APA 7th Edition Guide: APA Paper Format

Your APA style paper should include the following major sections:

1. Title Page
2. Abstract
3. Main Body
4. References

You should also have the page number in the top right corner of each page, beginning with the title page.

An example APA style student paper can be found at Purdue OWL.

More information on formatting your paper, see chapter 2 of the APA Publication Manual.

Your title page should include:

1. Title of the paper
2. Your name
3. Institution (Ventura College)
4. Course number and name
5. Instructor name
6. Assignment due date

Your abstract should summarize the main points of your paper.  It should include your research topic or question, any findings or analysis, and your conclusions or implications of your research. The abstract should be one paragraph, double-spaced, and is usually no more than 250 words.  Check with your instructor for any specific instructions they may have for this piece of your paper.

The main body of your paper should be organized using headings.  There are five levels of headings.  Always begin a section with the highest level of heading and move through them in order.