sample essay in apa format

sample essay in apa format

Guidelines and Best Practices for Writing an Essay in APA Format

1. Introduction to APA Format

By definition, a format is a general guide to the style of writing in different topic areas, and a set of instructions that varies by format. Such a content and detail requirement also needs a format and not just a normal and original format but APA format. The best practices for writing in an essay are also necessary in all topic areas that are instructed because the APA format has general and standard rules that must be followed in each essay written. These are the guidelines to help you in writing an APA essay. However, they require a general structure to permit a normal level of understanding and a sense of the relationship between the part even if it is on a different topic area.

All essays should be typed, using only 8 1/2 by 11-inch paper, double-spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides. A font size of 10 or 12 is the most readable. This and many more elementary to follow in detail instructions will be further explained in this paper. APA style best practices for general structure, titles, references, and more are applicable. In writing a set of instructions and rules, a specified way should be illustrated and this is what this paper brings. APA format essay.

If you are asked to write an APA-style essay, yes, it is essential that your paper follows the appropriate guidelines. You may be used to writing papers in another format such as MLA or Chicago style, so it might take some time to get the hang of writing in APA format. While your instructor may have some specific requirements that vary from the guidelines provided here, it is essential that you know that most writing using APA format needs to follow them.

2. Key Components of an APA-Style Essay

2.1.7. References It is also essential to keep in mind that every reference must be mentioned in the body of the APA essay. The main purpose of the reference list is simply to allow the reader to locate more information about the paper.

2.1.6. Discussion In the discussion, the authors interpret the results, judge the methodologies used, and present the limitations of the study. In your conclusion, state your findings and their relationship to the original hypothesis, including the relationship to the original research questions.

2.1.5. Results The section will first specify the statistics used in the study and then describe them. It is also necessary to present the results in paragraph format, one paragraph per effect tested. Also, make a brief exposition of each result but make an overall interpretation of the findings at the end.

2.1.4. Method Describe how the study was conducted in different steps: a) Determining the participants, b) Details on what the participants did, c) Results.

2.1.3. Introduction It introduces readers to the subject of the essay through an attention-grabbing incident, a question, a provocative statement, a fascinating quotation, a definition, or a strong emphasis on a key term. It will best prepare readers for the arguments and ideas that follow.

2.1.2. Abstract As noted earlier in the book, an abstract is a summary paragraph providing the readers with the main points of the paper. It is written after the essay, on a separate sheet, in past tense, using one paragraph of 200-250 words.

2.1.1. Title The title should be brief, yet comprehensive. It must reflect the essence of the essay. It should be focused, specific, and on the other hand, interesting enough to trigger the audience’s curiosity.

3. Citing Sources in APA Format

Always check the references in your article to verify that you have properly and consistently cited the references. Likewise, verify that each in-text citation is listed in your reference list. All the references of your text have to follow the format of the American Psychological Association. Be as accurate as possible, as this is essential in identifying and finding the references collected. Also, be consistent throughout your text to avoid confusion. If you have any questions about how to cite the sources in APA format please refer to the APA manual or visit their online resources or schedule an appointment to visit with a librarian of research assistance.

Citing the sources of all the data, ideas or words that are not your own is very important. The purpose is to credit the person, publication or organization responsible for it and for the sake of your readers to know how to locate your sources. Therefore, whenever you find information in books, on the internet or from someone else’s spoken, written or electronic words, you need to indicate its source according to the American Psychological Association system, APA format. This should be done properly both in your own text, by using in-text citations, and at the end of your text, by providing a list of references. Be conscious of your reader and give them the required information as clear, simple to understand and as brief as you can.

4. Formatting Guidelines in APA Style

The paper should be double-spaced and written on standard-sized paper (8.5″ x 11″) with 1″ margins on all sides. You should use a clear font that is highly readable. APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Include a page header at the top of every page. To create a page header, insert page numbers flush right. Then type the title of your paper in the header flush left. Plus, each subsequent page will contain the standard header with the title of the essay on the left margin. According to the APA instructions, your essay should be within the left and right header margins. The essay must cite all the sources used within the information provided. APA emphasizes the strength of your personal argument and the methodology used in order to ensure the claims are robust and reliable.

One of the most important reasons for using APA style is so that your reader can easily see the author’s and/or the reviewer’s contentions. APA is more than just following procedures for organizing and presenting information; it is about effectively communicating your ideas to your reader. Many guides to writing an essay that comply with the APA style guide can be found on the Internet. Below is a section of the APA style guide. While it gives a comprehensive overview of APA style, it does not contain the guidelines for how to write an essay in Canadian political science, which should be reported.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid in APA Formatting

Mistake #5: Typos and grammatical errors. A handout titled “An Essay in APA Format: Guidelines and Best Practices for Layout and Style” by the University of Queensland, Australia, is self-titled and labeled June 28, 2013. It posits the following: “The APA style of referencing and the layout of an essay do not work well with poor spelling, run-on sentences, or poor grammar. These errors will affect the quality of the paper and detract from your final mark, so be sure to check your essay to make it just as perfect as you, if at all possible.” Every piece of advice that’s aware of the date it was written will tell you the same: even your most brilliant ideas will go nowhere if you are not careful in writing about them. All it takes is a couple of extra minutes to double-check the text, and you will soon find a significant difference in quality. And that will bring you a better grade, you can be sure.

Mistake #4: Overreliance on academic jargon. APA formatting doesn’t demand that you replace your own personal expression just because you’re writing in the learned discourse. Like someone who speaks even the most remote dialect, the goal of APA format is to include every single author. Don’t worry about using academic jargon and complex terms – it’s alright to use your own voice. Plus, you will demonstrate that you have compiled your text in the right mind and have not merely paraphrased something someone else came up with. Or do you detect any difficulty understanding a word yourself? Of course, with that knowledge, trusting someone else will be impossible.

Mistake #3: Lack of fluency. The substance of your essay will not be shaped perfectly if the writing is essentially incoherent. Fluidity allows the dissertation to flow from one paragraph to the next in the same way a babbling brook allows the water to flow. All of this fails without a strong sense of style applied to the paper, both at the sentence and paragraph levels.

Mistake #2: Lack of structure. In academic writing, the introduction is the essential paragraph. Still, not everyone is sure about the proper placement of the abstract in their paper, as well as the first thing that happens after the cover page. The best practice here is to put the abstract right after the cover page, omitting the headings Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion, also called the main body. They are the part of your writing where the most important events happen and where the center of the action resides, so it would be completely misplaced to see the abstract as an introduction. When you know the difference between the abstract and the main text of your essay, it’s much easier not to get lost in the abyss.

Mistake #1: Absence of organization and logical flow. APA formatting has a style of its own, without a doubt, but it’s not just about adding valid citations and a reference list. This style requires you to arrange your paper logically, with key ideas and concepts structured according to predetermined rules.

Since properly formatting a paper is crucial for your mark, it makes sense to turn it over to a professional editor. This way, you ensure that the following 5 common mistakes in APA formatting will be avoided in total, regardless of their specific potential drawbacks.