APA (American Psychological Association) style is a citation style that is commonly used in the social sciences and education fields. It provides guidelines for formatting papers, in-text citations, and reference lists.
To set up a paper in APA style, you will need to follow these guidelines:
Page layout: APA papers are typically double-spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides. The title page should include a running head, the title of the paper, the author's name, and the institutional affiliation.
Headings: APA style uses a hierarchical system of headings to organize the content of the paper. There are five levels of headings, ranging from level 1 (the most important) to level 5 (the least important). Each heading level should be formatted differently, with larger and bolder font for the higher levels and smaller and italicized font for the lower levels.
In-text citations: APA style requires the use of in-text citations to give credit to the sources you use in your paper. These citations should be placed in parentheses, with the author's last name and the year of publication. If you are quoting directly from a source, you should also include the page number.
Reference list: At the end of your paper, you will need to include a reference list that lists all of the sources you used in your paper. The reference list should be organized alphabetically by the author's last name. Each entry should include the author's name, the year of publication, the title of the work, and the publication information.
By following these guidelines, you can set up your paper in APA style and ensure that you are giving proper credit to the sources you use in your research.
Setting Up the APA Reference Page
Google Docs lets you add headers to any page. Some suggestions are 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, 12-point Times New Roman, and 11-point Georgia. This is an accessible template. Quick tip: This guide focuses on the Google Docs website, not the app. Here are a few examples. Appendix format example The appendix label appears at the top of the page, bold and centered.
James, Twitter direct message, March 25, 2017. Embedding on its own page Embed long tables or large figures on their own page if needed. Then the name of the journal in italics is listed, the volume number, and finally, the pages of the article. References should be listed in alphabetical order by whatever the first name or word is. Title Page The student paper must include a title page. However, you may need to make a few adjustments before you begin writing. Then the year of publication is given in parentheses.
Your paper should have three major sections: the title page, main body, and references list. It used the Community of Inquiry framework as a guidepost for applying the technology, most specifically by leveraging social presence. And no matter which version of APA format you're using, you can set it all up using Google Docs. For a full guide on how to write your references, How to use Google Docs' APA format templates While you can format your paper manually, Google Docs also offers two different APA templates — one for APA 7, and another for APA 6. Brown, and Nia L.
They are usually a single paragraph with no indentation at the start of the paragraph. They signal what each section is about and allow for easy navigation of the document. Placement of tables and figures There are two options for the placement of tables and figures in an APA Style paper. It does not have to perfectly mirror or match the full title. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Times New Roman, 11 pt.
Consult the APA handbook directly for more guidance. APA — short for American Psychological Association — is a standardized format for writing academic papers, especially in the fields of sociology, psychology, and other behavioral or social sciences. Double-space the figure note. Finally, it concludes by describing how to organize student papers and ways to improve their quality and presentation. While you can format an APA paper using the app, you'll have a much easier time using the website. Indent the first line of every paragraph of text 0.
Ask your professor if headings are necessary, especially if you are writing a short paper. Reference list line spacing Start the reference list at the top of a new page after the text. Write the assignment due date in the month, date, and year format used in your country e. The course number and name are often separated by a colon e. Because students working together on a paper are usually in the same class, they will have one shared affiliation. Heading Levels There are five possible heading levels in APA style. Block quotation alignment Indent the whole block quotation 0.
Here are the most important guidelines for structuring your paper, along with tips on how to meet those guidelines in Google Docs. The path analysis shows associations between ASMC and endogenous body-related variables body esteem, body comparison, and body surveillance , controlling for time spent on social media. Do not add extra spacing between paragraphs. You can find these templates in the mobile app by tapping the plus sign icon in the bottom-right, and then selecting Choose template. Also italicize Level 3 and Level 5 headings. For paper sections with different line spacing, see the Paragraph alignment and indentation Align all paragraphs of text in the body of your paper to the left margin. APA Headings and Subheadings With Sample Paper Published on November 7, 2020 by This article reflects the APA 7th edition guidelines.
How do I set up APA format (7th edition) in Word or Google Docs?
How to format headings in APA Heading Level Heading Formatting 1 Centered, Bold, Title Case Heading Text begins as a new paragraph. The most important principle to follow when creating a figure is to present information in a way that is easy for readers to understand. Select " Top of Page" and " Plain Number 3" options. Double spacing refers to the amount of space between the lines within your Word document. Highlight your text and select Center align in this menu to center everything. Then check out our in-depth article on Title page The title page is the first page of an APA Style paper.
The student version includes the course number and name, instructor name, and due date of the assignment. For more information on creating and formatting references, go to the Source: Publication Manual, 2. This time they paired similar attractive persons together for the date. There are two APA options. Figure 4 Examples of Stimuli Used in Experiment 1 Note. This starter APA format template for Word provides easy access to styles that match APA guidelines.
APA headings have five possible levels. . When you have completed these steps, your title page should look something like this: There are several font styles allowed in APA, but the standard font size and style is 12 point, Times New Roman. But if the law is either spread across various sections of the code or not featured in the code at all, include the public law number in addition to information on the source you accessed the law in, e. Do not use full justification. If you're trying to change text that you've already written, just be sure to highlight it first. The first option is to place all tables and figures on separate pages after the reference list.
