Apa_Format_Checklist

Online Basics:  APA Made Easy Formatting a Scholarly Paper The following are basic formatting points regarding use of APA: * The preferred font is 12-point Times New Roman. * All margins must be at 1 inch all around. * All text within the paper is double-spaced, including quotations and the reference page.   Structure of an APA Paper Title Page The title must be in uppercase and lowercase letters, centered between the left and right margins, and positioned on the upper half of the page. The following required information must be centered on the page in this order: * Title of paper in mixed upper and lower case * Your first and last name, without including academic or license information, such as BSN or RN * Course abbreviation and number * Due date, including the month, day, and year * Instructor’s name   Identify each page with the page number placed in the header at the right margin, and a shortened form of the title at the left margin. Do not use your name to identify each page. Use the same font type and size in the header and throughout the document. Use a running head only if your instructor requires it or if you are a doctoral student. Use the header feature in Microsoft® Word to set the page number and to add the running head if one is included. Headings Headings convey a hierarchical structure, similar to the levels of an outline. Most papers and dissertations need only three levels of headings, such as Levels 1, 2, and 3. Use at least Level 1 headings to organize your paper.   References The reference page follows the text and must list all sources from in-text citations. For instance, if you have five citations from different sources within the text, you must have five references listed on the reference page. Other reference page tips: * For reference indentations, the first line is flush left with subsequent lines indented 5 to 7 spaces. * Double-space the entire reference list.   The Reference and Citation Generator is a tool that helps you draft properly formatted APA reference pages and in-text citations. This resource is intended to be used as a resource to practice writing properly formatted APA citations. Elements in an APA Paper Properly cited sources add to the researcher’s credibility. Various citation forms are used when quoting an author’s exact words. Following are explanations and examples of different types of quotations used in APA style. Quotations To properly cite a quotation, you must provide the page numbers. With some sources, you also must include the chapter, figure, table, or equation. When citing electronic sources that do not provide page numbers, use the abbreviation para, and indicate the paragraph number in which the quoted material appears. Short quotations consist of fewer than 40 words and are incorporated into the text, and are enclosed by quotation marks. If a quotation ends the sentence, the punctuation goes outside the final parenthesis. If the quotation occurs in midsentence, end the passage with quotation marks, cite the source in parentheses immediately after the quotation marks, and continue the sentence. For a block quotation, which contains more than 40 words, insert the final punctuation mark, and then cite the source in parentheses. Do not use quotation marks.   Emphasizing Words Italicize key terms or technical terms and labels for emphasis. Do not put the terms in quotations marks. Seriation When using a series of elements within a sentence or paragraph, identify each element with a lowercase letter in parentheses.   Ellipsis or Spaced Periods When omitting material from the original source, use three spaced periods (ellipsis points) for material omitted within a sentence, and use four points to indicate material omitted between two sentences. The ellipsis includes spaces between periods ( . . . ). Itemized Conclusions Use bullets for itemizing conclusions, and Arabic numerals for procedural steps.   Common Knowledge Common knowledge—a commonly known fact, such as Washington, DC, is the capital of the U.S.—does not require a citation. Well known quotations may qualify for this rule, as well. Tables and Figures Generally, tables are used to display numbers, and figures are used to display graphics. Tables and figures are more commonly used in dissertations than in other types of formal written assignments. APA Format and Style Checklist Once you have read this document, open the attached checklist and save it to your hard drive for future reference when editing and revising papers for proper APA format. References American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.