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APA FORMAT
GUIDELINES
Scholarly papers are formatted
according to the latest edition of the Manual of the American
Psychological Association (the APA Manual). It is
available for purchase at the Clarion, Edinboro and the
Slippery Rock Universities bookstores. Software to assist in
formatting according to APA guidelines is available. The
following guide, based on the APA Manual, 5th ed. is
provided to assist the student in utilizing the manual. See
sample paper, APA Manual, p. 258-272 for visual presentation of
various components.
APA Resources
APA Style Helper - http://www.apastyle.org/stylehelper/
APA for Visual Presentations - http://www.apastyle.org
APA Style Resources - http://www.psywww.com/resource/apacrib.htm
APA Style Changes since 4th edition - http://www.apastyle.org/fifthchanges.html
Style tips in question format - http://www.apastyle.org/previoustips.html
Common student questions - http://webster.commnet.edu/apa/apa_intro.htm
Endnote - http://www.endnote.com
APA Basics:
Typing/Spacing
- Use 10 or 12 font size
- Double space
- Indent beginning of each paragraph
5 spaces (for 10 font) to 7 spaces (for 12 font).
- Be consistent throughout the
paper
- Do not justify or change word
processor spacing of words
- No more than 27 lines of text to
one page
Margins
- Uniform margins of at least one
inch at the top, bottom, left, and right of every page
Page Numbers
- Number consecutively beginning with
the title page
- Arabic numerals, top right hand
corner at least 1 inch from right hand edge (usually default
setting)
Page Ordering
- Title page with running head for
publication, title, byline, and institutional affiliation (seperate
page, numbered page 1)
- Abstract (seperate page, numbered
page 2)
- Text (separate page, numbered page
3)
- References (start on separate
page)
- Appendixes (start on separate
page)
- Tables (start on separate
page)
- Figures captions (list together,
starting on a separate page)
- Figures (place each on a separate
page)
Headers
- First 2 or 3 words from the title
in the upper right hand corner above or 5 spaces to the left of the
page number
- DO NOT USE YOUR
NAME
Quotations
- Fewer than 40 words should be
incorporated into text and enclosed by double quotation
marks
- More than 40 words double spaced
block of typewritten lines with no quotation marks
- Do not single space
- Indent 5-7 spaces or 1/2 inch from
the left margin without usual paragraph indent
- If the quotation is more than one
paragraph, indent the first line of second and additional
paragraphs 5-7 spaces or 1/2 inch from the new margin
- Period at ending quotation marks
place BEFORE the marks and comma, colon or semicolon
OUTSIDE quotation marks
Title Page
- Instructors will inform students of
specific format for Title Page.
Abstract
- Begin on a new page, and identify
the abstract page with the manuscript page header and the page
number 2 in the upper right corner
- Type and label "Abstract" in upper
and lowercase letters, centered at the top of the page
- Type the abstract as a single
paragraph in block format, no indentation
Text
- Begin text on a new page with
manuscript page header and page number 3 in the upper right hand
corner
- Type the title of the paper
centered at the top of the page, double spaced and then type the
text
- Don't start a new page when a new
heading occurs
Tables and Figures
- Number consecutively in the order
in which they are first mentioned in the text and identify by the
word "Table" and an Arabic numeral
- Double spage each table regardless
of length and begin each table on a separate page
- Manuscript header and page numbers
should still be on these pages
- Figures are done using the smae
method as tables, refer to section 5.22
Reference Page
- Start on a new page and type the
word "References" in uppercase and lowercase letters, centered at
the top of the page
- Use hanging indent
format
- Double space all reference
entries
Appendix
- Double space and begin each one on
a separate page
- Type the word "Appendix" and the
identifying capital letter (A,B,C, etc) in the order in which they
are mentioned in the text centered at the top of the
page
- If only one appendix, do not use a
letter
- double space and type the title of
the appendix, centered in upper case and lower case letters.
Then, double space, indent the first line 5-7 spaces, and
begin the text of the appendix
- Refer to section 5.29 if including
tables or figures into appendixes
- Manuscript header and page numbers
should be included on these pages
Other Uses of APA
Manual
Students are reminded that the APA
manual includes helpful reviews of writing style; grammar;
guidelines to reduce bias in language; punctuation; spelling;
capitalization; abbreviations and numbers. Students are
expected to review these sections and apply them in the preparation
of written assignments.
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