Writing a research paper in APA style requires awareness of certain guidelines. While APA guidelines specify formatting for each element of academic writing, writers can better understand the APA requirements through examples. This article outlines the essential sections of an APA-style research paper and provides examples of proper formatting. Some key points:
The APA style guide specifies using 12-point Times New Roman font and double spacing throughout. Page numbers appear at the top right header. The title page contains a running head and title. The running head is a shortened version of the paper title in all caps and is flush left. The full title appears centered on the title page only.
After the title page comes the abstract, a short summary of up to 250 words. The abstract appears on its own page and is written in block format. Do not indent the first line of the abstract paragraph. The purpose of the abstract is to allow readers to understand the basic context and purpose of the research.
The introduction presents the research topic and provides context and rationale for studying the topic. It ends with a clear thesis statement outlining the purpose of the research. Include in-text citations when referring to other authors’ work. The introduction is usually one or more paragraphs but rarely exceeds one page.
The body contains the main sections of the paper where research findings and analysis are presented. Each new idea should begin a new section or subsection labeled with a centered heading. Subsections may have second-level headings left-justified. The body uses a clear, direct writing style and makes logical connections between sections and subsections.
Support all claims with evidence from credible, peer-reviewed sources. Paraphrase significant research and ideas and provide page numbers for all direct quotes in APA format. For example: (Author Last Name, Year, p. #). Include an in-text citation anytime using a direct quote or paraphrasing a source’s ideas. All sources cited in-text must appear in the References list.
The conclusion restates the paper’s thesis and purpose and summarizes key results and findings. It may also note limitations of the research and discuss implications for further research on the topic. The conclusion should not merely recap what is already stated but aim to tie together implications of the research for the field.
References should appear on their own page with the centered label “References” without formatting such as italics, bold, underlining. Entries are double spaced and use a hanging indent format where the first line of each reference is flush left and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches. Alphabetize reference list entries by author’s surname.
For example:
Smith, J. D., & Brown, A. W. (2020). The effects of long-term stress on physical and mental health. Journal of Health Psychology, 25(4), 543-555. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105318758118
When citing sources with more than one author, include all authors’ names in the first in-text citation. In subsequent citations, use the first author’s name followed by “et al.” For example:
(Smith, Brown, Garcia, & Lee, 2019)
(Smith et al., 2019)
Citations of sources with 2-7 authors must list all authors’ names in the reference list entry. References with 8+ authors list first 6 authors’ names then insert ellipses and add final author’s name.
Tables and figures (graphs, images, etc.) appear in the body of the paper near where they are first referenced. Each receives a unique number (e.g., Table 1, Figure 2). Include a title for every table or figure and source note if needed. Ensure tables are formatted using APA style table formatting features in word processing software. Figures should use a plain text box with legible text.
The APA manual provides precise formatting requirements, but these major sections comprise a typical APA research paper. With careful adherence to APA style guidelines, writers can ensure credibility and consistency in academic writing. Consulting the APA manual and formatting checklists remains imperative when writing APA papers. Formatting tools and reference management software like Zotero offer assistance as well for paper formatting and citations. Following APA format accurately represents research honesty and attention to stylistic detail.