Using a consistent format enables your readers to focus on your content, instead of the presentation of your paper.
APA formatted student essays typically contain the following elements in the order listed:
|
Title Page |
A separate page containing a page number (in the top right), the title of the essay (centered and in bold), the author's name (two lines down and centered), the name of the university, the class number and class title, the instructor's name, and the assignment's due date. |
|
Body |
The content of the essay. Margins are 1" on every side, the font is consistent and legible, the text is double spaced, and headings are used to separate sections. In-text citations are used and have matching citations on the reference page. |
|
References Page |
A page containing references for all sources used in the paper. References are double-spaced and use hanging indents. |
Individual instructors may require other elements not listed above, such as an abstract, table of contents, tables, or appendices. If you are unsure of which elements to include in your essay, read your assignment's guidelines or ask your instructor.
Below are several templates to help get you started, including a basic template and a sample paper with more detailed instructions.
For more detailed information on how to format your title page, see this guide from APA. You can also use a template from above.
For more detailed information on formatting headings, see this guide from APA.
For more detailed information on formatting reference lists, see this guide from APA.