APA (American Psychological Association) style is a widely used citation and formatting style for papers, particularly in the social and behavioral sciences. One of the key elements of APA style is the layout of the pages of a paper, including the margins, font, and headings. In this essay, we will discuss the page layout guidelines for an APA-formatted paper.
First and foremost, it is important to use standard-sized paper (8.5 x 11 inches) and to set the margins to one inch on all sides. The font should be a readable serif font such as Times New Roman or Cambria, and the font size should be 12 point. It is also important to double space the entire paper, including the title page, abstract, body, and reference list.
The title page of an APA-formatted paper should include a running head, the title of the paper, the author's name, and the institutional affiliation (e.g., the university or organization the author is affiliated with). The running head is a shortened version of the title that appears at the top of every page of the paper, along with a page number. The title should be centered on the page and should be no more than 12 words in length. The author's name should be listed below the title, followed by the institutional affiliation.
The abstract is a brief summary of the paper that appears on the second page of the document. It should be no more than 250 words in length and should provide an overview of the research question, methods, results, and conclusions of the paper. The abstract should be written in paragraph form and should not include any citations.
The body of the paper should be divided into sections with clear headings. In APA style, there are five levels of headings: level 1 (most important), level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 5. Each level of heading should be formatted differently, with level 1 headings being the largest and boldest, and level 5 headings being the smallest and least prominent. It is important to use headings consistently throughout the paper and to clearly indicate the hierarchy of the information being presented.
Finally, the reference list should be included at the end of the paper and should include a list of all the sources cited in the paper. The reference list should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author and should be double spaced. Each reference should be formatted according to the specific guidelines for the type of source being cited (e.g., book, journal article, website).
In conclusion, the page layout of an APA-formatted paper is an important aspect of the overall style and presentation of the document. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your paper is organized, easy to read, and professional in appearance.