ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTRE, DAWSON COLLEGE E2.

APA TERM PAPER FORMAT

Basics

 Use 12-point type in Times New Roman (or a similar plain font)
 Double-space the entire paper (including title page, block quotations and references page)
 Indent each paragraph

Running Head

A “running head” appears at the top left of every page—including the title page and references page.
Place it in the header area (within the upper margin space). The running head is a shortened version of
your paper’s title (maximum 50 characters) typed in capital letters.
It is labeled with the phrase “Running head:” as shown below—on the title page only.

Page Numbering

Page numbers are placed in the header space at the right, opposite the running head (on the same line).
The title page is page 1; all the following pages are numbered, including the references page.

Title Page Running head: PATTERNS OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR 1

 In the header space, at the left-hand margin, type

Elizabeth Jones

 Place the number 1 (your page number) at the Dawson College

opposite end of the same line.

 In the upper half of the page, centre the full title of

 Leave one blank space below the title, and type your
name. Leave one space below that, and add the name
of the college.

 Everything on the title page must be in 12-point type,

Note: This model shows a standard APA title page—designed for publications rather than college
papers. You might be asked to include additional information such as course, teacher’s name,
due date, student number, etc. Check with your teacher.
 Page 2 PATTERNS OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR 2


Patterns of Aggressive Behaviour in Male Preschoolers
The actual text of your paper begins on page 2 The actual text of your paper begins on this page unless an abstract is
(on page 3 if you are including an abstract). required. If so, the abstract is presented on page 2—separately—under the

heading “Abstract,” and the actual text begins on page 3. Note that the title
 The running head and page number appear in is given above, and the running head is included, along with a page number,
the header space. in the header space at the top. Margins are standard (1 inch), and double-


spacing is used throughout.
Type the full title of your paper; then leave one The references page comes at the end of the paper, under the heading
blank space, indent, and begin typing the text of “References” on a separate, numbered page with the running head included
your paper, double-spaced. at the top (Wilson, 2014, p. 76).


Note that spacing is important in the proper presentation of a paper. As
Be certain to include APA citations to identify the usual, no extra spacing is left between paragraphs. In APA format, any sub-
sources of all research information. headings appear in bold at the centre, while sub-subheadings are in bold

at the left margin.

Quotations require special attention. Short quotations are presented “in

Subsequent Pages quotation marks within the text of the paper like this” (Smith, 2014). However:

Quotations of over 40 words are set off from the regular text in

 Continue the text of your paper on the following block form without quotation marks. They must be double-spaced

like the rest of the paper, and are given double indentation, but
pages, with the running head and page numbers
the lines go all the way to the right-hand margin as shown here.
in the header space. They are followed by a citation. (Jones, 2014)

Then your paragraph continues on the next line as you continue your . . .
 Indent each paragraph using the tab key once (but
do not leave extra space between paragraphs).

Quotations

Quotations of less than 40 words are presented in quotation marks within the text of the paper,
followed immediately by a citation. If a period or comma is needed, it follows the citation.
Quotations of over 40 words are set off with double indentation from the left margin. (Use the
tab key twice.) If your quotation includes the opening line of the author’s paragraph, indent that
line additionally. Block quotations are double-spaced, with a single blank space above and
below (no extra spacing). They normally close with a period which comes before the citation.
Both forms of quotation are illustrated in the page model above.

Subheadings

College papers are often written without subheadings. However, if your teacher recommends them,
centre them in bold (same font and type size as your text). If sub-subheadings are used, they are placed
at the left-hand margin in bold.
Leave one blank space above and below each subheading or sub-subheading.

References Page

All your research sources msut be listed in bibliographic form on a separate page at the end of the paper.
This page includes the running head and a page number.
Centre the heading “References” at the top, and enter every source used in your research. Arrange the
entries in alphabetical order by first letter. Double-space the entries, leaving one blank space between
each one. For a format model, see “APA References Page Format” (Handout 2.E2).
Note that each entry in your references list must be done with close attention to APA guidelines. See the
Academic Skills Centre handouts (E2.3 and E2.4), or refer to the APA Publication Manual.

WM 2014