How to Write a Research Paper

APA Style

Your Instructor

Is ALWAYS

Right!

Rule Number One:

8 ½” x 11” paper Double-space EVERYTHING 10/12 pt. Times New Roman font, left aligned 2 spaces after punctuation 1 inch margins, all around Indent paragraphs 1” (first line only) Header (running head) – 50 characters max.

◦ Title-ALL CAPS◦ Page number-upper right cornerhttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

General Guidelines:

Page Header (use Insert Page Header)◦ Running Head: TITLE IN ALL CAPS◦ Page number flush, upper right

Title◦ Upper half of page, centered, double-spaced

Title-12 words max No abbreviations 1 or 2 lines

Your Name-no titles or degrees Concorde Career College

Title Page

Abstract Page Page Header

◦ Do not include “running head”◦ TITLE IN ALL CAPS◦ Page number flush upper right

Abstract ◦ Centered, top of page◦ No bold, italics, underline, quotation marks◦ No indent◦ 150-250 word summary of paper (one paragraph)

Accurate Concise Specific

◦ Keywords, optional Indent Keywords:

Title◦ Top◦ Centered

Content◦ Indent 1”◦ Double-space◦ No breaks

Citations◦ Intext◦ parenthetical

Main Body

References (no bold, italics, underline)◦ Top of page◦ Centered

Double-space Hanging indent Alphabetical, by author

References Page

Last name, Initial. Alphabetize by last name of first author Capitalize only first word of title and subtitle, first word after a

colon or dash in the title and proper nouns Do not capitalize the second word in a hyphenated compound

word Capitalize major words in journal titles Italicize titles of longer works (books, journals) Do not italicize shorter works (articles, essays)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/05/

References: basics

DatabasesAnd More!

Gale Resources PubMed Central Local Libraries (Need card and PIN)

◦ Kansas City Missouri Public Library◦ Kansas City Kansas Public Library◦ Mid Continent Public Library◦ Johnson County Public Library

Google Scholar

Databases

Gale PowerSearch Limiters

◦ Full Text◦ Peer Reviewed

Search Type◦ Keyword◦ Subject◦ Publication Title◦ Entire Document

Limit Results Format Advanced Search

◦ AND- limits results◦ OR- expands results

Citationshttp://10.10.99.160/sites/KansasCity-MO/SitePages/Home.aspx

Database Search: Basics

PubMed Central (tutorials) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/advanced/ Public Libraries (ask librarians for

assistance) Google Scholar http://scholar.google.com/

◦ Scholarly articles online◦ Related works, citations, authors, and publications

LRC◦ Catalog◦ Current Periodicals

Additional Resources

OutlinesLet’s Get Organized!

FIRST LEVEL HEADINGS—ALL CAPS◦ Secondary and beyond—Upper and lower case◦ Sample outline:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20081113013048_544.pdf

Outlines: Basics

Parallelism◦ Headings and subheadings should preserve

parallel structure◦ Example:

I. CHOOSE DESIRED COLLEGEII. PREPARE APPLICATION

Components

Coordination◦ Heading levels should indicate same level of

significance of information◦ Example:

A. Visit and evaluate college campusesB. Visit and evaluate college websites

1. Look for interesting classes2. Note important statistics

Components (cont.)

Subordination◦ Headings-more general◦ Subheadings-more specific◦ Example:

a. Describe an influential person in your life(1) Favorite high school teacher(2) Grandparent

b. Describe a challenging life event

Components (cont.)

Division◦ Every heading should have 2 or more parts◦ Example:

A. List relevant courseworkB. List work experienceC. List volunteer experience

1. Tutor at foreign language summer camp2. Counselor for suicide prevention hotline

Components (cont.)

Determine purpose of paper Determine audience Develop thesis statement

◦ one- or two-sentence condensation of the argument or analysis that is to follow to test your ideas by distilling them into a sentence

or two to better organize and develop your argument to provide your reader with a “guide” to your

argument

How to Create an Outline

Brainstorm◦ Ideas to include

Organize◦ Group related ideas

Order ◦ Arrange subsections

General to specific Abstract to concrete

Label◦ Create main and sub headings

Sample Outline:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20081113013048_544.pdf

Then…

Questions?

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/ http://www.gale.cengage.com/powersearch/enhanced/

Resources used: