The title page for a research paper is the first thing your reader will see, so it needs to grab their attention. Make sure your title is clear, descriptive, and engages the reader. Your title should provide an overview of what your paper is about. It is important that the title page follows all the formatting guidelines required by your instructor or discipline. Here are some key elements a research paper title page should include and examples to give you an idea of what it should look like:
Title
The title should be centered at the top third of the page. It should be bolded and in a larger font than the rest of the text, typically 16-18 point font. The title needs to effectively summarize the main topic and findings of your research. Here is an example title for a research paper on the impact of social media on adolescent mental health:
Social Media Usage Among Teens: Effects on Mental Well-Being and Depression
Author Information
The author’s name should be centered or right aligned on the next line below the title. This identifies who wrote the paper. Include both your first and last name. For example:
John Doe
Institutional Affiliation
On the line below the author’s name, centered, include the name of the college or university where the research was conducted. This demonstrates that the work was completed as part of an academic program. For example:
Anthropic
Course Information
If the paper was written for a specific course, include the course title and number on the next line. This provides context for the work. For example:
PSYC 250: Developmental Psychology
Date
The date the paper is being submitted should be at the bottom center of the title page. Use the day-month-year format. For example:
17 September 2023
Page Number
Page numbers are generally not used on the title page, but if required by your instructor, the page number can be placed in the top or bottom right corner. For 1/2 inch from the top or bottom with the number right aligned. For example:
Page 1
Formatting Guidelines
A consistent formatting style organizes the content and ensures readability. Here are some general title page formatting guidelines to follow:
Use 12 point Times New Roman or Ariel font throughout for consistency and readability.
Leave 1-inch margins on all sides to allow for binding.
Double space between each element to make it easy to read the individual components.
Ensure the title and all text is left aligned unless otherwise specified like the page number.
Use bold font for the title and regular font weight for the rest of the text.
Capitalize only the first letter of the title and leave the rest in lowercase unless a proper noun requires capitalization.
Include your last name and page number in the header on subsequent pages in the top right corner.
Check with your instructor for any specific title page formatting rules required by their department or your discipline.
Title Page Example
Here is an example of how a title page for a research paper may look following the above guidelines:
The Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health
John Doe
Anthropic
PSYC 250: Developmental Psychology
17 September 2023
Page 1
As you can see, it includes the main title at the top, centered and bolded, followed by lines with the author name, institutional affiliation, course information, date submission, and page number at the bottom right. The 1-inch margins, 12 point font, double spacing, and alignment create consistency and readability.
The title, “The Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health” clearly summarizes the topic area and piques interest. It functions as a miniature abstract for the work. Instructors expect title pages to be properly formatted with the key components in the correct order to establish credibility and professionalism. Following the structure and guidelines will ensure your title page makes a great first impression on the reader.