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The code, “APA” is used to indicate any errors related to APA. Some errors related to APA can lead to plagiarism (refer to Plagiarism and UAA Plagiarism Policy ELT 2023 if a UAA student). ## APA Summary Creating an extensive guide to writing academic texts according to APA (American Psychological Association) conventions involves covering several key aspects. APA style is widely used in the social sciences, and it is essential for ensuring clarity, precision, and consistency in scholarly writing. Here’s a comprehensive guide:
General Format
- Paper Size and Margins: Use
standard-sized paper (8.5 x 11 inches). Margins should be 1 inch on all sides. - Font and Size: View acceptable fonts for APA 7th edition.
- Spacing: The entire document should be double-spaced, including the reference list.
- Alignment and Indentation: Text should be left-aligned with a 1/2 inch first-line indent for each paragraph.
- Page Numbers: Include a page number in the top right corner of every page.
- Headings: Use headings to organize the
- paper. APA style has five levels of headings, ranging from level 1 (centered,
- bold, title case) to level 5 (indented, bold, italic, sentence case, ending
- with a period).
- Stick to parenthetical citations that are paraphrased.
- References: Add a page break to begin your references page. References should be listed alphabetically, include a hanging (French) indentation, and single spaced within each reference and double space between each reference.
APA Summary
Creating an extensive guide to writing academic texts according to APA (American Psychological Association) conventions involves covering several key aspects. APA style is widely used in the social sciences, and it is essential for ensuring clarity, precision, and consistency in scholarly writing. Here’s a comprehensive guide:
1. General Format
- Paper Size and Margins: Use standard-sized paper (8.5 x 11 inches). Margins should be 1 inch on all sides.
- Font and Size: Times New Roman 12-point font is the most commonly used, but other readable fonts like Arial (11-point) or Calibri (11-point) are also acceptable.
- Spacing: The entire document should be double-spaced, including the reference list.
- Alignment and Indentation: Text should be left-aligned with a 1/2 inch first-line indent for each paragraph.
- Page Numbers: Include a page number in the top right corner of every page.
- [[Acceptable fonts (APA, 7th edition)]]
2. Title Page
- Paper Title: Place the title in the upper half of the page, centered, in bold, and in title case.
- Author Name(s) and Affiliation: Below the title, include the author’s name and institutional affiliation.
- Course Name and Number, Instructor, and Due Date: These are optional depending on assignment requirements.
- Running Head: An abbreviated title, in uppercase, flush left on the title page. However, this is no longer required for student papers.
3. Abstract
- Length: Typically around 250 words.
- Placement: On a new page following the title page.
- Content: A concise summary of the key points of your paper, including the research topic, research questions, methods, results, conclusions, and implications.
4. Main Body
- Headings: Use headings to organize the paper. APA style has five levels of headings, ranging from level 1 (centered, bold, title case) to level 5 (indented, bold, italic, sentence case, ending with a period).
- Citations: Use in-text citations to acknowledge sources. The basic format is (Author, year).
5. In-Text Citations
- Quotations – Use sparingly: For direct quotes, include the page number or paragraph number.
- Paraphrasing: When paraphrasing, a page number is not required but can be included.
- Multiple Authors: Use ‘et al.’ for works with three or more authors.
- Use parenthetical citations over narrative citations. See [[Parenthetical Vs. Narrative Citations]].
6. Reference List
- Placement: Start your reference list on a new page at the end of your paper.
- Order: List references in alphabetical order by the surname of the first author.
- Format: Use a hanging indent for each reference.
- Author Names: List the last name and initials (e.g., Smith, J. D.).
- Titles and Journals: Article titles are in sentence case, and journal titles are in title case and italicized.
7. Citations for Various Sources
- Books: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Publisher.
- Journal Articles: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume number(issue number), pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy
- Web Sources: Include the author, date, title, and URL.
8. Tables and Figures
- Numbering: Number tables and figures separately in the order they are mentioned in the text.
- Titles: Provide a brief, descriptive title for each table and figure.
- Source: Cite the source below the table or figure if it is not your own work.
9. Appendices
- Placement: After the reference list.
- Content: Include detailed information that supplements the main text but is too lengthy to include in the body.
10. Proofreading and Revisions
- Grammar and Spelling: Check for errors and ensure academic tone.
- APA Compliance: Ensure all aspects of your paper comply with APA guidelines.
11. Additional Resources
- APA Publication Manual: The most comprehensive resource.
- Online APA Guides: Websites like Purdue OWL offer detailed instructions and examples.