Four Basic Parts of APA Style
- The TITLE PAGE includes the title of the paper, the author’s name, and identification information/institutional affiliation (for example, The University of Central Arkansas). For student papers, the title page should also include the course name and number, the instructor’s name, and the assignment due date. Start numbering pages with the cover page. The title of the paper should be in boldface. Additional information should follow two lines below the title, and should be in regular text.
- The ABSTRACT should be on a separate page, following the title page, and should already include the page number. Title the page “Abstract” in boldface text. Write a short summary of the key points of your paper. It should be about 150-250 words. Not all professors require this, so be sure to check your assignment sheets.
- The MAIN BODY of your paper includes the page numbers, a centered boldface title, and body of text. It will most likely include in-text citations, and can utilize headings to create sections.
- The REFERENCE PAGE includes a list of sources that you cited within the body of your paper. The title of this page should be centered at the top of the page, and read “References” in bold text.
**NOTE that running heads are no longer required for student papers under the 7th edition of APA. Instead, a student paper heading should only include the page number.
You can see an example APA paper here.
*Check with your professor for any specific heading structures required for an assignment.
**All parts of the paper should be in one of the following fonts: 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Arial, 11-point Georgia, 11-point Calibri, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicod. The paper should also utilize 1-inch margins throughout.