How do I write a paper in APA format?

Note: Each professor and/or assignment may have specific formatting and writing guidelines. Always carefully follow the directions for the assignment as given by your professor.

The American Psychological Association (APA) has developed guidelines for standardized writing and formatting of academic and professional papers in the fields of Behavioral and Social sciences, and many professors expect students to utilize APA standards when drafting an academic paper. While a comprehensive explanation of APA style writing and formatting is outside the scope of this FAQ, simple guidelines are provided below. 

Formatting:

• The paper should be typed/printed on standard-sized copy paper (8.5" x 11") with 1-inch margins on all sides and double-spaced lines.
• The paper should have a page header (running head) at the top of every page. Depending on the requirements of the assignment, this may just be a page number or may also include the title (or partial title) of the paper. 
• The font must be accessible to all readers and used consistently throughout the paper. The actual font used is determined by the professor or publisher, but recommended fonts include 11-point Arial or Calibri, or 12-point Times New Roman.

Paper Sections:

1. Title page - The title page should include the title of the paper, the student/author's name, the institutional affiliation (college or university name), the course number and name, the instructor name, and the assignment due date. 
2. Abstract - The abstract is a concise summary of the key points of the paper, including the student/author's research topic and questions, methodology, data analysis, and conclusions. The abstract should be on a separate page, following the title page. It should be a single paragraph of not more than 250 words, double-spaced, and without indention. Professors may omit the abstract from assignment requirements.
3. Body - The body of the paper contains the full explanation of the student/author's research. The organization of the body depends on the requirements of the professor or publisher, but often consists of an introduction, discussion of existing literature, explanation of research (such as the methodology and results), and the conclusions (or findings). For longer papers, different sections should be labelled with properly formatted headings.
4. References - All resources used in the preparation and writing of the paper, both directly and indirectly, should be cited both within the text and in a reference list following the body of the paper. Citations should be in APA style. More detailed information about formatting citations in APA style is available in the How do I create a citation in APA format? FAQ.

For more extensive coverage of APA writing and formatting, visit the APA General Format guidelines, developed by Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL), which provides comprehensive instructions on how to correctly format your work in APA style and gives multiple examples for many kinds of papers. Physical copies of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association are available in the libraries on both the Tahlequah and Broken Arrow campuses. The NSU Writing Center also provides in-person and online assistance with citation, grammar, and other writing concerns.