Structure
Your APA paper should include four major sections: Title Page, Abstract, Main Paper, and References and Citations.

1. TITLE PAGE
Title Page contains the topic, your name, curse number and instructor, the name of a University, date.

2. ABSTRACT (brief summary of the paper)
• An abstract page should include the page header. On the first line of the abstract page, center the word “Abstract” (no bold, formatting, italics, underlining, or quotation marks).
• Beginning with the next line, write a concise summary of the key points of your research. (Do not indent.) An abstract should summarize your research topic, research questions, methods, results, data analysis, and conclusions.
• Your abstract should be a single paragraph double-spaced. Your abstract should be between 150 and 250 words.

3. MAIN PAPER (will have four distinct parts):
I. INTRODUCTION (background information on the topic or a brief comment leading into the subject matter – up to 2 pages)
• In general, all papers should begin with an introduction that includes a thesis statement.
• The purpose of the introduction is the same as any research paper: in one to two paragraphs, briefly introduce and state the issue to be examined.
• The introduction always states what you are trying to prove/disprove in the paper.

II. THESIS STATEMENT
• The most important part of your introduction is this statement.
• The thesis statement is the direction of your paper.
• Your thesis must always be underlined in everything you turn in.

III. BODY
• Paragraphs have no less than four but no more than six sentences.
• Each body paragraph should include a topic sentence. Topic sentences explain/summarize what will be addressed in the paragraph. These topic sentences also act as transitions to create a coherent argument.
• Transitions link paragraphs together and unite the overall position of your argument.
• Paragraphs support the particular thesis statement with evidence/examples.
• The body of your paper should clearly show that your argument/critique/analysis is moving in a certain direction (the direction outlined in your introduction).

IV. CONCLUSION
• Bring cohesion to your paper by clearly reiterating your main points.
• Summarize your themes and sub-points.
• Explain what was suggested in the body of your paper.
• Tie up your argument and drive home your thesis statement.
• You should attempt to show that your thesis has been proven.

4.REFERENCES AND CITATIONS
Main resource materials:
• Primary source documents should be the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Fortune, Forbes, Business Week, the Economist (it is important to utilize at least two of the above named sources), and Internet sites.

Note:
• wiki’s and blogs are not acceptable sources.
• How many sources should you have? No less than seven and no more than eleven.

PAPER FORMAT
• Paper length: 8-10 pages (not including title and reference pages)
• 12 point font with 1 inch margins
• Double-spaced
• Headings (where appropriate)
• Your paper’s safe assignment originality score of no more than 25% (you will need to submit your final paper into safeAssign)
• Your thesis always underlined.

OUTLINE
Writing an outline is the first step of your work on the course project.
An outline is a detailed organizational plan of your paper. It breaks down the parts of your thesis in a clear, hierarchical manner to help you see the overall format of your paper.
To prepare your outline
1. Formulate a thesis statement. (A thesis statement is a main idea, a central point of your research paper. The arguments you provide in your paper should be based on this central idea, that is why it is so important. Do some critical thinking and write your thesis statement down in one sentence. Your research paper thesis statement is like a declaration of your belief. The main portion of your essay will consist of arguments to support and defend this belief.)
2. Order your main subtopics. Think of at least two points for each category. … Expand upon your points with sub-points if necessary. …
3. Think about your conclusion.
Note: an outline (working outline) is a tool helping you put down and organize your ideas. It is subject to revision, addition and canceling. That is, it should show your progress in sufficient details but it is not final.
In-Text Citations (APA Format)
• Rather than footnotes or endnotes, APA Format uses in-text citations.
• Avoid plagiarizing through the use of in-text citations that identify ideas, information or words from a particular source. APA still requires a bibliography!
• For help: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html

TIPS
• Facts with specifics are the core of the research. Use diagrams and tables to illustrate the facts. Explain to a reader the meaning of your diagrams or exhibits.
• As a general rule you should avoid writing in first or second person subject or possessive (singular or plural). Instead write in the third person. For example, use “it” not “I” or “we or you”; for example, “The evidence” suggests that …” verses “I think that …” or “We believe that …”
• Do not use contractions (can’t, don’t, couldn’t…)
• Start early.
• Proofread for clarity, punctuation and spelling.
• Do not end sentences with a preposition.
• Avoid colloquial language and clichés!
• Did your paper overly rely on a one or two source documents?
• Your paper’s word count (proportions) should breakdown, roughly along the following lines: Intro and Thesis 20%; Body 70%; Conclusion 10%.