Communication is Key (1st 2-3 words of the title)
1
Running head: COMMUNICATION IS KEY: BE ARTICULATE IN THE WRITTEN WORD
(limit to 50 characters)
Communication is Key: Be Articulate in the Written Word by Learning from a Prof Not a Boss
(Should summarize the main idea of the paper in 10-12 words. When typing the title, center it on
the page and capitalize only the first letter of important words.)
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
Adams State College
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
Communication is Key (1st 2-3 words of the title)
2
Abstract
The abstract is not indented—rather the abstract is written in block format. It is a brief (up to
120 words) summary of the paper in an accurate, concise and specific manner.
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
Communication is Key (1st 2-3 words of the title)
3
Communication is Key: Be Articulate in the Written Word by learning from a Prof Not a Boss
Your introduction begins here, following a repeat of the entire title of your paper. Notice
that your margins are 1 inch. Paragraphs have a normal (.5 inch) indent. The font is Times New
Roman in 12 pt font. Throughout this document there are examples of proper citations,
references, etc. While these examples are far from exhaustive, they are designed to provide a
guide. When in doubt, always check your APA manual. The primary purpose of the
introduction is to tell the reader of the importance of the topic you have chosen. It outlines
where the paper is going. Good introductions develop the background of the paper and state its
purpose and rationale. You should outline why the problem is important. This topic is important
because of A, B, and C. Then discuss A, B, and C in that order.
Being able to communicate in an articulate manner via the written word is critical to your
academic and professional success. Learning proper writing and citation skills from a professor
is preferred to learning it from a boss. While a professor may fail you for inarticulate writing
and citation, a boss would most assuredly fire you. Which would you prefer? I would suggest
that you learn it from the prof.
The purpose of this template and any associated lecture are designed to assist you in
proper academic writing using APA style. Using APA style is important for two reasons. First,
it provides for clarity and consistency. Second, it provides a way for writers to provide proper
credit and avoid academic dishonesty (Freeman, Conley, & Brooks, 2006).
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
Communication is Key (1st 2-3 words of the title)
4
Clarity and Consistency
This next section should discuss the first of your points mentioned in your introduction.
You should state your position and back it up with evidence from class discussion, readings or
independent research. Make sure you are properly citing in APA format (Kinsey, 1953).
APA format provides for clarity and consistency in your research papers. There is a
formula to be followed for citations and page layout, which makes it easier for the reader to
understand. It also includes stylistics of writing from point of view to word choice (Neyhart &
Karper, 2009).
Clarity
According to Plonsky (2004) if you have subsections within a section, then use the proper
heading format, based on levels of headings that your paper needs (refer to PowerPoint fro
class). To have subsections within a section such as this you must have more than one. If you
do not, then it is not a separate subsection and should be included in the text of the original
heading.
Clarity can include such things as word choice, eliminating writing bias, etc. Clarity is
always best. When writing you want to be clear, thorough, and succinct. Consistency issues,
however, are another matter. These are addressed below.
Consistency
Continue with second subsection within Section A. Do not forget to write appropriate
transitions between sections (as evidenced above). These should summarize what you have just
written and alert the reader to what you are about to say. Abrupt changes in thought will confuse
the reader, making it difficult to make your point or to justify your position.
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
Communication is Key (1st 2-3 words of the title)
5
Consistency ensures that you are consistent with language and word choice. For
example, when writing in APA style, you should always write in the third person, not the first
person. Further, consistent citations enable the reader to access any references for further
review. This helps also to cut down on any issues related to academic dishonesty, which is
discussed below.
Academic Dishonesty
Talk about your second idea as outlined in the introduction (Riley, Lochry, & Shapiro,
1979). Make sure that your sections have titles. Again do not forget to use transitions. Notice
that the writer used the words do not rather than don’t. The use of contractions is unacceptable
in academic writing.
Academic dishonesty, oftentimes referred to as plagiarism, also includes all forms of
cheating, plagiarism, forgery, furnishing false information, and alteration or misuse of
documents, records, or identification. Any of these practices presents both moral and ethical
issues to the academic community. The Adams State College Student Handbook prohibits all
forms of academic dishonesty. Students who engage in such offenses will fail—either the
assignment in question or the course as a whole. It does not matter whether or not academic
dishonesty was intentional or unintentional. It is unacceptable (Mumper & Freeman, 2005).
Section C Title Here
As Riley et al. (1979) point out, talk about your third (C) idea as outlined in the
introduction. Continue to do this for as many ideas you have indicated you are going to discuss
(Riley et al., 1979).
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
Communication is Key (1st 2-3 words of the title)
6
Conclusion
The purpose of this section is to wrap up your ideas and thoughts as previously discussed.
It should be brief and provide concluding thoughts as to why A, B, and C are important in your
view. In this case the conclusion would include why clarity and academic dishonesty are
important to one’s ability to communicate in an articulate manner via the written word (Freeman
& Conley, 2006).
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
Communication is Key (1st 2-3 words of the title)
7
References
Freeman, M. L. & Conley, V. M. (May, 2006). Women, transfer, and baccalaureate completion.
Paper presented at the Annual Forum for the Association for Institutional Research
(AIR), Chicago, Illinois.
Freeman, M. L., Conley, V. M., & Brooks, G. P. (2006). Successful vertical transitions: What
separates community college transfers who earn the baccalaureate from those who don’t?
Journal of Applied Researched on the Community College, 13(2), 141-150.
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., Martin, C. E., & Gebhard, P. H. (1953). Sexual behavior in the
human female. New York: W. B. Saunders.
Mumper, M. & Freeman, M. L. (2005). The causes and consequences of public college tuition
inflation. In J. Smart (Ed.). Higher education: A handbook of theory and research. New
York, NY: Agathon Press.
Neyhart, D. & Karper, E. (2009). APA stylistics: Basics. Retrieved June 15, 2009 from
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/15/
Plonsky, M. (2004). Psychology with style: A hypertext writing guide (Version 5). Retrieved
from the Web 1/17/04. http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/apa4b.htm
Riley, E. P., Lochry, E. A., & Shapiro, N. R. (1979). Lack of response inhibition in rats
prenatally exposed to alcohol. Psychopharmacology, 62, 47-52.
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
Communication is Key (1st 2-3 words of the title)
8
Table 1
Average Ages Sexual Information was Acquired Compared with the Youngest and Oldest Ages
Subjects Believed the Information Should be Acquired
Age Acquired
Youngest Age
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
How babies are made
10.1
2.9
8.5
2.8
11.9
2.7
How babies are born
10.0
3.1
8.4
3.1
11.6
2.8
Sexual intercourse
11.6
2.6
10.4
2.6
13.1
2.6
Menstruation
11.6
2.2
9.9
2.1
12.6
2.1
Nocturnal emissions
12.5
2.6
10.8
2.6
13.4
2.7
Masturbation
13.0
2.6
11.4
2.8
14.0
2.6
Birth control
13.9
2.4
12.0
2.2
14.3
2.4
Homosexuality
13.4
2.8
11.3
2.8
14.1
2.5
Genital terminology
12.4
2.9
10.4
3.3
13.1
3.3
Orgasm
14.0
2.3
12.5
2.7
15.0
2.6
STD's
14.1
2.3
12.0
2.4
14.7
2.4
Information
Oldest Age
STD's = Sexually transmitted diseases
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
Communication is Key (1st 2-3 words of the title)
9
Figure Captions
Figure 1. Percent of time married females have orgasm during intercourse with their husbands.
Data from Kinsey, Pomeroy, Martin, Gebhard (1953).
Figure 2. Mean number of trials to learn a passive avoidance task as a function of age and
maternal ethanol consumption in rats. Data based on Riley, Lockrey and Shapiro (1979).
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.
© 2009
Melissa L. Freeman, Ph.D.