.  Each section should start out with the    

    highest level of heading (Level 1)

    - The exception is a 5 Level paper

 

 *  Unless told otherwise, this class will perform 3 Level    

    Reports

    - Refer to APA for variations of different level papers.

 

 

“Level Construction: Headers and Sub-headers”

 

 

The following are the rules and examples of each level heading:

 

Level 1:

 

Centered Uppercase and Lowercase Heading

 

Level 2:

 

Centered, Italicized, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading

 

Level 3:

 

Flush Left, Italicized, Uppercase and Lowercase Side Heading

 

Level 4:

 

     Indented, italicized, uppercase only first letter of first word, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period.

 

Level 5:

 

CENTERED UPPERCASE HEADING

 

 

 

 

 

"For This Class"

 

Level 3 Paper:  Level 1, 3, and 4 Headings

 

* general concept is that you should have more level 3 than level 1 and even fewer level 4 headings

 

 

 

 

Level 3 Paper: (w/o citations)

 

The Circulatory System

 

The Heart

 

     xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

 

     Anatomy of the heart. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

 

     Physiology of the heart. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Blood Vessels

 

     xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

 

     Microscopic anatomy. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

 

     Gross anatomy. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

 

     Physiology. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxxxxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

The Lung System

 

The Lungs

 

     xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxx

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx etc.....

 

 

 

"Quotations"

 

- Incorporate a short quotation (fewer than 40 words) in the  

  text, and enclose the quotation with double quotation  

  marks.

- Display a quotation of 40 or more words in a free-standing  

  block of typewritten lines, and omit the quotation marks.

  - Start such a "block quotation" on a new line, and indent    

    it 5 spaces from the left margin.

- Everything is doubled spaced (DS)

 

"Numbers"

 

- Numbers below 10 that do not represent precise   measurements (ie. 5-mg

  dose or 2.22 cm) must be written out (ie. two words that mean, or three

  conditions)

 

"Metrication"

 

- All papers are to use metric

- Use of metric abbreviations is alright

 

 

"Reference Page"

 

- Specifically support a particular article (not bibliographies)

  - bibs. cite works for background (not true purpose of APA)

- Should have: author, year of publication, title,

  publishing data for library search

- Include accents or other special marks, and to completeness of journal

  titles, year, volume numbers, and page numbers.

- DS

- No "footnotes" to be included in your APA paper

- p 189 for a complete reference guide.

  * see handout for electronic reference (ie. internet)

 

"Figure Caption Page"

 

- Must have a separate Figure Caption Page prior to   reference

- Used to explain figures; (not necessary of tables)

 

"Figures"

 

- May be a chart, graph, photograph, drawing, or other depiction on the

  figure page.

- Label each figure on the figure page (ie. Figure 1.)

- Number all figures consecutively with Arabic numerals

  throughout paper  (ie. Figure 1, Figure 2)

 

  ie. ....as shown in Figure 2, the relationships are.....

 

  - Do not write "the figure above/below" or "the figure on

    page 12,"

 

- Place the Arabic numeral figure as close to the depiction  

  as possible, but never on the face.

 

"Appendixes"

(if necessary)

 

- Common kinds of appendixes include large tables, lists of  

  words, a sample questionnaire, a computer program.

- If paper has one appendix, label it Appendix ; more than  

  one label them Appendix A, Appendix B, etc...

- The label should be 1" from the top and centered

 

 

"Manuscript Preparation"

- mechanical details -

 

Paper

 

- 8 1/2 x 11 in.

- Heavy white bond paper

- No half sheets or strips of paper glued, taped, or stapled  

  to the pages

- No onionskin

 

Typeface

 

- Times Roman, American Typewriter, Courier

 

  - Underlining on a paper indicates type that is to be set    

    in italics.  (underline means no italic)

 

Double-Spacing

 

- One full-size line blank between each line

 

- Double space after each line in the title, headings, quotations,

  references, figure captions, and all parts of tables. (no single-spacing)

 

Margins

 

- 1 in. (2.54 cm) at the top, bottom, right, and left of every page.

 

Line Length and Alignment

 

- Line length is 6 1/2 in.

- Do not right-justify

- Use the flush-left style, and leave the right margin uneven.

- Do not divide words at the end of the a line (no hyphenation)

 

- Do not exceed 27 lines of text per page.

 

Order of Manuscript Pages "for NON-Experimental Papers"

 

Title Page (title, author's name, institutional affiliation,           

            and running head), separate page, numbered page 1

 

Abstract (separate page, numbered page 2)

 

Introduction with Text Following

 

- start on a separate page, numbered page 3, etc...

- include headers/subheaders

 

Discussion

 

- do not start on a separate page

 

Reference Page

 

- start on a separate page)

 

Appendix(es)

 

- start each on a separate page

- for experimental papers, mainly.

 

Figure Caption Page

 

- list all, starting on a separate page

 

Figures

 

- place each on a separate page; no page headers/#'s

 

Page Numbers and Page Headers

 

- Number should appear at least 1 in (2.54 cm) from the  

  right-hand edge of the page.

- Arabic numerals only (no 2a or 3b, etc...)

 

Manuscript page headers

 

  - The first two or three words from the title in the upper    

    right-hand corner above or five spaces to the left of    

    the page number:

 

    ie.                                       Neurons     2

 

Corrections

 

- Do not write corrections on the paper.

- Use correction paper, fluid, or tape to cover and type over an error.

- No type covers, inserts, or vertically in the margins.

- Limit 3 per page, otherwise do page over.

 

Paragraphs and Indention

 

- Indent the first line of every paragraph 5 spaces.

- Remaining lines are uniform left-hand margin.

 

- Exceptions: - The abstract

              - Block quotations

              - Titles and headings

              - Table titles and notes and figure captions

 

Uppercase and Lowercase

 

- Means to capitalize the first letter of important words

 

Headings

 

- * Level 3 (p. 290 for detailed information)

 

Spacing and Punctuation

 

- Space once after all punctuations

- Exception, do not space after internal periods in abbreviations

  (ie. a.m.,  or i.e,)

- double space the entire paper.

 

Seriation

 

- Use lowercase letters in parenthesis:

 

  ie. ..... consider (a) some alternative courses of action,      

            (b) the factors....

 

- To indicate seriation of separate paragraphs (ie. itemize, steps),

  number each paragraph with an Arabic numeral, followed by a period

  but not enclosed in or followed by parenthesis:

 

  ie.

 

       1. Begin with paragraph indent. Type second and

          succeeding lines flush left.

 

       2. The second item begins a new paragraph.

 

 

Instructions for Typing the Parts of the Paper

 

Title Page

 

- Need: Running Head, Page Header, Page Number(s) Title, Byline, and Date

 

  Running Head - Abbreviation of the title usually

               - Flush left at the top of the title page

                 (but below the manuscript page header, DS)

                 in all UPPERCASE letters (except for the term

                 Running head which should be Uppercase only the "R".

 

 

  Page Header - Abbreviation of running head usually

              - Flush right, 5 spaces from page number.

              - Uppercase and lowercase.

              - Place on all pages except (figure page(s))

 

  Title - Uppercase and lowercase, centered on the page.

        - If two or more lines, DS

 

  Byline - Name of author, centered on page, one DS below title.

         - Institutional affiliation, centered under the author's name,

           one DS below author's name.

         - Date has a fully spelled out month, then numbered day and

           year, centered

 

   Page Number - Flush right, 1 inch from top and 1 inch

                 from right side.

               - Place on all pages except (figure page(s))

Abstract

 

- New page, page header, page number 2 in the upper right-hand corner.

- Type:  Abstract , in uppercase and lowercase, centered, at the top of

         the  page, DS from page header.

- To be a single paragraph in "block format"

- Do not exceed 960 characters. (~120 words)

- DS

 

Text

 

- Introduction "as level 1 header" (opt.); but encouraged.

- New page, page header, page number 3 in the upper right-hand corner.

- Type title of paper centered at the tope of the page (1

  in. from the top), DS, then begin text

- Do not start a new page when a new heading occurs; for ie., do not

  begin the Method section on a new page (for experiment papers only).

- Each remaining pages should also carry the page header and page number.

 

* Note: When referencing with in the text, author or author's last name, comma, year in parentheses(period at the end if at the end of a sentence).

 

        ie. .... in this study by (Butler, 2002) it was ...

 

References

 

- New page, Type the word:  References, in uppercase and lowercase,

                            centered, at the top of the page.

- DS all references

- Alphabetical

- Indent the first line of each entry five spaces, the same  

  as a paragraph text.

 

- Works with No Author, do the following:

 

  Cite in text the title and the year. Use double quotation marks around the title of an article or chapter ; underline the title of the periodical, book, brochure, or report. ie.

 

  ... on free care ("Study Finds," 1989) the book College Bound Students (2001) ....

 

Figure Caption

 

- Place the title "Figure Caption" centered, DS under

  page header.

- Describe Figure by have the Figure 1. , italicized and  

  flush left, begin description (block style)

- ie.

 

  Figure 1. Relationship of smoking on body metabolism in young adults.

 

 

Figure Page

 

- Place graph in center of page

- Graphs should make use of space on paper well

- If copying, avoid "dark area/lines"

- Neatly done and professional

- Tape or glue not accepted

- One graph per page

- no page numbers or page headers

 

Appendixes (if necessary)

 

- DS, begin each one on a separate page

- Type the word:  Appendix , and the identifying capital  

                  letters (A,B, etc., in order in which type are

                  in text)centered at top of page.

  - DS, indent the first 5 spaces and begin the text of the appendix.

  - If figures are to be included in an appendix, number them separately

    from any text figures, beginning with 1 and preceding the numeral

    with letter of the appendix in which the figure belongs (ie. 3 figures

    on one appendix,(1A, 2A, 3A)

 

 

 

 

See Sample APA paper under “Research Menu”