Researching
Finding information, using the ideas of others, citing sources.
APA Paper Formatting
As you are getting ready to set up your paper, if you figure out all the little formatting details first, it will be smooth sailing after that. This list will get you started in the right direction.
The Basics
- The paper should be typed and double-spaced on 8.5" X 11" paper (standard size).
- Margins should be 1" on all four sides.
- 12-point font should be used at all times. (This means you should not make your title an 18-point font just so we know it’s the title.)
- Indent using the Tab key for a new paragraph.
- Put a single space between sentences.
- Do not hyphenate words at the end of a line; just let them jump to the next line.
Setting Up the Header and the Title Page
APA requires a title page and a header that appears on every page, including the title page.
Title Page
Center your text in the middle of the paper and start by typing your title, making sure that you only capitalize the important words in your title. Then hit the Enter key 3 or 4 times and type in the author(s) of the paper followed by the institute you are writing for (in your case, Framingham State College) on the line below the author(s).
TipSometimes, your professor will want different information on the title page, so be sure to check. |
Header
The header is a shortened, 2-3 word version of your title along with the page number; the title page is page 1. Use the header tool in your word processor to make this information appear on every page automatically.
Your title page should look like this:
Sources
American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2001.
Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007.
Purdue University. “APA Formatting and Style Guide.” The OWL at Purdue. 4 Dec. 2007. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/.
