APA Format: Basic Rules to Follow

1. Title Page:

• Center the title of your paper.
• Include your name, affiliation, course name and number, instructor's name, and due date.
• Double-space the text.

2. Abstract (Optional):

• Write a concise summary (about 100-200 words) of your paper.
• Double-space the text.

3. Main Section:

• In an essay, this is the body of your paper.
• In a lab report, it includes the introduction, method, results, and discussion.
• Double-space the text.

4. Reference List:

• Include all sources cited in your paper.
• Arrange the references in alphabetical order by author's last name.
• Include the following information for each reference:
  • Author's name
  • Date of publication
  • Title of the source
  • Publication information (e.g., journal name, volume, issue, page numbers)
• Double-space the text.

5. In-Text Citations:

• Use the author's last name and the year of publication in parentheses to cite sources in the text.
• For direct quotes, include the page number(s) as well.

Helpful Resources:

• Official Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
• APA Style Guide
• APA Citation Generator

Important Tips for Reference Pages:

• Double-space the text.
• Start a new page for the reference list, labeled "References."
• Use italics for titles of books, journals, magazines, and newspapers.
• Indent the second and subsequent lines of each reference.