Yesterday I talked about how different research papers on a college level can be.  Today I am going to go over the different elements that will make up and APA style paper.  Why APA?  The majority of papers turned in to distance learning institutions will follow the APA style.  Occasionally, on the graduate level MLA or Chicago will come into play.

If you include each of these elements in your paper and pay close attention to grammar, punctuation, and message there is a high chance that you will receive full credit for your work.

Format Sytle of and APA Research Paper

1. Software of choice for just about every college is Microsoft Word.  The open source equivalent Open Office can also be used if you make sure that it is compatible with the format used by your school.
2. Margins are 1″ on the top, bottom, and right.  1 1/2″ on the left in case your paper will later be binded.
3. Double spacing is used throughout the paper.  Indentations are typical for all paragraphs except for the paragraph on the abstract page.
4. Numbering begins on the title page with the number one in the upper right corner of the paper.
5. On the title page you will include the paper title, your full name, the title of the class, the instructors name, and the date.
6. On the Abstract page using at a maximum of 120 words introduce your subject, research method, findings and conclusion.
7. Beginning on the Body page restate your title. In this area the Thesis Statement or Method is introduced which basically informs the reader what they can expect in the body of the paper.  This is also the area that cite quotations and block quotes go.
8. Typically you will have no need to include photos, tables, graphs, charts, etc. but if you do begin each on a separate page and number them consecutively.
9. The paper should conclude with a summary of the topic and give a glimpse into the future in regards to your subject.
10. The reference page is the last element of the paper showing all the works that you cited.

Typically research papers on the college level will be eight-pages of double spaced text.  I have found in my experience using 12-point Arial type that 8 pages equals about 3000 words if you include all of the elements that I mentioned above.  Sometimes you will write shorter or longer papers depending on the instructor, but you will always use these elements to create your paper.

These tips and more are fully explained in The Little Brown Compact Handbook with Exercises (MyCompLab Series) a book that should be at your side for every course that you take during your time in school.