Paper Writing Tips: Categories
Format for Research Paper: Unimpeachable Order
One of the key success factors of your assignments is your research paper format. Bringing the format of research paper in compliance with the standard requirements testifies for your academic competence and earns you extra points. Below you can find some advice on how to format a research paper.
Format for Research Paper: Margins, Font, Spacing
- 1-inch margins on all sides.
- 12-pt. easily readable font (e.g. Times New Roman, Courier, Arial).
- Double spacing.
Format for Research Paper: Text Alignment, Paragraph Indentation, and Pagination
- Flush left the text, leaving an uneven right margin.
- Indent the first paragraph line half-inch (or 5 spaces).
- Number every page in the upper right margin, half-inch from the top and flush with the right margin:
- in APA style the page number is preceded by the student’s name;
- MLA style requires a shortened title of the paper preceding the page number.
Format for Research Paper: Title Page
- MLA style does no require any. Instead, in the top left-hand corner of the first page put your name, teachers name, course name, and submission date on separate lines. Proceed further with the title and the text.
- APA style presupposes the following design of the title page:
- below the page number type the running head in capital letters, flush left and precede by the words "Running head:";
- below type the centered paper title, your name, school name, all on separate lines in upper and lower case letters.
Format for Research Paper: Tables and Illustrations
- MLA style requires tables and illustrations immediately in the text they refer to.
- APA style allows putting tables and illustrations at the end of the paper.
Format for Research Paper: Major Sections
The major sections appear in the following order:
- Title page, Abstract, Body, Footnotes, References, Appendixes.
Remember to consult your instructors for any individual research paper format requirements they might have!
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