APA research paper outline
March 17, 2014 - Posted to Assignment writing tips
Creating an outline in APA style is quite different from the other formatting styles such as Harvard, Chcago, MLA etc. APA stands for American Psychological Association, and this association has created the writing format. APA format is generally used in the social sciences. However, its usage is not limited to just this alone. It is widely used in the following subjects as well such as Psychology, Criminology, Economics, Linguistics, Sociology, Nursing, Business and Management Studies etc.
Some formatting tips while writing an APA research paper outline.
- There should be one inch margin on all sides of the page
- Double spaced paragraphs
- Font will be Times New Roman point 12
- The first page of the outline should comprise the following: students name, teachers name, title of the paper and the date
A consistent structure should be used in the main headings and the subheadings. The main heading should contain general information while the subheadings should provide more specific information. An outline is generally required when formatting a paper in APA style. The outline should comprise headings and subheadings arranged in a manner that the structure of the paper is clear.
Research paper outline APA is helpful to brainstorm structure and define the essay before you begin writing. Roman numerals define the main topic. The sub topics will need to be written in capital letters. Third level topics are written in Arabic numerals and the fourth level topics are mentioned in lowercase letters. Keep in mind that not all the four levels are required while creating the outline.
APA outline format for research paper indicates the direction the paper will take. A clear outline has a neat overall structure and a forward momentum. It details every topic and subtopic in the paper. It helps in organizing the points so that the arguments gets build towards a conclusion. Having an outline in place, helps avoid logical fallacies, tangents and underdeveloped paragraphs.
A research paper outline APA format should be divided into - introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction should mention your specific topic and provide just enough information to ready the readers for the thesis statement. The thesis statement comes at the end of the introduction and states in a clear and concise manner the purpose of the paper. This is followed by the main body of the paper, conclusion, and works cited.
At EssayDragons.com, we helps students prepare research papers on a wide range of subjects. If you need help with writing your essay just contact us, we are available 24/7!
