how to write an essay in apa format

how to write an essay in apa format

Mastering the Art of Writing Essays in APA Format

1. Introduction to APA Format

APA is short for American Psychological Association. This citation style is primarily used in social sciences, especially in psychology, sociology, and anthropology. APA documents and research papers make it easier for readers to follow a discussion, but not to become sidetracked. The style of the in-text citation will be different when summarizing or paraphrasing sources. All APA papers include four sections: title page, abstract, main body, and list of sources. APA papers also include a running head, a header, and a title. All APA papers must have a reference page. The reference page should be alphabetized, then follow APA style. APA conventions are used for organization, layout, and citation. The author/date is used to identify the source. Every in-text citation corresponds to an entry on the reference page. Citations serve three major roles. They denote the end of quotes and paraphrases, and/or they enroll readers in the direction you want to take the discussion, and/or citations help you avoid plagiarism by crediting other researchers.

One of the most difficult things is learning how to write an essay. It can be easy to write an essay in general, but only when you are writing with the format set forth by your teacher, professor, or instructor. If told to use the APA format, then that is what you should use, and if you find out that you do not have any idea of what that format is, then you need to read this article and pay attention to what you read. APA format is not only the correct way to write English, but it is a format that works with all the times. Many instructors tell their students that they did not learn how to write in APA format until they were in college. There are voices that claim people have never learned how to write on any form of paper or canvas. APA format is everywhere, and a person will use it after work; a person will use it for reports and research.

2. Structuring Your Essay in APA Style

Don’t include the title of your paper in your running head unless your instructor requires it or if you are writing an advanced type of paper. Next, center the title of your paper on the first line of the title page. In official APA publications, the running head isn’t found on the title page. In your academic life, it’s your call. See your instructor or publication manual for specific instructions. After centering your title, don’t omit a line. The next line contains the type of paper (research paper) and course name. If applicable, the institution name appears next. Finally, end with your present academic department. If your page breaks after the course title, add that line to page 1 in Word by pressing Shift + Enter.

Title Page Your title page should follow the publication manual. It should be double spaced, centered, and should contain: The running head on the top-left corner of the page, with the words “Running Head:” preceding it. The title of your paper and your name, on separate lines, centered, and using title case. The author note, in italics, and centered. Your affiliation (university, for example) in italics and centered.

Just as we provide an approval plan for structuring other types of academic papers, we also provide one for structuring essays in APA style. Contents of the approval plans do not change, regardless of format.

3. Citing Sources in APA Format

To generate a paper correctly and use the sources in the correct way, place all references in alphabetical order. They should then be divided into two groups, namely the print references and electronic references. The print references have to be segregated into further groups such as articles from a journal, books, and magazines or newspaper articles. For example, if one employs material from a book, the specific format for the reference is: with just the first letter of the title mentioned within double quotation marks.

– In an APA format, the sources used to compose an essay should be mentioned on a separate page at the very end known as the References page. – The References page should include the complete details mentioned in the in-text references. – The references should be listed in alphabetical order and using one-inch margins on all sides. – Furthermore, endeavors should be made to double-space all of the text. – The second and subsequent lines of every reference should include a hanging indent. The starting of this indent is from the left page margin and the subsequent lines are then indented by a half inch. In this example, the author’s initials are not capitalized.

While composing an essay in the APA format, be sure to follow these instructions carefully:

4. Formatting Guidelines in APA Style

There are four main types of APA documents: empirical studies, literature reviews, theoretical articles, and case studies. Empirical studies take data from observations and experiments to generate research reports. Literature reviews summarize information found in scholarly articles about a topic. Theoretical articles, on the other hand, analyze, elaborate, and critique existing theories. Case studies contain extensive research about a specific individual, group, event or community, and never compromise it with research using the case study method. Each type of document has different formatting conventions, as well as formatting requirements for references and citations and other elements of document structure. Often times, you will need to use several different types of research that help drilling down through some subject matters. Gain more information about the different types of documents you will be expected to prepare. APA documents follow specific formatting guidelines. They should be typed, double-spaced 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 and a page number on the top right. Each style guideline has specific rules to follow not only in structuring your document but also ways to cite your references and to prepare for the whole or part references for all out-of-text citations.

Throughout your college experience, it is likely that you will be asked to write research papers or essays in the APA format. This particular format is both weighty and repetitive in nature. Additionally, not only will you write essays in this style, but you will also have to master the art of citing your references in your essay. APA Style is the general rules and conventions set by the American Psychological Association for documents written and published in the physical and social sciences subject areas. These style guidelines stipulate how to prepare and format your documents, and provide lots of details and examples. There are some general guidelines that you may find useful.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid in APA Writing

Firstly, it is not appropriate to use “Non-applicable,” “N/A,” “Not listed,” or “cannot be determined” when the number of answers in your questionnaire is not equal to five. Besides, stick to the rule of typing the assignment according to each instruction. And if APA Reference List instructions specify the necessity to present references from various sources in alphabetical order, visiting websites related to the guide pages can be a wise solution. Lastly, some authors admit that times when the United States of America is referred to as America instead of the U.S. occur regularly when Americans experience difficulties with time constraints and need to finish correct APA formatting of their essays according to the American Psychological Association standards.

Consistency of writing is one of the most significant rules governing APA style. However, students often forget to keep their writing in this style. Many administrators who give grades for writing APA essays use checklists to detect mistakes concerning this or that aspect. Essay writers and students may find these common mistakes helpful to prevent them in the future.