APA STYLE
Created by Denise Regeimbal and Amanda Rutstein, 2012
BASIC APA RESEARCH
PAPER ELEMENTS
 Structure
and content
 Clear and concise organization
 Mechanics of style
 Tables and figures
 Parenthetical citations
 References
GETTING STARTED
GENERAL DOCUMENT FORMATTING
 Setting
up a Word document
 Select Font/Font Size
Times New Roman
 Font Size 12
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1” margins all around
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Left justified with right ragged edge
Double spaced
All paper elements should be double
spaced except in-text table/figure notation
 Indent the first line of all paragraphs
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TITLE PAGE ELEMENTS
 Header
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Running head and paper title
Page numbers
 Title
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page body
Paper Title
Your Name
Institution
The 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
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In-text citations
Parenthetical
 Tables and figures
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Conclusion
 References
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Reference page format
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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

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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) 654-1036
Located in Trinkle 107A
Monday-Thursday 10-5 and Friday 10-3
Stafford Campus Writing Center
(540) 286-8109
Located in the lobby of the South Building
Monday-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
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Stafford Writing Center website
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Fredericksburg Writing Center website
APA website
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Stafford Writing Center website
Fredericksburg Writing Center website
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Purchase highly recommended
APA website
The Purdue Online Writing Lab (Purdue Owl)
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Purdue Owl