APA Student Paper Format Guide

Understanding APA Student Paper Format

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a widely used citation and formatting standard in academic writing, particularly in the social sciences, education, and nursing. Adhering to APA guidelines ensures your work is clear, consistent, and credible. This guide breaks down the key elements of APA student paper format.

The Title Page

Your title page is the first impression of your paper. It needs specific information presented in a precise order.

• Title: Centered, bold, and placed in the upper half of the page.
• Author's Name: Below the title, also centered and bold.
• Institutional Affiliation: Below your name, indicating the university or college.
• Course Number and Name: Centered.
• Instructor's Name: Centered.
• Due Date: Centered.
• Page Number: In the header, aligned to the right, starting with '1'.

Example:

The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Function Jane Doe University of California, Berkeley PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology Dr. John Smith October 26, 2023 1

Abstract

The abstract is a concise summary of your entire paper, typically 150-250 words. It should appear on its own page, labeled "Abstract" (centered and bold) on the second page.

• It summarizes the problem, methods, results, and conclusions.
• Do not indent the abstract paragraph.
• Include keywords below the abstract, labeled "Keywords" (italicized and indented).

The Main Body

This is where your research and arguments come to life. APA has specific rules for organizing and presenting your content.

Headings and Subheadings

APA uses a system of levels for headings to organize information hierarchically. This makes your paper easy to follow.

• Level 1: Centered, Bold, Title Case Heading.
• Level 2: Flush Left, Bold, Title Case Heading.
• Level 3: Flush Left, Bold, Italic, Title Case Heading.
• Level 4: Indented, Bold, Title Case Heading, ending with a period.
• Level 5: Indented, Bold, Italic, Title Case Heading, ending with a period.

Example:

Method

Participants

Demographic Information

You generally won't need Level 4 and 5 headings in a standard student paper, but knowing they exist is helpful for more complex documents.

In-Text Citations

Properly citing your sources is crucial to avoid plagiarism and give credit to original authors. APA uses an author-date system.

• For paraphrased information: (Author, Year) or Author (Year) stated that...

Example: Research indicates that regular exercise can improve mood (Smith, 2020). Example: According to Smith (2020), regular exercise can improve mood.

• For direct quotes: (Author, Year, p. #) or Author (Year) stated, "..." (p. #).

Example: The study found that "participants reported higher levels of happiness" (Jones, 2019, p. 45). Example: Jones (2019) reported that "participants reported higher levels of happiness" (p. 45).

• When there are two authors: (Author & Author, Year)

Example:* (Brown & Davis, 2021)

• When there are three or more authors: Use the first author's last name followed by "et al."

Example:* (Miller et al., 2018)

• No author: Use the first few words of the title in quotation marks, followed by the year.

Example:* ("Understanding APA," 2022)

Running Head

For student papers, the running head is simplified. It's just the page number in the upper right corner of every page, starting with '1' on the title page. You do not need the "Running head:" label.

Formatting Standards

Beyond content organization, APA has specific formatting requirements.

• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point is standard. Other readable fonts like Calibri or Arial are sometimes acceptable, but always check your instructor's guidelines.
• Line Spacing: Double-space the entire paper, including the title page, abstract, body, and reference list. Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs.
• Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, right).
• Paragraph Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph 0.5 inches from the left margin.
• Page Numbers: As mentioned, place page numbers in the upper right header, starting with '1' on the title page.

The Reference List

This is a critical section where you list all the sources you cited in your paper. It begins on a new page, titled "References" (centered and bold).

• Alphabetical Order: Arrange entries alphabetically by the last name of the first author.
• Hanging Indent: The first line of each reference is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.
• Double-Spacing: The entire reference list should be double-spaced.

Common Reference Examples:

• Book:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Publisher. Example: Gable, R. K., & Wolf, G. (1993). Instrument development: A practical guide for researchers*. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

• Journal Article:

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue), pages. DOI (if available) Example: Grady, J. S., Her, M., Moreno, G., Perez, C., & Yelinek, J. (2019). Emotions in storybooks: A comparison of storybooks that represent ethnic and racial groups in the United States. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 8*(3), 207–217. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000185

• Website:

Author, A. A. or Group Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of specific page. Site Name. Retrieved from URL Example: National Institute of Mental Health. (2022, July 15). Anxiety disorders*. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders

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Tables and Figures

If your paper includes tables or figures, they need to be formatted according to APA guidelines.

• Placement: Ideally, place them within the text after they are first mentioned, or on separate pages after the reference list.
• Numbering: Number tables consecutively (Table 1, Table 2) and figures consecutively (Figure 1, Figure 2).
• Titles: Each table and figure should have a clear, descriptive title. Table titles are bold; figure titles are italicized.
• Notes: Use notes below tables and figures to explain abbreviations, symbols, or provide copyright information.

By paying close attention to these elements, you can create a well-organized, professional, and compliant APA student paper.