APA is a citation format that follows guidelines described in the American Psychological Association’s Publication Manual. MLA, which stands for Modern Language Association, is a completely different format, so make sure you use a proper citation style in your papers. Usually, APA style is used in the social sciences, while in the humanities, MLA is the most common format. There is also a big difference between APA research papers that present the author’s own study and APA research papers that focus on a certain topic, providing research of existing sources. In this tutorial, we will focus on the latter type.
APA research papers also have a distinctive structure that includes:
- a separate title page;
- an abstract;
- an introduction;
- a review of the used literature;
- a chapter devoted to findings;
- a discussion of the results;
- a reference list;
- additional chapters.
Writing papers according to APA format, you need to make sure every element of the paper follows guidelines of the American Psychological Association.
Write the title of the research project on the title page, add your name, the name of your class, and a running head. A running head is a distinctive feature of APA format. It includes a short version of the title and is written at the top of the page.
The abstract is a section that summarizes the whole paper and the results of the research. This chapter is especially important for professors, allowing them to quickly evaluate your work and determine whether it’s relevant. The abstract focuses only on the most important points, being concise and coherent. Most often, students write this part when the whole paper is complete, as the abstract must briefly summarize the entire research.
The research itself begins with the introduction. The introduction explains the topic of the paper and methods used by the author to consider this problem. The introduction may also contain a hypothesis that represents the author’s expectations which may be confirmed or refuted when the author gets the results.
The literature review is the most difficult, and often the longest part of the research paper. It’s a detailed and logical review of the existing sources on the topic. A properly written literature review must contain a detailed outline of findings of each study along with all author’s methods and procedures.
The results section formulates certain conclusions regarding the existing history of research, examining the most important findings in the context of the topic.
The reference chapter is the last section of the research paper. It contains a list of used sources. Here you need to include all sources that were cited in the main section of the paper, specifying authors’ names, years of publications, and other details that can help your readers find these sources.
Sometimes APA research papers also include an appendix that contains the additional data on some important details of the study. If some information is too long to include it in the body of the paper, the author can include it in the appendix, to keep the entire text more focused.
APA research papers require the author to spend a lot of time and follow strict instructions. If you want to get more information about the APA citation style, check the APA Publication Manual.
Research Papers — MLA Style
MLA is another common citation format created by Modern Language Association. Just as APA, it has numerous rules of formatting. MLA research papers include citations and footnotes. Most often, this style is used in graduate school, high school, undergraduate school, and even in doctoral programs.
All MLA papers begin with a title page. The title itself is centered and written in the upper ⅓ part of the sheet. After the title, the author writes his or her name, the date, and the title of the course. Many professors also ask their students to include additional data on the title page, such as their names, or numbers of courses.
MLA style requires you to write all papers using Times New Roman font (12 pt), with double spaces. Every page must have one-inch margins from all sides, and every paragraph must be indented by ½ inch from the left side (you can just press the TAB key). In the upper right corner of every page, except the first one, you should specify the page number. However, different professors may provide you with some additional requirements.
MLA style also has specific requirements regarding citations. Instead of writing endnotes at the end of every page, they all are written on a separate page. A research paper should also have a particular Works Cited chapter, where all used sources are listed according to MLA citation format. MLA style may vary depending on the type of work. For example, MLA rules for journals and books are different from citation guidelines for websites.
MLA style is commonly used at all levels of study. Given the popularity of this style, some students confuse it with another format — AP (Associated Press). Indeed, these two styles are somewhat similar, but they are used for different purposes. AP style is used by journalists, while MLA is more common in academic works. These styles also have different requirements regarding citations.
Those students who study journalism and English need to be familiar with both MLA and AP formats, being able to switch between them when working on different types of papers.
Research Papers — Chicago Style
Another common style for research papers is Chicago. Its distinctive features are in-text citations, footnotes, and endnotes. Chicago style also implies the use of content notes. Chicago style is popular in history and social sciences.
Compared to APA or MLA, Chicago style offers more options for a research paper writer, as it provides more information about a source than just an author’s name and a date of publication. The information is presented in the text and in footnotes. This approach allows readers to quickly check the reference and read more about the source. In turn, the writer gets an opportunity to comment his or her references on-the-go, making sure readers understand the presented material in a proper context.
Most often, if professors ask students to use Chicago style, it means that they need footnotes and endnotes. On the other hand, research papers written in Chicago style include in-text citations that provide readers only with the author’s last name, the number of pages, and the date of publication. These footnotes are suitable only for short papers. If you’re not sure that you follow all rules of Chicago style properly, check the Chicago Manual of Style.
In-text notes, content notes, footnotes, and endnotes are indicated by a number. It’s a superscript, which means that this number is written in a smaller font than the rest of the paper, and it appears above the line. Almost all modern text editors allow you to insert footnotes automatically, formatting the number and the reference. Usually, the whole paper is written in 12-point font, while footnotes are completed in 10-point font. Endnotes, which are a separate section of the paper, are completed in the same font as the rest of the paper. When including a reference for the first time, you need to use the full citation, both in endnotes and footnotes. After this, you can stick to an abbreviated citation.
Even though Chicago style allows you to provide enough information about used sources in text, you still need to include a bibliography section in your research paper. In the bibliography chapter, you need to list all sources in alphabetical order. We suggest checking the Chicago Manual of Style for more details.
Dissertations — APA Style
APA dissertations are, probably, the most difficult papers in terms of research and time. They are impossible to write fast and require a writer to provide a detailed research and analysis of sources. The American Psychological Association’s style is popular not only in psychology but also in many other humanities-related disciplines.
APA dissertations must meet a number of simple requirements, such as:
- 1-inch margins;
- a bibliography;
- a cover page that is written according to a proper format;
- a header with a page number and an abbreviated title;
- double spaces;
- the following chapters:
- an abstract
- an introduction
- a literature review
- methodology
- analysis of results and data
- a conclusion
Most instructors agree that students should start writing APA dissertations at the end. In other words, they have to gather all sources for references. The most important thing about references is that you cannot add new references as you write a paper. Sometimes students start writing their dissertation and then realize that they need additional sources to clarify some details that appear as their arguments evolve. To avoid such situations, we suggest sticking to the initial list of references.
In APA dissertations, students may use either quantitative or qualitative methods. If you’re one of those who doesn’t know the difference between these approaches, we can explain it simply. Quantitative data includes statistical information and any numerical data that supports your arguments. Usually, students know in advance what they need to support their thesis. On the other hand, sometimes the used data may disprove the thesis. This is the worst outcome for anyone who writes an APA dissertation because the main purpose of such papers is presenting a cohesive theory.
Writing a dissertation, you can use such data as words, pictures, and any other objects that can be analyzed in the context of your research. There are some people who think that certain types of dissertations are more credible than others. However, most instructors agree that the final result is much more important than the used format. The main thing is to provide evidence and facts. To learn more about APA style, check the latest edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Essays — MLA Style
Most often, MLA style is used in humanities. Many students like this style because of its simplicity. In terms of formatting, MLA essays are, in general, quite similar to reports that you wrote during your primary and secondary education.
On the first page, students include their full name, the number and the name of a course, their instructor’s name, and a submission date. Sometimes instructors also ask students to add their identification number and other information. Make sure you include any additional information that is necessary.
Writing an MLA report, you need to include a header. It must contain the author’s last name. In the right corner, you need to specify the page number. Using any modern text editor, you can create headers automatically, so that there’s no need for entering all the information manually. The last name and the page number are separated with five blank spaces.
MLA reports also have a title that reflects the general message of your work. Keep in mind that your title shouldn’t be provocative or offensive. Separate the title block from your name using double-spacing and center it. Don’t forget about the rules of capitalization.
According to MLA format, students must use easy-to-read fonts. For example, you can use Arial or Times New Roman. As for the size, we suggest choosing a 12-point font, however, some instructors ask students to use 14-point fonts. You should use one-inch margins and double spaces throughout the whole document. Separate paragraphs with a blank line, and indent new paragraphs with an additional ½ inch.
MLA style is popular due to its simple rules of citation. While other styles imply the use of complicated quotes, footnotes, and endnotes, MLA style allows students to use simple citations in parentheses everywhere in the text where they need to make a reference. Every citation consists of the author’s last name and the page number, separated by a comma.
Citations are very important because they provide an audience with the information on the original author of a certain phrase or idea. When students forget about the rules of citation or defy them intentionally, this is called plagiarism, which is considered academic dishonesty. Thus, we suggest always citing sources. MLA essays also require an author to include a particular bibliography section at the end of the document.
Term Papers — Chicago Style
To write a Chicago style term paper, one needs to follow the Chicago Manual of Style. This publication describes all details about the citations and rules of formatting. Most often, Chicago style is used in history courses, however, sometimes humanities professors also ask their students to use Chicago style in their papers.
Chicago style has a number of features that make it different from both MLA and APA. Thus, you cannot use only a few elements of Chicago style, combining them with elements of other styles. All styles are different and each one of them has certain specific requirements for citing, formatting, and writing.
The most important thing about Chicago style is properly formatted references. There are two options available for students who write documents using the Chicago style. The first way to include a reference is to use parentheses at the end of a sentence (here is how it looks). Another option is to list all used sources in footnotes at the bottom of the page. To indicate a reference, writers use superscripted numbers. If you don’t know which approach to use, ask your professor. Chicago style term papers also require you to write a complete list of used sources in a Bibliography section.
Most often, when writing a Chicago style paper, there’s no need for a separate title page, however, some professors may provide you with their own requirements. If you don’t have any specific instructions, just include the title of the report on the first page. After this, add your name, the name of the course, and your instructor’s name. This information must be written at the top, near the left margin. Use double spaces and make sure all pages have their numbers, even the first one.
Chicago style also implies certain rules regarding style and grammar. If you have any problems with your paper and you don’t know how to use abbreviation, capitalization, or punctuation, check the Chicago Manual of Style for more information.
Term Papers — APA Style
This style is used according to the guidelines of the American Psychological Associationю Initially, this style was used in psychology only, but now it’s popular in many other disciplines. In the humanities, most writers use MLA style, but in social sciences, APA style is much more common. APA is also popular in business, nursing, education, etc. We are going to address only the main principles of APA style.
The first thing you need to understand in order to write a successful APA term paper is the purpose of such texts. This style was created for papers on psychology, which determines its investigative nature. Most often, APA term papers are focused on studies of other authors. Given that most sources in psychology and social sciences are frequently updated, this style requires you to include the year of publication along with the author’s name. This is a distinctive feature of APA style that makes it different from MLA. This feature also illustrates the difference between the humanities and social sciences. In the humanities, students use sources that don’t change, for example, works of art. Writing an APA term paper, we suggest paraphrasing sources instead of writing direct quotes. This is another feature of this style that makes it different from MLA.
APA style also implies creating a specific structure of the document. You need to use headings. There are five levels of headings available, but in term papers, you’ll likely use only one or two levels. Headings should clearly indicate the topic of each section. If some topic is broad and includes several sub-categories, you should also make sub-headings for each of them.
We have already mentioned that paraphrasing is preferred over direct quoting, but there is another important feature of APA style. The whole paper must be written in past tense. If your source uses the present tense, you must rephrase it using past tense.
As for fonts and spaces, this style is similar to others. You need to use a 12-point font and double spaces. APA papers also include a title page with the author’s name and the name of the course, along with the current semester or academic term. The body of the paper must begin on the next page after the title page.
All APA papers must include a separate references section. It follows the main part of the text, before appendices. References section should meet all APA requirements and be completed in 12-point font, with double spaces.
As we mentioned above, APA papers also include the year in which the source was published. Citations also should contain the author’s name. If you’re paraphrasing a certain source, there’s no need to include the page number.
To learn more about APA style, check the APA Style Manual. This is a comprehensive and complete source on the rules of APA style.
Term Papers — MLA Style
MLA format is very commonly used in academic writing. Most often, when students get a term paper assigned, professors suggest that they will use MLA style. Its rules are relatively simple, and all MLA reports look quite similar.
There are some specific requirements regarding the format of MLA papers. First of all, you need to check MLA guidelines to understand how you should compose content in your paper.
Sometimes professors provide their students with MLA guidelines. Otherwise, you can check various printed and online sources. If you don’t have any particular recommendations regarding the style of your academic paper, it means that most likely, you need to complete it in MLA style, as it’s the most popular style for reports.
MLA style requires you to begin the document with a title page that includes the title of the report, your name, and the course number. Sometimes you may also specify a submission date.
All pages must be numbered in the upper right corner. The number of the page is preceded by the author’s last name written in all capital letters. Most often, you don’t need to write a number on the first page, but some professors may ask you to do so.
Use double spaces and 12-point Times New Roman font. Don’t forget about margins. You need to make one-inch margins from each side of the sheet (top, bottom, right, left). Writing a new paragraph, indent the first line with five spaces, or just press the Tab key.
The main thing about formatting is that all papers must look the same when it comes to submitting them. Professors want to see that students followed all instructions and presented the necessary amount of data. It’s also very important to make a proper References section.
Some students need to format their term papers according to APA style, especially in case their work is related to sciences. APA style, in general, has a lot in common with the traditional standards of scientific papers.
Research Essays — APA Style
APA style is one of the standard formatting styles used in writing academic documents. It is different from papers written in Chicago or MLA style, and this style may be required at any level of study. Thus, if you want to succeed in writing academic papers, you need to be familiar with all the details of this style.
To write a proper APA research essay, students must understand the purpose of such papers. This type of papers includes some informal elements, being somewhat simpler than other academic assignments. For example, it allows you to provide the first-person perspective and express your personal opinion. Research essays are also shorter than more formal research papers.
To write an essay, you need to research a certain topic and analyze findings. Your personal opinion is especially important, so you need to provide it even in case the whole essay isn’t written in first person.
There are some general requirements of APA style that apply to research essays as well. The whole paper must be formatted according to APA guidelines.
Writing APA essays, students use 12-point or 10-point Times New Roman font. The text should be aligned to the left, with margins from every side of the sheet. You also need to use double-spacing and include a separate cover page according to APA format.
The cover page is one of the main differences between APA style and other formats. Along with the title of the document, APA papers should include a title abstract. This section is written at the top of the first page. All pages have their numbers, including the first one.
Even though MLA and APA essays are somewhat similar, you need to make sure that your paper meets all the requirements regarding the format of the paper. If you’re not sure what a certain section of your paper should look like, just ask your professor for instructions.
Literature Reviews — APA Style
To write a literature review according to standards of the American Psychological Association, you need to be familiar with APA guidelines regarding references and all the sections of the document.
According to the rules of APA style, the whole document must be written using 12-point or 10-point Times New Roman font, with one-inch margins. You also need to use double spaces.
Write a header at the top of the page, and include page numbers on the right side of every page. The header should also include a shortened version of the title, separated from the page number with five spaces.
APA literature reviews consist of four main parts: a title page, an abstract, the main part (body), and references.
Unlike MLA style, APA requires you to include a header on the title page. After this, you should include a running head aligned to the left. It also should contain the shortened version of the title. After this, at the center of the page, write the title of your work, the name of your university, and your professor’s name.
The literature review itself starts with the abstract. This is a short section, so you don’t need to make it longer than one or two paragraphs, even if the whole paper is long. Keep it simple and concise.
The body part follows the abstract. It also consists of several sections, such as an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion part. Making references, you need to include properly formatted citations in the text, and add a specific References section at the end of the document. There are various citation formats that are used for different types of sources.
There are many differences between MLA and APA styles. First of all, APA style requires you to include a title page with the running header. Depending on the type of your document, you may need to use different fonts. Make sure to follow your professor’s instructions to write a good paper.
APA: Bibliography and Style
To provide readers with more information about used sources, writers need to include a bibliography section. Many professors focus their attention on the student’s ability to create proper APA citations.
There are some strict rules of citation that every student should know when writing APA papers. First of all, you need to use double spaces throughout the whole document. However, sometimes single spaces are used for final manuscripts. Writing papers for some course, you need to ask your professor for detailed instructions.
In the References section, you need to list all used sources in alphabetical order, beginning with authors’ names. You need to include an author’s full last name, while the author’s middle name and second name must be written in a form of initials. After that, specify the title of the source, and the date of publication.
There are also rules of APA style regarding the capitalization of first letters. Writing titles, you need to capitalize only the first word. The same applies to subtitles as well. On the other hand, when writing titles of newspaper or journal articles, you should capitalize all words except articles and other insignificant words.
Referring to magazine articles, specify the date of publication (month and day). You also need to specify the date of a web publication. If there’s no such information on the source website, just use “n.d.” instead of the date.
APA style isn’t simple, so if you want to write a successful paper, you need to be familiar with all its requirements. Most often, instructors provide students with specific instructions, but you need to know the rules of formatting before you start finalizing your paper.
Research Papers — APA Style
Most students need to cope with countless research assignments during their education. Research papers must be written according to certain citation formats and styles. APA style includes rules that regulate the use of references. The latest version of its manual was published in 2001. If you have any questions about this style, check the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Some styles don’t have strict rules regarding the title page, while APA requires you to always include a separate cover page. At the top of it, you must include a “running head.” It’s a shortened version of the title aligned to the left. At the center of the page, write the title of your paper, your name, and the name of your university.
Each page must be numbered in the top right corner. You also should use double spaces and indent each new paragraph by ½ inch (5-7 spaces). Double-spacing is necessary for all parts of the document, even the title page. All pages except the title page must be aligned left. APA style also recommends that you include an abstract on the second page, before the body of the paper.
Headings must outline the content of paragraphs. Main headings are centered, while secondary headings should be aligned left. You can use uppercase and lowercase letters. Don’t type headings in bold letters and don’t use any other specific formatting.
Reference pages are necessary parts of APA documents. All authors must be listed in alphabetical order. Depending on the type of the source, you may use different format of in-text citations, so check the Publication Manual for more details. As for the References section, it should begin at a new page, with the centered header “References.” Don’t forget to indent every listed item of your list by ½ inch.
Sample Research Papers — MLA
Sample research papers in MLA format help students better understand rules of formatting described by the Modern Language Association. This style is common in the academic world, yet being less popular in professional writing.
The basic principles of MLA formatting are somewhat similar to other styles. You must use double spaces and 12-point Times New Roman font. A distinctive feature of MLA format is the use of a single space after any punctuation mark. Your text must have 1-inch margins from every side of the paper, and each new paragraph must be indented by ½ inch.
When citing sources, you need to use either underlined text or italics. All endnotes are written in a particular section, separately from the Works Cited part. To include a citation in the text, use parentheses, and specify the page number after the author’s last name: (Smith 6).
You must write your citations in different ways, depending on the type of your source. Citing websites, you need to format references in a different way than when citing books. Usually, every MLA research paper contains examples of different citations.
Some students confuse MLA style with AP (Associated Press). These styles are completely different. AP is mostly used by journalists. This is a reason why students who study English and media writing need to be familiar with both these styles. MLA is an academic style, and it’s focused on citations.
Research Paper Examples — APA
Students need to write APA research papers throughout their academic careers. These papers are very popular because they allow you to get a deep understanding of the subject and express your own opinion on findings of a research. All research papers should meet requirements of a certain style, for example, APA or MLA. Examples of research papers can help students understand the difference between these styles and their specific features.
If you want to write an outstanding APA research paper, we suggest taking a look at a paper written by a professional who is perfectly familiar with all academic requirements. Compare different research papers and think what methods should be used when writing on your topic.
Examples must be valid. All APA research papers must have a similar structure and be formatted in the same way. Thus, you need a sample that is well-written and meets all the necessary requirements.
Don’t forget to check the APA guidelines. It will help you understand whether the example of a research paper is written according to all standards. Don’t forget that the structure of the document and the style may vary depending on the type of the paper.
A cover page of an APA research paper should include a title abstract, followed by the title, the author’s name, page number, submission date, and other information. All pages except the title page must be written in 12-point Times New Roman, with ½ inch margins. Indent every new paragraph with five spaces, and use double spacing.
Even though APA and MLA styles have a lot in common, there are also many differences between them. To write a good paper, you need to know distinctive features of APA style.
Research Paper Examples — MLA Style
Many students get MLA research papers assigned. In this case, it’s useful for them to see examples of well-written papers. Some features of MLA research papers, such as specific appendices or cover pages are completely different from those of APA papers.
MLA format is one of the most common writing styles, and it’s used in various academic fields. Thus, there are many students who want to see examples of properly formatted papers in order to create their own work.
There are many sources where students can find examples of academic writing. Given that many professors have their own requirements regarding the structure of research papers, we suggest considering buying a custom paper online.
First of all, we suggest checking sources to make sure that an example of a research paper is written according to all the academic requirements. Most writing centers in universities have their own databases that contain detailed information on every citation style as well as examples of papers.
We also suggest comparing different papers so that you can understand what format is used when writing on any specific topic. On the other hand, MLA format also implies some general rules, such as 12-point Times New Roman font. MLA papers should also include a title page.
APA and MLA formats have a lot in common, so it may be difficult for some students to understand the difference between these two styles. Thus, you need to make sure that the example is written according to the rules of MLA style.
Research Paper Samples — APA
MLA and APA are two most common formats used in various areas of study. These styles have some features in common, but they are also different from each other. To better understand the difference between these formats, we suggest getting an example of a paper written in APA format.
APA research papers are written using 12-point Times New Roman font, with double spacing. The first line of each new paragraph should be indented by five spaces (or you can just press the Tab key). The content must have ½ inch margins from all sides, and every page of the report must be numbered.
Even though APA style has a lot in common with other styles, it has its distinctive features. For example, APA papers always include a title abstract.
There are many sources where students can find examples of APA academic papers. Given that many professors have their own requirements regarding the structure of research papers, we suggest buying a custom paper online. This approach will allow you to see what a paper on a particular topic should look like. However, sometimes professors may provide you with samples that reflect their own requirements.
If you see a sample paper, make sure that it meets all the necessary requirements of APA style. This format is somewhat similar to MLA, so it’s really important not to confuse them.
MLA Format
This is the most common format for college research papers. Usually, if students don’t get any specific instructions, it means that they should write their papers according to the rules of MLA style. Thus, this format is especially important for everyone.
To write a good MLA paper, you need to understand the purpose of this style and what makes it useful in academic writing. As research papers are very common at all levels of education, students must be perfectly familiar with citation formats.
There are many online sources where you can find detailed instructions on how to write MLA papers. Sometimes professors may provide you with additional instructions or recommend some specific sources. We also suggest checking examples of papers written according to MLA format.
MLA style requires you to write a title page at the beginning of the document. After the title of the paper, you should also specify your name, the course, the date, and your professor’s name.
Use 12-point Times New Roman font. All the content must be aligned to the left and double-spaced. Don’t forget that all pages must be numbered.
Keep in mind that there are also other common formats of academic writing. We suggest checking official guidelines to understand main differences between MLA and APA formats because they have some common features and it’s important not to confuse them.
The main difference between APA and MLA is seen in the references section and the title page.
Research Papers — APA Format
APA format is quite popular in the academic world. Even though this style was initially created for papers on psychology, it’s also used in many other disciplines. Papers written according to this standard contain in-text references and meet the formatting requirements of the American Psychological Association.
To write an APA paper, you should use double spaces, one-inch margins from all sides of a sheet, and indent the first line of every new paragraph with five to seven spaces (or pressing the Tab key). As for the font of the document, APA style requires you to use traditional 12-point Times New Roman. All pages must be numbered and contain a running head at the top.
APA style also has specific requirements regarding the structure of documents. The main purpose of a properly formatted document is to help readers get a grasp on the general meaning of the paper and to allow them to easily get the necessary information on any details. We suggest writing the first draft and then editing it, making sure that it meets all the necessary requirements. You also need to proofread all your papers to make sure they lack any grammatical mistakes. Not only need you to follow APA guidelines, but you also have to present your ideas in a logical order and organize your thoughts so that the final version of your paper will be easy to read. You can find many examples of properly written APA papers online, or you can also order custom writing and see what a paper written on a particular topic looks like.
Since APA research papers require you to use in-text citations, you need to know how to collect sources that reflect your thesis statement and the purpose of your paper. You must give credit to any source that you used in your paper, no matter is it a direct quote or a paraphrased element. Otherwise, you’ll face all the negative consequences of plagiarism. While some other styles require you to use footnotes, APA style allows you to create more accurate and concise documents, using in-text citations instead. On the other hand, you still need to include the References page at the end so that your readers can see the complete list of used sources.
Bibliography
Almost all research papers include a bibliography section that contains all the necessary information on used sources. Sometimes you may use only a few sources, but long research papers imply writing a long Bibliography section with dozens of various sources. However, there is a recommended minimum of five sources.
To complete the list of sources, you need to specify the title of each publication, the author’s name, publication date, publisher, and also pages that you refer to. There is no single format that is used for all types of sources. You need to use different approaches when citing magazines and books. Usually, professors provide students with detailed instructions on what their bibliographies must look like.
Sometimes you may need to include only sources that you cited in your paper, but sometimes you may write references for all sources that you used in your work, even if you don’t use direct quotes or paraphrased sentences from them. The longer type of bibliography is usually required for dissertations and term papers.
If you’ve used some other dissertation in your work, you shouldn’t just copy the bibliography section from it. You need to include only sources that are actually used in your paper. Don’t include any second-hand sources in your own bibliography section.
It’s important to understand the difference between a bibliography and footnotes. Sometimes footnotes may contain references, which makes them somewhat similar to a bibliography. Just keep in mind that footnotes don’t reflect the complete list of used sources, they are aimed to clarify a particular idea mentioned in a certain paragraph. If you include some references in your footnotes, make sure to mention them in the bibliography as well.
Research Paper Samples — APA
Sample papers allow students to understand what a properly formatted APA document should look like. APA style is often used by journalists. Having a sample paper, you can easily understand what font, margins, and structure to use.
All the rules of APA style are described in a style guide. Strict guidelines allow students to write papers with the same structure that meet all the necessary academic standards. Some professors may prefer one or another style, but most often, students need to use APA and MLA formats.
Most styles have some features in common. For example, 10-point and 12-point Times New Roman font is used in almost all academic papers. Writing an APA paper, you also need to make 1-inch margins from all sides. These rules allow professors to check and evaluate papers faster, seeing the overall structure and the word count.
Even though many styles have some common features, they usually differ when it comes to cover pages. Writing an APA paper, not only should you include a title on the title page, but you also need to write a title abstract to describe the title of your work. After that, you also need to write one to two paragraphs of abstract for the whole paper.
If a professor asks you to use a particular style, it means that he or she expects you to follow all the rules of this style. Sometimes it’s hard to create a proper format, so you may benefit from getting a well-written sample paper.
MLA and APA are two of the most common formats, and students often need to deal with them. Thus, you must understand the difference between these two styles and not confuse them. First of all, cover pages are formatted in different ways. Secondly, the page numbers are placed differently, so any instructor can immediately see what style you’ve used.
Research Papers — MLA Format
Usually, all professors have their own requirements when it comes to academic writing. However, there are some common styles of formatting, and MLA is one of them. All students need to strictly follow all the requirements of style if they want to get high marks.
APA is another popular format, and it’s somewhat similar to MLA, so it’s important to distinguish these styles and use them properly. These formats also have different purposes. For example, APA is more popular among journalists, while MLA is the most common format for academic papers.
MLA research papers always have a cover page that contains the title written in the center of the sheet. The title is followed by the author’s name, the course title, and the date.
MLA format also implies using 1-inch margins and 12-point Times New Roman font. Every new paragraph must be indented with five spaces. You can also use the Tab key.
At the top of every page, write your last name and the page number. This applies to all pages except the title page. Sometimes professors may ask you to specify page numbers only.
APA and MLA formats have a lot in common, however, they have many different features. It’s important to use only one format throughout the document and not to combine elements of different styles. It’s easy to see the difference between MLA and APA by just looking at the cover page. APA papers always have a title abstract and a page number on the first page.
APA Research Paper Sections
APA research papers are long and they provide readers with an accurate research of a certain topic. APA style has a number of strict requirements, and it’s quite different from all other formats of academic writing. To learn more about the rules of APA style, check the APA Publication Manual.
No matter what format you choose, the content of a research paper will always have almost the same structure. A research paper should contain a list of sources and original ideas about the topic as a whole. To write an APA research paper, you need to spend a lot of time and be deeply involved in the writing process. Your thoughts must be properly organized and logically connected.
APA papers begin with the title page that contains the title of the research, your name, your course, your professor’s name, and the name of your institution. Another distinctive feature of APA format is a running head. It should contain the shortened version of the title and be written on the left side of the title page.
A research paper should include an abstract. The abstract summarizes the most important points of the whole paper.
The main part of the paper (the body) may vary depending on the chosen topic and the area of study. All APA research papers must have several separate sections, and each one of them should have its own heading. Usually, instructors provide their students with the necessary information on the required structure.
The body is a section where you describe and explain your findings. You can use direct quotes, but the rules of APA style suggest that you prefer to paraphrase content. We recommend that you include direct quotes only if paraphrasing doesn’t allow you to express your ideas clearly. Both quotes and paraphrases should be formatted according to APA guidelines, including the author’s name, the year of publication, and page numbers.
The last section of APA papers is the References chapter, where all used sources are listed alphabetically. Check the APA Publication Manual for more details.
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