How to Write an Essay in APA Format

If your instructor has asked you to write an APA format essay, it might at first seem like a rather daunting task, especially if you are accustomed to using another style such as MLA or Chicago. Before you begin your essay, familiarize yourself withsome of the basics.

The following tips offer some useful guidelines that will help you prepare your paper and ensure that it is formatted properly.

What Is APA Format?

Whether you’re taking an introductory or a graduate-level psychology class, chances are strong that you will have to write at least one paper during the course of the semester. In almost every case, you will need to write your paper in APA format, the official publication style of theAmerican Psychological Association.

While it might seem like something you can just gloss over, most instructors, as well as publication editors, have strict guidelines when it comes to how your format your writing. Not only does adhering to APA format allow readers to know what to expect from your paper, but it also means that your work will not lose critical points over minor formatting errors.

基础知识

While this guide offers some basic tips on how to present your APA format essay, you should always check with your teacher for more specific instructions.

• There should be uniform margins of at least one inch at the top, bottom, left, and right sides of your essay.
• Your paper should be double-spaced.
• Every page should include a page number in the top right corner.
• For professional papers, every page of your essay should also include a running head at the top left. The running head is a shortened form of your title, often the first few words, and should be no more than 50 characters (including spaces).
• Your essay should also have atitle pagein APA format. This title page should include the title of your paper, your name, and school affiliation. In some instances, your teacher might require additional information such as the course title, instructor name, and the date.
• The title of your paper should be concise and clearly describe what your paper is about.
• Your title can extend to two lines, but it should be no longer than 12 words.
• Your essay should also include a reference list. Located at the end of your paper, the reference section is a list of all the sources that were cited in your essay. References should be listed alphabetically by the last name of the author, and they should also be double-spaced.
• The first word of each paragraph in your paper should be indented one-half inch.
• The American Psychological Association recommends using Times New Roman size 12 font.
• While the formatting requirements for your paper might vary depending upon your instructor's directions, your essay will most likely need to include a title page, abstract, introduction, body, conclusion, and reference sections.

Tips

In addition to ensuring that you cite your sources properly and present information according to the rules of APA style, there are a number of things you can do to make the writing process a little bit easier.

Start bychoosing a good topic可写。理想情况下,你想要选择一个主题ect that is specific enough to let you fully research and explore the topic, but not so specific that you have a hard timefinding sourcesof information. If you choose something too specific, you may find yourself with not enough to write about; if you choose something too general, you might find yourself overwhelmed with information.

Second, start doing research as early as possible. Begin by looking at some basic books and articles on your topic. Once you are more familiar with the subject, create a preliminary source list of potential books, articles, essays, and studies that you may end up using in your essay.

Remember, any source used in your essaymustbe included in your reference section. Conversely, any source listed in your referencesmustbe cited somewhere in the body of your paper.

After you have prepared a rough draft of your essay, it is time to revise, review, and prepare your final draft. In addition to making sure that your writing is cohesive and supported by your sources, you should also watch carefully for typos, grammar errors, and possible formatting mistakes.

A Word From Verywell

Writing your first APA format essay can be a little intimidating at first, but learning some of the basic rules of APA style can help. Always remember, however, to consult the directions provided by your instructor for each assignment.