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Citation Guides: APA Format Rules

Title Page

Reference List

Reference List Guide

Purdue Owl

 

Formatting Rules

This guide is based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed.

For more details and examples, consult the APA Publication Manual in Ely Library Reference (REF BF76.7 B83 2020 c.2).

 

Title Page

 

  • Title of the paper - in BOLD, CENTERED and positioned in the UPPER HALF OF THE TITLE PAGE (3 or 4 lines down from top of page)
  • Name of each author of the paper
  • Affiliation for each author...typically the university attended(including the name of any dept. or division)
  • Course number and name for which the paper is being submitted (e.g. ENGL 102, GARP 240)
  • Instructor name
  • Assignment due date, written in the month, date, year format
  • Page number      

 

For further guidance.....consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed., in the Reference section of the Ely Library         Ref. BF 76.7 .B83 2020 c2          or by asking the Circulation Desk for the copy on Reserve

 

See links on left for examples

 

Text (Body)

  • The running head is an abbreviated version of the paper title appearing at the top of every page (not required for student papers unless instructor requests them)
  • The text should start on a new page after the title page (and abstract if included).
  • On the first line of the first page of text, write the title of the paper...bold and centered.
  • The text should be left-aligned, double spaced paragraphs with the 1st line of each paragraph indented by one tab key.
  • Use headings as needed
  • Each section of the text should follow the next  without breaks (do not start a new page when a new heading occurs).

 

For further guidance.....consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed., in the Reference section of the Ely Library         Ref. BF 76.7 .B83 2020 c2          or by asking the Circulation Desk for the copy on Reserve

 

See links on left for examples

 

Reference List

  • Begin the reference list on a new page after the text
  • Place the section label "References" in bold, centered, at the top of the page
  • Order the entries in alphabetical order by the surname of the first author...followed by the initials of the author's given name
  • If the publication is by a group author, government agency, organization, task force...spell out the full name of the group followed by a period (e.g. Centers for Disease Control.)
  • Double space the entire reference list.....both within and between entries
  • Use a hanging indent: the first line of the reference is flush left and subsequent lines are indented .5 inches from left margin

 

For further guidance, consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed., in the Reference section of the Ely Library        Ref. BF 76.7 .B83 2020 c2         or by asking the Circulation Desk for the copy on Reserve

 

See links on left for examples

 

 

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