Does an APA Research Paper Require a Cover Page?
One of the first questions many students have when writing an APA style research paper is whether or not a cover page is required. While the official APA Publication Manual does not explicitly state that a cover page is necessary, it does imply that including a cover page provides important information about the paper and helps to distinguish it from other research papers. Therefore, most academic institutions require an APA style cover page on research papers.
Purpose of an APA Cover Page
The main purpose of including a cover page for an APA style paper is to clearly identify key information about the paper such as the title, author(s), academic institution or organizational affiliation, course name and number when applicable, and submission date. This allows readers to easily browse through a collection of research papers and decide which ones they want to review in greater detail based on their information needs.
Including an APA cover page also visually distinguishes the paper from submissions in other styles like MLA which do not typically require a cover page. It helps establish to the reader that the formatting, citations, and references in the paper will adhere to the standards outlined in the APA Publication Manual rather than another style guide.
Required Elements on an APA Cover Page
While an APA cover page is not explicitly mandated, most academic institutions will require specific elements to be included if one is provided. The two most common required elements are:
Running head: The running head is an abbreviated title in all capital letters that displays on the top left header of every page. It should be no more than 50 characters including spaces and should not include the words “Running head:” before it. The full title should be centered on the cover page.
Title: The title provides a brief yet clear understanding of the topic being explored in the paper. It should be concise but informative and include important keywords. Titles are not italicized, underlined, or enclosed in quotation marks and should be positioned in the middle of the page with the header.
Additional elements that are commonly required on an APA cover page:
Author’s name: The author’s full name should be written out on the cover page centered below the title.
Institutional affiliation: The name of the college, university, or other academic/professional organization should be included centered below the author’s name.
Course information (if applicable): The name or number of the course the paper is being submitted to, centered below the institutional affiliation.
Submission date: The date centered below the course information in the APA format of Day Month Year (e.g., 24 August 2020).
The key information on the cover page enables the reader to identify relevant details about the paper and establishes context for evaluating the content and presentation style. It also distinguishes the paper from other documents using alternative formatting styles like MLA or Chicago. While missing a cover page may not automatically disqualify a paper from being accepted, including one helps ensure it meets the stylistic standards of the APA Publication Manual and expectations of most institutions.
Formatting the APA Cover Page
Beyond the required content elements, APA specifies some general formatting guidelines for a cover page:
Page header and page number: Include the running head and page number on the cover page even though page numbers are not typically shown on cover pages in other styles.
Layout: Use a standard layout with the required elements centered as blocks of text rather than inline text. This creates visual separation between each required element.
Font and size: Use the same Times New Roman 12-point font that is specified in the APA Publication Manual for the rest of the paper.
Margins: Maintain 1-inch margins on all sides of the page as with the rest of the paper.
Does not require a page number on the cover page: While the running head is included on the cover page, the actual page number is not shown. Page numbering starts with the first page of content as page 1.
A cover page template may be provided by the instructor or an example can be found in section 2.1 of the APA Publication Manual. Strictly following the formatting guidelines establishes the paper follows the standards outlined in the APA Publication Manual. This includes everything from fonts, spacing, and margins to the structure and content of the cover page.
Does Every APA Paper Absolutely Need a Cover Page?
While APA style and most academic institutions strongly suggest including a properly formatted cover page, it is important to note that the APA Publication Manual does not explicitly mandate one. In certain limited circumstances an instructor may waive the requirement, particularly for shorter assignments. It is always safer to include a cover page unless specifically instructed not to by the instructor.
Omitting a cover page risks:
Not meeting the assignment requirements or grading expectations if the instructor requires one
Confusing the reader about the formatting guidelines used and context of the paper
Forgetting to include key identifying elements like the running head on subsequent pages
Needing to reformat and add a missing cover page later if submitting the paper for publication
As long as the instructor does not prohibit it, students should view the cover page as an important component of presenting a professionally formatted research paper in APA style. It takes very little time or effort to include yet can distinguish one paper submission from another and help organize a collection of reference materials. For most academic papers and proposals, a properly completed APA cover page will be necessary.
Does this help explain whether an APA research paper requires a cover page? While not explicitly mandated in the manual, including a correctly laid out cover page establishes context for the reader, meets institutional standards, and differentiates the paper from other work. It is always the safest choice unless an instructor specifies otherwise. Proper formatting of the content, running head, title, author information and other required elements ensures adherence to APA style guidelines.
Andrew Stroud