how to write a title page for a research paper apa style

APA Title Page (Cover Page) Format, Example, & Templates

Saul McLeod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

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Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

In APA Style (7th edition), the cover page, or title page, should include:

• A running head (professional papers only) and page number
• The title of the paper
• The name of the author(s)
• The institutional affiliation
• An author note; optional (professional papers only)
• A student paper should also include course information

Note : APA 7 provides slightly different directions for formatting the title pages of professional papers (e.g., those intended for scholarly publication) and student papers (e.g., those turned in for credit in a high school or college course).

Professional paper APA title page

Student paper APA title page

Formatting an APA title page

Note : All text on the title page should be double-spaced and typed in either 12-point, Times New Roman font. In the 7th edition, APA increaded the flexibility regarding font options: which now include Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Times New Roman 12, or Georgia 11. All words should be centered, and capitalize the first letter of important words.

Running Head

In the 7th edition of the APA style manual, running heads are only required for professional papers that are being submitted for publication (student papers do not require a running head, but still need a page number).

Your title page should contain a running head that is flush left at the top of the page and a page number that is flush right at the top of the page.

Place the running head in the page’s header:

• The running head is the abbreviated title of the paper (IN UPPERCASE LETTERS) aligned left on the page header of all pages, including the title page. APA (7th edition) guidelines require that running heads be a maximum of 50 characters (spaces count as characters).
• The “Running head:” label used in the APA sixth edition is no longer used.
• Place the page number in this same header, but align right, beginning with page number 1 on the title page.
• This header should be 1 inch from the top. Some instructors allow for 1/2 inch, too, but the default is 1 inch.

Paper Title

Position the title of the paper in the upper half of the page. The title should be centered and written in boldface, and important words should be capitalized.

The APA recommends that your title should be a maximum of 12 words and should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose.

Author Name(s)

Institutional affiliation.

Position the school or university’s name below the author(s) name, centered.

A student paper should also include the course number and name, instructor name, and assignment due date.

Further Information

• APA Student Title Page Guide
• APA Referencing
• How to Write a Lab Report
• Essay Writing Guide for Psychology Students
• APA Style Citations & References
• Example of an APA Formatted Paper

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format / Formatting an APA title page

Formatting an APA title page

The title page is a requirement for all APA papers. The primary role of the title page is to present just that: the title. But that’s only the beginning of what is actually required for a properly formatted APA title page. This is the first chance a writer has to truly engage with the reader.

For students, the title page also lets people know which class, professor, and institution the text was written for. For professional authors, the title page is an opportunity to share any affiliations or conflicts of interest that might be present.

APA Style recognizes two different ways to format a title page. One is for student papers and the other is for professional papers. This guide will examine the difference and provide real-life examples of both.

The information provided below comes from the 7 th edition of the APA’s Publication Manual . You can read more about title page elements in Sections 2.1 – 2.8.

Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes:

The difference between a professional title page and a student title page in APA

Elements of an apa style title page, apa formatting title page example, conclusion: formatting a title page in apa 7.

Both student and professional title pages require a title, author, and an affiliation. Both types of title page also require the same basic formatting, including 1-inch indentations on all sides and a page number in the top right corner.

The primary difference is that professional title pages also require an author note and a running head. However, some professors do ask that you provide some of these elements in student papers. It’s a good idea to know how to format them just in case.

Student title page APA

An APA title page for any paper being submitted for a class, degree, or thesis is all about the basics. Here are the elements that should be included in a student title page :

• Title of your paper
• Byline (author or authors)
• Affiliation (department and university)
• Course name and course number
• Instructor name

Page number

Your professor or institution might have their own formatting requirements. When writing a paper for a class, the first rule is to always pay attention to the instructions.

Professional title page APA

A professional title page skips the class info and due date, but it includes:

• Affiliation (division and/or organization)
• Author note
• Running head

The author note and running head are generally only required for professional papers. However, some professors might ask that you include one or both of them. Be sure to check the assignment instructions before submitting.

The title of your paper is really important. This is where the author needs to simultaneously inform and engage the reader without being overly wordy.

An effective title will:

• Engage the reader
• Concisely explain the main topic of research
• Concisely explain any relevant variables or theoretical issues

The paper title should be placed three or four lines down from the top margin of the page. It should be presented in bold, title case, and centered on the page.

Author/Byline

The correct way to display the author’s name is first name, middle initial, and last name. The most important thing is to prevent the possibility of mistaken identity. After all, there are a lot of papers published every year, and it’s possible that someone else has the same name as you do.

For all author bylines in APA, all licenses and degrees are omitted (e.g., Dr., Professor, PhD, RN, etc.).

If your paper has multiple authors, then they should all be listed in the same way, in order of their contributions. All authors should be on the same line, unless more lines are required.

Here’s an example of a properly formatted byline for a paper with two authors:

Cassandra M. Berkman and Wilhelm K. Jackson

Affiliation

The affiliation element is where you identify the place where the work was conducted or who it was conducted for. This is almost always a university or institution. In some cases, there are multiple affiliations for one author, or multiple authors with different affiliations.

Academic affiliations

Academic affiliations include schools, universities, and teaching hospitals. The affiliation line should include the specific department followed by the name of the institution. There is no need to include a location for academic affiliations.

Here is an example of what a basic academic affiliation line should look like:

Department of Psychology, Colorado State University

Non-academic affiliations

Non-academic affiliations are anything that isn’t a school or university, which could be a hospital, laboratory, or just about any type of organization. The affiliation line for a non-academic organization should include the department or division, followed by the name and location of the organization. All elements should be separated by commas.

Here’s how it looks when put to use:

Vidant Health, Greenville, NC, United States

Course number and name (Student only)

Use the course number and course name as they appear on official university materials. Examples:

• ENG 204: Modern English Literature
• PSYC 2301: Research Methodology

Instructor name (Student papers only)

It’s important that you display your instructor’s name in their preferred way. With academics who have multiple degrees and positions, this isn’t something that you should guess at.

It is generally safe to use the course syllabus to see how they prefer to be listed. For example, some use the word “Professor” as their prefix, and many will have PhD, RN, or other type of professional designation.

Due date (Student papers only)

The due date should be presented in the day, month, and year format that is standard to your country.

The page number goes at the top right-hand side of the paper. This is one of the only elements that appears on every single page.

You can add running page numbers to your paper by double-clicking the header portion of the document or clicking the “Insert” tab. It will automatically insert page numbers into the rest of the document.

Author note (Professional papers only)

The author note is usually only required for professional papers. This is where additional data, disclaimers, conflicts of interest, and statements about funding are placed. In some cases, the author statement can be several pages long.

The author note is generally split into four paragraphs, including:

• ORCID iD (a scientific/academic author ID)
• Changes of Affiliation
• Disclosures and Acknowledgments
• Contact Information

Section 2.7 of the Publication Manual has even more information on how to structure these elements for a professional paper.

Running Head (Professional papers only)

While some student papers might require a running head, this is something that is typically only for papers being submitted for publication. This is an abbreviated version of your title that appears at the top of every page to help readers identify it. The running title is particularly useful especially in print versions of journals and publications.

The running head does not have to use the same words as they appear in your title. Instead, try to re-work your paper’s main idea into a shortened form.

For example, if your paper’s title is:

“A Mystery of Style: Exploring the Formatting Mechanics of the Running Head According  to APA Style 7th Edition”

Then your abbreviated title can be something like:

“RUNNING HEAD IN APA 7”

“FORMATTING THE RUNNING HEAD”

The idea is to convey only the most important aspects of your title. The running head should be entered in the page header, flush left against the margin, and presented in all-capital letters.

The APA suggests a maximum length of 50 characters (including spaces and punctuation) for a running head. If your title is already 50 characters and under, then you can use the whole thing as the running head.

Next, let’s have a look at an example of what a real APA title page looks like when it’s all put together.

Student title page formatting example

Professional title page formatting example

All papers written according to APA Style should have a properly formatted title page. Making sure that the title page elements are accurate and informative will help people access your work. It is also the first opportunity that you have as the author to establish credibility and engage the reader.

For more information on the basic elements of an APA paper, check out Chapter 2 of the Publication Manual or our guide on APA format .

Published October 28, 2020.

APA Formatting Guide

APA Formatting

• Annotated Bibliography
• Block Quotes
• et al Usage
• In-text Citations
• Multiple Authors
• Paraphrasing
• Page Numbers
• Parenthetical Citations
• Reference Page
• Sample Paper
• APA 7 Updates
• View APA Guide

Citation Examples

• Book Chapter
• Journal Article
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Website (no author)
• View all APA Examples

An APA title page provides the details of the paper, such as the title of the paper, author name, and author affiliation. APA title pages have two formats—one for professional papers and one for student papers.

The elements to be added on the title page of a professional paper (in order of appearance) are:

• Page number and running head: These elements appear in the header section. The page number appears at the top-right corner, whereas the running head appears at the top-left corner. If the title is too long, the running head is shortened to less than 50 characters.
• Title of the paper: It provides information about the paper. It is aligned center and set in bold.
• Names of the authors: It gives the names of the contributors to the paper and is aligned center.
• Affiliations of the authors: It gives the department and university details of the authors.
• Author note: It gives extra information about the authors.

In a student paper, the following details are included on the title page:

• Page number: This appears in the top-right corner of the header section.
• Title of the paper: It gives the reader an idea of the information in the paper. It appears in title case and bold. It is center-aligned.
• Names of the authors: The names of the contributors are added here. This field is also called the by-line.
• Affiliations of the authors: It includes the names of the authors’ departments and universities.
• Name of the course: The name of the course for which the paper is written is included in this field.
• Name of the instructor: Unlike the professional paper, the instructor’s name is included in a student paper.
• Due date of the assignment: The due date of the assignment is added here. The format is “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 22, 2017).

The title page information for APA is different for a professional paper and a student paper. As a student, you need to include the following details in the same order on the title page of your student paper.

• Page number: This appears in the header section. Set the page number in the top-right corner of the header.
• Title of the paper: Set it in title case and bold. Align it to the center.
• Names of the authors: Provide the names of the contributors. This field is also called the by-line.
• Affiliations of the authors: Include your department and university name.
• Name of the course: Provide the name of the course and course number for which the paper is written.
• Name of the instructor: Add the instructor’s name. There is no rigid rule on how to set the instructor’s name. You can set it according to the instructor’s preference.
• Due date of the assignment: Add the due date of the assignment. The format should be “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 23, 2021).

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A step-by-step guide for creating and formatting APA Style student papers

The start of the semester is the perfect time to learn how to create and format APA Style student papers. This article walks through the formatting steps needed to create an APA Style student paper, starting with a basic setup that applies to the entire paper (margins, font, line spacing, paragraph alignment and indentation, and page headers). It then covers formatting for the major sections of a student paper: the title page, the text, tables and figures, and the reference list. Finally, it concludes by describing how to organize student papers and ways to improve their quality and presentation.

The guidelines for student paper setup are described and shown using annotated diagrams in the Student Paper Setup Guide (PDF, 3.40MB) and the A Step-by-Step Guide to APA Style Student Papers webinar . Chapter 1 of the Concise Guide to APA Style and Chapter 2 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association describe the elements, format, and organization for student papers. Tables and figures are covered in Chapter 7 of both books. Information on paper format and tables and figures and a full sample student paper are also available on the APA Style website.

Basic setup

The guidelines for basic setup apply to the entire paper. Perform these steps when you first open your document, and then you do not have to worry about them again while writing your paper. Because these are general aspects of paper formatting, they apply to all APA Style papers, student or professional. Students should always check with their assigning instructor or institution for specific guidelines for their papers, which may be different than or in addition to APA Style guidelines.

Seventh edition APA Style was designed with modern word-processing programs in mind. Most default settings in programs such as Academic Writer, Microsoft Word, and Google Docs already comply with APA Style. This means that, for most paper elements, you do not have to make any changes to the default settings of your word-processing program. However, you may need to make a few adjustments before you begin writing.

Use 1-in. margins on all sides of the page (top, bottom, left, and right). This is usually how papers are automatically set.

Use a legible font. The default font of your word-processing program is acceptable. Many sans serif and serif fonts can be used in APA Style, including 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, 12-point Times New Roman, and 11-point Georgia. You can also use other fonts described on the font page of the website.

Line spacing

Double-space the entire paper including the title page, block quotations, and the reference list. This is something you usually must set using the paragraph function of your word-processing program. But once you do, you will not have to change the spacing for the entirety of your paper–just double-space everything. Do not add blank lines before or after headings. Do not add extra spacing between paragraphs. For paper sections with different line spacing, see the line spacing page.

Paragraph alignment and indentation

Align all paragraphs of text in the body of your paper to the left margin. Leave the right margin ragged. Do not use full justification. Indent the first line of every paragraph of text 0.5-in. using the tab key or the paragraph-formatting function of your word-processing program. For paper sections with different alignment and indentation, see the paragraph alignment and indentation page.

Page numbers

Put a page number in the top right of every page header , including the title page, starting with page number 1. Use the automatic page-numbering function of your word-processing program to insert the page number in the top right corner; do not type the page numbers manually. The page number is the same font and font size as the text of your paper. Student papers do not require a running head on any page, unless specifically requested by the instructor.

Title page setup

Title page elements.

APA Style has two title page formats: student and professional (for details, see title page setup ). Unless instructed otherwise, students should use the student title page format and include the following elements, in the order listed, on the title page:

• Paper title.
• Name of each author (also known as the byline).
• Affiliation for each author.
• Course number and name.
• Instructor name.
• Assignment due date.
• Page number 1 in the top right corner of the page header.

The format for the byline depends on whether the paper has one author, two authors, or three or more authors.

• When the paper has one author, write the name on its own line (e.g., Jasmine C. Hernandez).
• When the paper has two authors, write the names on the same line and separate them with the word “and” (e.g., Upton J. Wang and Natalia Dominguez).
• When the paper has three or more authors, separate the names with commas and include “and” before the final author’s name (e.g., Malia Mohamed, Jaylen T. Brown, and Nia L. Ball).

Students have an academic affiliation, which identities where they studied when the paper was written. Because students working together on a paper are usually in the same class, they will have one shared affiliation. The affiliation consists of the name of the department and the name of the college or university, separated by a comma (e.g., Department of Psychology, George Mason University). The department is that of the course to which the paper is being submitted, which may be different than the department of the student’s major. Do not include the location unless it is part of the institution’s name.

Write the course number and name and the instructor name as shown on institutional materials (e.g., the syllabus). The course number and name are often separated by a colon (e.g., PST-4510: History and Systems Psychology). Write the assignment due date in the month, date, and year format used in your country (e.g., Sept. 10, 2020).

Title page line spacing

Double-space the whole title page. Place the paper title three or four lines down from the top of the page. Add an extra double-spaced blank like between the paper title and the byline. Then, list the other title page elements on separate lines, without extra lines in between.

Title page alignment

Center all title page elements (except the right-aligned page number in the header).

Title page font

Write the title page using the same font and font size as the rest of your paper. Bold the paper title. Use standard font (i.e., no bold, no italics) for all other title page elements.

Text elements

Repeat the paper title at the top of the first page of text. Begin the paper with an introduction to provide background on the topic, cite related studies, and contextualize the paper. Use descriptive headings to identify other sections as needed (e.g., Method, Results, Discussion for quantitative research papers). Sections and headings vary depending on the paper type and its complexity. Text can include tables and figures, block quotations, headings, and footnotes.

Text line spacing

Double-space all text, including headings and section labels, paragraphs of text, and block quotations.

Text alignment

Center the paper title on the first line of the text. Indent the first line of all paragraphs 0.5-in.

Left-align the text. Leave the right margin ragged.

Block quotation alignment

Indent the whole block quotation 0.5-in. from the left margin. Double-space the block quotation, the same as other body text. Find more information on the quotations page.

Use the same font throughout the entire paper. Write body text in standard (nonbold, nonitalic) font. Bold only headings and section labels. Use italics sparingly, for instance, to highlight a key term on first use (for more information, see the italics page).

Headings format

For detailed guidance on formatting headings, including headings in the introduction of a paper, see the headings page and the headings in sample papers .

• Alignment: Center Level 1 headings. Left-align Level 2 and Level 3 headings. Indent Level 4 and Level 5 headings like a regular paragraph.
• Font: Boldface all headings. Also italicize Level 3 and Level 5 headings. Create heading styles using your word-processing program (built into AcademicWriter, available for Word via the sample papers on the APA Style website).

Tables and figures setup

Tables and figures are only included in student papers if needed for the assignment. Tables and figures share the same elements and layout. See the website for sample tables and sample figures .

Table elements

Tables include the following four elements: 

• Body (rows and columns)
• Note (optional if needed to explain elements in the table)

Figure elements

Figures include the following four elements: 

• Image (chart, graph, etc.)
• Note (optional if needed to explain elements in the figure)

Table line spacing

Double-space the table number and title. Single-, 1.5-, or double-space the table body (adjust as needed for readability). Double-space the table note.

Figure line spacing

Double-space the figure number and title. The default settings for spacing in figure images is usually acceptable (but adjust the spacing as needed for readability). Double-space the figure note.

Table alignment

Left-align the table number and title. Center column headings. Left-align the table itself and left-align the leftmost (stub) column. Center data in the table body if it is short or left-align the data if it is long. Left-align the table note.

Figure alignment

Left-align the figure number and title. Left-align the whole figure image. The default alignment of the program in which you created your figure is usually acceptable for axis titles and data labels. Left-align the figure note.

Bold the table number. Italicize the table title. Use the same font and font size in the table body as the text of your paper. Italicize the word “Note” at the start of the table note. Write the note in the same font and font size as the text of your paper.

Figure font

Bold the figure number. Italicize the figure title. Use a sans serif font (e.g., Calibri, Arial) in the figure image in a size between 8 to 14 points. Italicize the word “Note” at the start of the figure note. Write the note in the same font and font size as the text of your paper.

Placement of tables and figures

There are two options for the placement of tables and figures in an APA Style paper. The first option is to place all tables and figures on separate pages after the reference list. The second option is to embed each table and figure within the text after its first callout. This guide describes options for the placement of tables and figures embedded in the text. If your instructor requires tables and figures to be placed at the end of the paper, see the table and figure guidelines and the sample professional paper .

Call out (mention) the table or figure in the text before embedding it (e.g., write “see Figure 1” or “Table 1 presents”). You can place the table or figure after the callout either at the bottom of the page, at the top of the next page, or by itself on the next page. Avoid placing tables and figures in the middle of the page.

Embedding at the bottom of the page

Include a callout to the table or figure in the text before that table or figure. Add a blank double-spaced line between the text and the table or figure at the bottom of the page.

Embedding at the top of the page

Include a callout to the table in the text on the previous page before that table or figure. The table or figure then appears at the top of the next page. Add a blank double-spaced line between the end of the table or figure and the text that follows.

Embedding on its own page

Embed long tables or large figures on their own page if needed. The text continues on the next page.

Reference list setup

Reference list elements.

The reference list consists of the “References” section label and the alphabetical list of references. View reference examples on the APA Style website. Consult Chapter 10 in both the Concise Guide and Publication Manual for even more examples.

Reference list line spacing

Start the reference list at the top of a new page after the text. Double-space the entire reference list (both within and between entries).

Reference list alignment

Center the “References” label. Apply a hanging indent of 0.5-in. to all reference list entries. Create the hanging indent using your word-processing program; do not manually hit the enter and tab keys.

Reference list font

Bold the “References” label at the top of the first page of references. Use italics within reference list entries on either the title (e.g., webpages, books, reports) or on the source (e.g., journal articles, edited book chapters).

Final checks

Check page order.

• Start each section on a new page.
• Arrange pages in the following order:
• Title page (page 1).
• Text (starts on page 2).
• Reference list (starts on a new page after the text).

Check headings

• Check that headings accurately reflect the content in each section.
• Start each main section with a Level 1 heading.
• Use Level 2 headings for subsections of the introduction.
• Use the same level of heading for sections of equal importance.
• Avoid having only one subsection within a section (have two or more, or none).

Check assignment instructions

• Remember that instructors’ guidelines supersede APA Style.
• Students should check their assignment guidelines or rubric for specific content to include in their papers and to make sure they are meeting assignment requirements.

Tips for better writing

• Ask for feedback on your paper from a classmate, writing center tutor, or instructor.
• Budget time to implement suggestions.
• Use spell-check and grammar-check to identify potential errors, and then manually check those flagged.
• Proofread the paper by reading it slowly and carefully aloud to yourself.
• Consult your university writing center if you need extra help.

About the author

Undergraduate student resources

• The Complete Guide to APA Format in 2020

APA Title Page / Cover Page

• Headings and Subheadings
• Discussion Section
• Websites and Online Sources
• Journals and Periodicals
• Other Print Sources
• Other Non-Print Sources
• In-text Citations
• Footnotes and Endnotes
• Using MyBib Responsibly
• Miscellaneous Questions

Details to include

The title page (also known as the cover page) is the front page of your paper. It should contain:

• The running head , a header at the top of the page.
• The first page number .
• The title of the paper
• The institution for which you writing.

Running head

The running head should be in the top-left corner of the page in uppercase. It should include a shortened title of your paper. On the front page only, it should also be prepended with "Running head:".

First page number

The first page number -- generally page 1 -- should be in the top-right corner of the page. Both the page number and the running head should be a half inch from the top of the page.

The title of the paper can contain upper and lowercase letters, and ideally should be no more than 12 words in length. It should be direct, and should not contain abbreviations or other unnecessary words. It should not span longer than 2 lines. The first letter of each word should be uppercase, except for articles (a, an, the), and conjunctions (and, but, for, or, yet).

Underneath the title should be your name (or the author's name if you're not the author). It should be displayed as the first name , middle initial , and last name . Do not add titles (such as Dr.) to the beginning, or qualifications (such as PhD) to the end of an author's name.

Your institution

Finally, underneath the author's name, state the full name of the institution or school you're writing the paper for.

The font for all text on the title page should be Times New Roman, size 12pt, with double line-spacing.

A correct title page will look like the below image:

After completing your title page you will move on to writing an abstract of your paper.

APA Guide: 7th Edition

• Page Numbers
• Figures/Images
• Webpages and Other Online Content
• Legal Citations
• Writing Style
• Summary of Changes

Student Paper Example

• Student Paper Example This is a student paper example from the 7th Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Professional Paper Example

• Professional Paper Example This is a professional paper example from the 7th Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Student Title Page Elements

The title page includes the following elements: Page number, Paper title, Author, Author Affiliation, Course, Instructor, and Due Date .  Remember, your instructor can include other requirements for your assignment.  Refer to their instructions carefully.

Your title page and paper is double-spaced. Use 1-inch margins. 

Acceptable Fonts:

• 11-point Calibri 
• 11-point Arial
• 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode 
• 12-point Times New Roman
• 11-point Georgia
• 10-point Computer Modern 1 
• Should summarize the main idea in a succinct way .
• Include strong keywords so that readers can find your work in a database or by using a search engine.
• Avoid using abbreviations in a title.
• The title should be provided in title case .  This means that all major words are capitalized. 
• Be bolded, centered, and begin 3-4 lines down from the top margin of the paper.
• Put a double-spaced blank line between the title and the byline.
• The paper title also appears at the top of the first page of your paper.

Author Name(s) (Byline)

• Beneath the title, type the  author's or authors' full name(s) .
• Do not use titles or degrees.
• ​Order the names of authors based on their contributions.
• Write all of the names on the same line.
• Center the names in a standard font.
• Smith and Doe
• Smith, Doe, and Jones

Author Affiliation

• Identify where you worked or studied when the body of work was completed.
• Include no more than two affiliations for each author.
• Example:  College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington
• Include the department or division.
• Include the name of the institution.
• Include the location of the institution.
• Example:  Hematology/Oncology, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
• Include the location.

Locations should include the city, state, province, and country.

Course Name

• Put the course number and name below the Author Affiliation.
• Check with your instructor on the preferred name.
• Place the month, date, and year after the Instructor(s) name(s).

See the example title page below:

All content on this guide comes from the 7th edition of the  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association and from the APA Style Blog.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association ( 7th ed.).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000  

American Psychological Association. (2020, October). Blog .  https://apastyle.apa.org/blog

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The 7th edition of the APA title page (introduced in 2019) has separate formatting guidelines for student and professional research papers. It replaced the APA 6th edition, which was introduced in 2009. The APA 7 formatting guidelines allow for more flexibility when it comes to font size and style. 

If you have questions about how to format your cover page, this article is for you. We will be taking a look at the formatting guidelines for the APA style cover page for students as well as professional papers. In order to help you create an appropriate cover page, we’ve also included an APA 7 title page template and plenty of APA cover page examples. 

What is the title page for an APA paper?

The APA title page is the first page of your academic paper that provides information on the title, author(s), professors, and institutions affiliated with your research paper. There are separate APA cover page formats for student and professional papers.

An APA 7 title page consists of the following components:

Student paper

• Page number*
• Title of the paper
• Name of author(s)
• Institutional affiliation
• Name and number of the course
• Name of professor(s)
• Date of submission

*A running head (shortened version of the title) is generally not required for student papers unless explicitly stated by the professor.

Professional paper

• Page number 
• Running head 
• Institutional affiliation(s)
• Author note (Author’s ORCID iD, affiliation changes, disclosures of conflicts of interest, and the author’s contact information)

Now that we’ve gotten a gist of the APA title page format, let’s understand how to construct cover pages for both these versions in detail.

How to construct an APA title page

Before you start formatting the APA first page, there are a few ground rules you must consider. Here are the rules for formatting an APA title page:

• Leave a one-inch margin for all pages. 
• Use double spacing throughout your cover page.
• Maintain consistency in font size and style. 
• Avoid using any titles (Dr, Prof) or degrees (MA, PhD).
• Include the running header and the page number on the top left and right corners respectively. (Simply include the page number for student papers.)
• After leaving 4–5 lines, input and centrally align the title of your paper.
• Include the first, middle, and last name(s) of the author(s) respectively, exactly below the title.
• Include the name of the affiliated university/universities below the names of the authors involved.
• For student papers, include the name of the course professor and the due date below the affiliated university. 
• For professional papers, include the author note a few lines below the affiliated university/universities.
• The author note should be bolded and centrally aligned.
• Details such as the author’s ORCID iD, contact information, affiliation changes, and disclosures of conflicts of interest should be right aligned and placed under the author note.  

The APA 7 format is pretty flexible when it comes to the font style. You can use any of the following font styles in your paper:

• 12-point Times New Roman 
• 11-point Calibri
• 11-point Arial
• 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode  
• 11-point Georgia  
• 10-point Computer Modern  

Now, let’s take a closer look at how to construct the individual elements of both student and professional versions of APA 7th edition title pages:

The following APA cover page examples will help you locate the exact position of each component. These examples cover both, student and professional papers and will guide you in constructing your own cover page. We’ve labeled each of these components and will guide you on how to format them.

Here are the main components of the above APA title page examples:

1. Page number

The page number in an APA style title page should be present on the top right corner of each page and the title page should always be considered page number “1”.

Follow these steps to correctly format the page number in Microsoft Word: 

• Activate the header by double-clicking on the top of the page.
• Click on the “Insert” tab.
• Select the “Page numbers” option.
•  Hover over “Top of Page” and select “Plain Number 3”.

Once this process is complete, you should have a page number for all your sheets.

2. Running head

A running head consists of the title of your paper in all caps. It is compulsory when it comes to professional research papers, but is generally not mandatory for student papers.  

The running head should be in line with the page number, left aligned, and under 50 characters long (including spaces). If your title is longer, you’ll have to shorten it so it can fit the character count of the running head. Make sure to include the main idea of the title here and exclude the less important parts.

Here’s an example of an APA format title along with the running head:

Passing the Genetic Torch: Examining the Mechanisms of Genetic Variation

EXAMINING THE MECHANISMS OF GENETIC VARIATION

3. APA title

The title of your APA cover page must be succinct, informative, and eye-catching. It should also contain the relevant keywords of your paper, essentially providing a gist of your paper. Although not mandatory, it is a good idea to limit your title to under 12 words.

Here’s how to create your APA format title as per the specified guidelines:

• Position your title 4–5 lines from the top of your page.
• Select your title to centrally align and bold it.
• Use the title case* while creating your heading.

*Capitalize the first letter of each word apart from articles and prepositions.

4. Name of the author(s)

After adding your title, mention the name of the authors under the title of the paper (leave a blank line in between). The APA formatting guidelines for the names of authors are different for student and professional papers.

Take a look:

Student papers

Student papers only include the names of authors involved in the process of writing the paper.

• Make sure to include the first, middle, and last names of the authors in precisely this order.
• In the case of two authors, separate the names with an “and”.
• In the case of three or more authors, separate each name with a comma and input the last name with an Oxford comma as well as an “and”.
• Don’t mention titles such as “Dr” and “Prof” or degrees such as “MA” and “PhD”.

Professional papers  

The names of authors in professional papers follow similar guidelines to those of student papers. However, they do include a few additional elements.

• In the case of multiple affiliated institutions, use superscript numbers after the names of the authors. 

5. Institutional affiliations

An author’s institutional affiliation is placed below their name on an APA cover page.

• Add the department and university name, separated by a comma. 
• In the case of multiple affiliations, mention the institutions corresponding to each author in the order of their names.
• Add a superscript number before the name of each institution to indicate the corresponding author.

6. Name and number of the course

It’s mandatory to include the name and number of the course for student papers . 

• Align the information centrally and place it below the institutional affiliation. 
• Write the course number in all caps followed by the course name and separate them by a colon. (For example: HISTORYLIT303: Historical Writing)
• Write the name of your course professor below the course name and number and align it centrally.
• Include the designation as well as the first and last name of your professor. 

7. Author note

Professional papers often contain an author note.

• Place the “Author Note” label at the bottom half of the page, bolded and aligned centrally.
• Add an indent of 0.5 inches for all entries in the author note and align them to the left.
• Follow the author’s names with their ORCID iDs.
• Mention any changes in the authors’ affiliation.
• Disclose any conflicts of interest.
• Add the authors’ contact information.

8. Date of submission

The date of submission for the paper is only to be included for student papers and should be placed below the professor’s name. 

• Centrally align the date of submission using the “Month, Day, Year” format. 
• Spell out the month and avoid abbreviating it. 
• Include the complete year instead of just the last two digits.

Here’s an example: October 02, 2023

APA 7 title page template

Our expertise in providing superior paper editing services has helped us create an APA 7 title page template for students and research professionals. These templates are written using the 12-point Times New Roman font. They also follow all the guidelines for an APA 7 cover page that we’ve highlighted above.  

  APA 7 Title Page Template for Students

APA 7 Title Page Template for Professionals

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APA 7th edition - Paper Format: Title Page

Introduction.

• Mechanics of Style
• Overall Paper
• Sample Papers
• Reference List
• Tables and Figures
• APA Citations This link opens in a new window
• Additional Resources
• Writing Skills This link opens in a new window

Student or Professional Style?

Most courses require students to write papers using the Student Style. Do not use the Professional Style paper unless your instructor requests you to do so. If you are unsure which style to use, ask your instructor for clarification.

The key differences between Student Style and Professional Style are the  Title Page  and the  Abstract . 

Student Style papers do  not  require an abstract, whereas Professional Style papers  do  require an abstract.

• APA Title Page - JIBC Tip Sheet A handy guide to creating a title page in APA Style.

Title Page - Student Paper

How to Create a Student Style Title Page - Tutorial

Student style title page requirements: 

Page number:.

• Page number included in the top right corner. Ensure it is the same font as the rest of your paper.

Title of Paper: 

• Bold and centre aligned.
• The first word, including minor words such as “A” or “The”
• All words with four or more letters 
• The first word after a colon, em dash, or punctuation in a heading
• The first word in a subtitle
• Major words, including the second part of a hyphenated major word
• 3-4 lines down from the top margin of the page.
• Double spaced.
• Put a double-spaced blank line between the title and the author(s) names. This is the only additional line space in your paper.
• The paper title also appears at the top of the first page of your paper (formatted as a Level-1 heading)

Author Name(s): 

• Should be centred and one double-spaced blank line beneath the title.
• In the format of first name and last name, e.g. John Doe.
• Do not include titles, honorifics, or degrees.
• If your instructor requires your student number, it will be centred and one double-spaced blank line beneath the author name.

Multiple authors:

• Order the names of authors based on their contributions (i.e. the one that did the most work should be listed first).
• Write all of the names on the same line (flowing onto additional lines if needed).
• For example, John Doe (J123456), Ann Student (J246898)

Author Affiliation: 

• Centre aligned and beneath the author(s) names.
• Identify where they worked or studied when the paper was written.
• Include the name of the institute in full (“Justice Institute of British Columbia”)

Course Name:

• Include the course abbreviation, number, and full course name, centre aligned and below the Author Affiliation, e.g. RESM 2100: Research Methods

Instructor:

• Include the full name (first, any middle initial that they use, and last) of the course instructor(s), centre aligned and below the Course Name. 
• Do not include the label "Instructor" in front of the instructor's name.
• Include the instructor's title and /or degree (i.e. Dr., Professor, or PhD) if that is their preference.
• Place the month, date, and year of the date the assignment is due, centre aligned and below the Instructor(s) name(s).
• Do not include the label "Due Date" in front of the due date.

Word Count:

• Word counts are not required on APA Style student paper title pages. However, if your instructor requests it, then include it centre aligned and below the Due Date of the paper. 
• You may choose to stay the number of words or include “Word Count:” before the number of words, e.g. “1,987 words” or “Word Count: 1,987”

See Additional Resources  for more.

Title Page - Student Style

Title Page - Professional Paper

How to Format a Professional Style Title Page - Tutorial

Unless you are requested by your instructor to write your paper in the Professional Style of APA, use the Student Style format. If you are unsure which style to use, ask your instructor for clarification. 

Professional style title pages require:

Page number included in the header, in the top right corner. Ensure it is the same font as the rest of your paper.

Running Head:

How to Include a Running Head - Tutorial

The running head is an abbreviated version of the paper title that appears in the header at the top of every page to identify it for readers.

• Consists of a maximum of 50 characters, counting letters, punctuation, and spaces between words.
• If the title is less than 50 characters, the full title can be used.
• Avoid using abbreviations.
• The ampersand symbol (&) may be used rather than the word “and.”
• In the header, in the top left corner.
• In all capital letters.
• Ensure it is the same font as the rest of your paper.
• Use the same running head on every page of your paper.
• Do not use the label “Running head” to identify the running head on any page.
• Title Casing (see Title Casing rules in the box to your left  Title Page - Student Paper ).
• In the format of first name and last name (e.g. John Doe).
• Write all of the names on the same line (flowing onto additionally lines if needed).
• Include the department and/or program of study (e.g. “Bachelor of Law Enforcement Studies”)

Author Note:

An author note provides additional information about authors, study registration, data sharing, disclaimers or statements regarding conflict of interest, and help or funding that supported the research. The author note is written in the style of paragraphs. 

Students using the professional style of formatting should use the author note to include:

• Course Information
• Advisors and/or Sponsors
• Word Count (if requested)

The author note may be arranged in separate paragraphs to maintain organization of ideas. For example, students may choose to keep course information, due dates, and word counts together in one paragraph and instructors, advisors, and/or sponsors in a second paragraph.

Formatting the Author Note:

• Begin the author note in the bottom half of the title page.
• Leave at least one blank line between the affiliation and the author note label.
• Centre the label “Author Note” written in bold font.
• Left align and indent each paragraph of the author note.
• Do not label the paragraphs of the author note.  For example, do not include the label "Instructor" in front of the instructor's name.

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• Last Updated: May 1, 2024 11:05 AM
• URL: https://libguides.jibc.ca/apa/formatyourpaper

APA Style Guide: Title Page

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Basic Format

The title page of the document is the first page in your paper, and it needs to contain the following items, in order:

• Title of the Paper
• Author’s Name (that’s you!)
• Institutional Affiliation (i.e., American National University or National College)

The title page should also include a page header and page numbers .

• The page header on your title page should read, "Running Head: TITLE OF YOUR PAPER"
• The running head should be in the upper left-hand corner of the paper, and the page numbers should be in the upper right-hand corner.

Basic Format:

• Title, author's name, and institutional affiliation should be centered in the top half of the page .
• Text should be double spaced .
• Title: no more than 12 words long.
• Author: Include your first name, middle initial, and last name.
• For students at ANU campuses located in Tennessee, the institutional affiliation will read “National College.”
• For all other ANU students, the institutional affiliation will read “American National University.”
• How to Format Your Header A brief guide to formatting your page headers in Microsoft Word according to the APA style requirements.
• Sample APA Title Page

Sample Title Page

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• Last Updated: Apr 11, 2022 10:06 AM
• URL: https://library.an.edu/apastyle
• Instruction

How to Write an APA Format Title Page

When it comes to academic writing, most professors and editors require students and writers to follow the APA style.

The APA writing format is an official style first developed 80 years ago by the American Psychological Association (thus the acronym).The APA style was designed by a group of social scientists who “wished to establish sound standards of communication” especially in the fields of education, and social and behavioral sciences. Since then, the APA style has been adopted in various fields and is continuously used today as a standard for proper academic writing.

The APA format emphasizes “simple and straightforward” presentation of ideas. The goal of APA style writing is to deliver the message with the least possible distraction and maximum precision. To achieve this clarity in communication, the APA format provides guidelines in:

• Punctuation and abbreviations;
• Construction of tables;
• Selection of headings;
• Citation of references; and
• Presentation of statistics.

Table of Content

• 1 First Impression
• 3 Example of a Title Page

First Impression

When writing and submitting an academic paper, your title page is your first impression. A correctly done APA format title page helps establish the aptitude of the student or the writer, and gives the reader and reviewer (either your editor or your professor) a clear representation of the rest of your paper.

An APA format title page has five essential elements: the article title, the author’s name, the author’s school affiliation, the running head and the page number.

In writing the actual title, it is important to be specific and on-point. Remember that your title summarizes your entire work. A helpful way to structure your title is to “look at your hypothesis and experimental variables.” For example: “The Effects of (Independent Variable) on (Dependent Variable) ”

An APA format title can also be written as a question. Consider this example from the Athabasca University Centre for Psychology website : “What are the Psychology and Law Perspective with Respect to Sexual Assault?”

• Typeface or Font. Use Times New Roman, 12-point.
• Line-Spacing. Double-spaced including title, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and figure captions
• Margins. One-inch margins at the top, bottom, right and left of every page
• Alignment. Do not justify the right margin (make it even); for text use, flush left. Do not divide words at the end of a line and do not use hyphenation.
• Title. Capitalize major words but not the minor ones.
• Running Head. Your APA format title page should have a running head. This refers to the abbreviated title printed at each page of your manuscript. It should be no more than 50 characters (including spaces and punctuations). This is the first line of your title page. It should be left-aligned at the top.
• Byline. Format should be: First name, middle initial, last name. If you have co-writers, include their names as well. Alphabetize according to surname.
• Institutional Affiliation. This should refer to the organization for which you are writing the paper. If it is an academic paper for a school requirement, type the full name of your school.
• Page Number. The title page is your first page. The number one (typed numerically as in 1) should be located in the upper right hand corner of the page.

Also note that your title, name and school should be centered on the page. Your professor might want to include your class name and number or the due date so it is always wise to check for further instructions aside from the standard elements of an APA format title page.

Example of a Title Page

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The APA format title page is usually the easiest part of an academic paper so this should be a breeze for most students and writers. As in everything else, when in doubt, don’t hesitate to leave a comment.

Citation Style: APA 7th Edition: Title Page & Abstract

• Avoiding Plagiarism
• APA Style Guides
• Basic Formatting
• Title Page & Abstract
• The Main Body
• The References Page
• Reference Citation Examples
• Citation Generation Tools
• Frequently Asked Questions
• 7th Edition vs. 6th Edition

The Title Page

Your title page should follow all of the rules outlined in the Basic Formatting tab. In addition, it should be centered in the upper-half of the page. It must include the following information (and your instructor might prefer you to add more):

• The full title of your paper in title case
• Your name (First Last)
• Your institution (Keuka College)
• Your Instructor's Name with their preferred title (example: “Dr. Jill Smith,” or “J. Smith, PhD” or “Professor J. Smith”)
• Date assignment is due, with the month written out in full (example: November 10, 2019)

See the example below (click it to view a larger version):

The Abstract

An abstract is a brief summary of what your paper is all about. Your instructor may or may not require you to include an abstract, so ask them. If they do require an abstract, find out how long they would like it to be. Generally, an abstract is 150 to 250 words long. It is recommended that you write the abstract after you have written your paper. It's a good idea when you're first setting up your document, to include a placeholder page for the abstract on the 2nd page (after the title page).

Your abstract page should follow all of the rules outlined in the  Basic Formatting  tab. Left-align, but do not hit the tab key or indent in any way at the beginning of the abstract. The word "Abstract" should be bolded and centered at the top of the page.

See the example below (click it to view larger):

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• Last Updated: Jul 29, 2024 1:45 PM
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• APA title page (6th edition)

APA Title Page (6th edition) | Guidelines, Example, Template

Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk .

An APA title page must include:

• A running head (including page number)
• The title of your paper (one or two lines long)
• The full name of the author(s)
• Your university or institution

Additional information, such as a course number or an author’s note, should be placed on a separate line below the institution.

APA title page template

Table of contents

Apa title page example, general formatting guidelines, running head, paper title, author name(s), setting up the title page.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

The APA cover page adheres to the  general APA formatting guidelines :

• 12 pt Times New Roman
• Double line spacing
• 1 inch (2.54 cm) margins

The formatting requirements for each element on the APA title page are listed below.

Write “Running head:” followed by a (shortened) version of your paper’s title. It must be:

• Left aligned
• Capitalized
• Maximum 50 characters (not including the words “running head:”)

Read more on how to  insert and format a running head .

Use an informative, striking title that summarizes the main idea of your paper.

• Apply title case ( capitalize the first letter of each word, except small words such as articles and short prepositions )
• Keep it shorter than 12 words
• Don’t use abbreviations or contractions
• Place the title in the center of the page

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The names of the authors are written in full (first name, initial of middle name(s), last name). Include the names of all authors in order of contribution. Don’t include titles (Dr., Prof.) or degrees (PhD, MSc).

APA title page with multiple authors

There are specific guidelines for multiple authors. The formatting guidelines depend on whether the authors have the same affiliation.

This video will demonstrate how to set up the title page in Google Docs.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Streefkerk, R. (2020, November 06). APA Title Page (6th edition) | Guidelines, Example, Template. Scribbr. Retrieved August 12, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/6th-edition/archived-title-page/

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APA Sample Paper

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Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

Media Files: APA Sample Student Paper  ,  APA Sample Professional Paper

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Note: The APA Publication Manual, 7 th Edition specifies different formatting conventions for student  and  professional  papers (i.e., papers written for credit in a course and papers intended for scholarly publication). These differences mostly extend to the title page and running head. Crucially, citation practices do not differ between the two styles of paper.

However, for your convenience, we have provided two versions of our APA 7 sample paper below: one in  student style and one in  professional  style.

Note: For accessibility purposes, we have used "Track Changes" to make comments along the margins of these samples. Those authored by [AF] denote explanations of formatting and [AWC] denote directions for writing and citing in APA 7. 

APA 7 Student Paper:

Apa 7 professional paper:.

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Mastering the APA Style Title Page: A Comprehensive Guide

APA (American Psychological Association) Style is a popular format in social and behavioral sciences. It provides a uniform framework for manuscript layout and citation. An integral part of this format is the title page, which offers essential details about the paper. This article will guide you through the process of writing an APA Style title page, complete with examples to help simplify the process.

What is an APA Style title page?

An APA Style title page is the cover page of your research paper , thesis , or dissertation that follows a specific set of formatting guidelines. This page includes elements such as the paper's title, the author's name, the institutional affiliation, and a page header (also termed running head). It's crucial to get these details right because they set the tone for your entire paper.

APA Style guidelines for title page formatting vary slightly depending on the type of paper you're writing. For instance, professional papers intended for academic publishing have somewhat different directions compared to student papers submitted for coursework in high school or college.

All title pages must include the paper's title, the name of the author(s), and the associated institutional affiliation. In the case of a professional paper, an author's note is a necessary addition. Conversely, student papers need to provide additional details like the course number and name, the instructor's name, and the due date of the assignment.

Understanding the importance of the APA Style title page

Before we delve deeper into the nuances of creating a flawless APA Style title page, let's understand why it is important.

The title page is often the first thing your reader, be it a professor, peer, or a journal editor, sees. Therefore, it acts as the first impression of your work. An accurately formatted title page suggests that you've given due attention to details, thereby hinting at the quality of the research that lies within. Moreover, it provides the essential details for anyone referencing your work, ensuring appropriate attribution.

Components of an APA Style title page

An APA Style title page comprises several key elements, each with its unique formatting requirements. Let's look at each component in detail:

Title of the paper

The title should be a concise summarization of the main idea of the manuscript. The title text should be bolded and centered in the upper half of the page. Use a clear, concise title that accurately reflects your paper's content. Capitalize the first letter of each word of the title and any subtitles, as well as any proper nouns.
 Do not capitalize conjunctions, prepositions, and articles (e.g., and, of, on) unless it is the first word, or the first word immediately following a colon.

Example: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

Your title should be specific to your research and provide a snapshot of your study's content. It should not contain any unnecessary words or filler phrases. If your research is part of a larger study or a series of studies, mention it in the title for context.

Example: Evaluating the Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study

Author's name

Directly under the title, type your name. It should be your first name, middle initial, and last name. Avoid using titles or degrees.

Example: John D. Doe

You should use the name under which you usually publish. If you have a common name, consider using your middle initial or name to differentiate yourself from other researchers. If there was more than one author, all authors should be included here.

Example: John D. Doe and Jane E. Poe

Institutional affiliation

This refers to the location where you conducted your research. It should be centered under the author(s)'name.
 If the author does not have an institutional affiliation, list the city and state of residence below the author's name.

Example: University of California, San Francisco

If you conducted your research at multiple locations, per APA Style guidelines, you can include a dual affiliation only if two institutions contributed substantial support to the study. No more than two affiliations per author should be listed. Otherwise, only one affiliation should be listed.

Course details

Some educational institutions require the course name and number, the instructor's name, and the due date. These should be placed after the institutional affiliation and should each be on their own line.

Example: PSYCH101: Introduction to Psychology Professor Jane Smith Due May 16, 2023

These details help your professor or course coordinator identify your work. Always confirm the format and the information needed with your instructor or the course syllabus.

Page header and running head

Include a page header at the top of every page also known as the "running head." Please note that APA 7th edition removes the running head for student papers. However, many professors still follow this rule. It should be aligned to the left and contain a shortened version of your title (a maximum of 50 characters, including spaces). The first page should read "Running head: SHORTENED TITLE," and the rest should have the shortened title only.

Example on the title page: Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

Example on subsequent pages: SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

The running head helps keep your paper identifiable in a concise way when it's printed out among others.

Formatting the APA Style title page

Beyond the content, the formatting of your title page is equally important in APA Style. Here are the primary formatting rules to follow:

The recommended font is 12-pt Times New Roman, although some alternatives like 11-pt Calibri or Arial, and 10-pt Lucida Sans Unicode can be used.

Your entire paper, including the title page, should be double-spaced.

All of the text on the title page should be centered, except for the page header or running head, which should be aligned to the left, and the page number, which is aligned to the right.

Use 1-inch margins on all sides of the page.

Page number

The page number should appear on the right side of the header on the first and all subsequent pages.

Capitalization

All words in the title and headings should be capitalized, except for conjunctions, prepositions, and articles in the middle of the title or heading.

Abbreviations

Avoid using abbreviations in your title or headings. Spell out all terms.

Steps to create an APA Style title page

Now that we've covered the key components and formatting rules, let's walk through the steps to create an APA Style title page.

Step 1: Start a new page

Your title page should be the first page of your paper. In a Microsoft Word document, you can do this by clicking "Insert," then "Page Break."

Step 2: Write the running head

In the header of the page, type "Running head:" followed by a shortened version of your title in capital letters. Remember, the running head needs to be under 50 characters, including spaces.

Step 3: Insert the page number

Still in the header, click the "Insert" tab in Word, then "Page Number." Choose "Top of Page," then "Plain Number 3" to align the page number to the right.

Step 4: Write the paper title

Move down to around the top third of the page. Center your cursor and write your paper's title in title case.

Step 5: Write your name

On the next line, still centered, write your full name.

Step 6: Write your institutional affiliation

On the next line, write the name of your institution.

Step 7: Add course details (if required)

On separate lines, write the course name and number, instructor's name, and due date.

Common mistakes to avoid

When creating an APA Style title page, it's easy to overlook small but critical aspects. Here are some common mistakes you should avoid:

Inaccurate running head

The running head must be a concise version of your title. If it's too long or doesn't reflect your title, it needs to be adjusted.

Incorrect capitalization

Ensure that you are capitalizing the first letter of significant words in your title, excluding conjunctions, prepositions, and articles in the middle.

Adding extra information

Your title page should not include any information not mentioned in the guidelines, such as your email address, contact number, or a picture.

Delving into APA Style formatting rules

The APA's formatting rules ensure consistency and readability. Following these helps your work appear professional and respect the norms of academic publishing.

The standard font ensures your paper is legible and looks professional. While 12-point Times New Roman is widely accepted, the APA also suggests alternatives for those who wish to use a different typeface (e.g., 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, and 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode).

Double spacing helps enhance readability, making it easier for reviewers and readers to engage with your content.

Alignment and margins

Proper alignment and margins improve your paper's aesthetics, ensuring that it is easy on the eyes and that no text is cut off when the document is printed.

Including the page number on every page is crucial, especially for lengthy papers. It helps readers and reviewers to reference specific parts of your work.

Practical tips for creating an APA Style title page

While knowing the guidelines is important, practical tips can make the process of creating an APA Style title page easier.

Use a template

Many word processing software programs like Microsoft Word and Google Docs offer APA Style title page templates that you can use as a starting point.

Always proofread your title page for typos, misspellings, and incorrect capitalization. Minor mistakes can detract from the professionalism of your work.

Get a second opinion

Have someone else review your title page. They might catch mistakes or inconsistencies that you've missed.

Follow updates

APA Style guidelines are updated periodically. Stay current with the latest edition to ensure your work adheres to the most recent standards.

Frequently asked questions about the APA Style title page

To round off this comprehensive guide, let's address some frequently asked questions about the APA Style title page:

How do I shorten my title for the running head?

The running head should ideally represent your full title, but if it exceeds 50 characters, try to retain the most critical words that capture the essence of your paper.

What if I have multiple affiliations?

If your research was supported by multiple institutions, consult your professor or the publication you're submitting to, to understand how to best represent this.

Can I include acknowledgments on the title page?

No, acknowledgments should be included in a separate section following the body of your paper.

What if I'm co-authoring the paper?

If there are multiple authors, list them in the order of their contributions on separate lines, with the name of each author followed by their respective institutional affiliation.

The APA Style title page might seem like a small part of your paper, but it carries significant weight. It sets the tone for your entire research paper and provides crucial information to your readers. By following the guidelines in this article and paying attention to every detail, you can master the APA Style title page. The first impression of your paper will be one of academic rigor and attention to detail, thereby instilling confidence in your readers about the quality of research that follows.

In academic writing, adhering to established standards like the APA Style is critical. Not only does it enhance the readability and professionalism of your work, but it also ensures that the focus remains on your research findings. The APA Style title page, with its specific components and formatting rules, is a testament to this fact. So, the next time you embark on a research project, remember that a well-formatted title page can pave the way for your paper's success.

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How to Write a Title Page in APA Format for a Psychology Research Paper

• Important Elements
• Choosing a Title
• Author’s Byline
• Formatting Guidelines
• Professional Papers
• Title Page Checklist

The title page is the first page of a psychology paper. APA format is used when writing lab reports and other types of psychology papers. Therefore, it's important to have a title page in proper APA format when submitting these writings.

Here we discuss how to write a title page for a psychology research paper. We also share the different guidelines based on whether the title page is for a student paper or if the paper is being prepared by a psychology professional.

Important Psychology Title Page Elements

A psychology paper's title page should contain certain key elements. Important elements to include are:

• Article title
• Author’s name
• Author's school or institutional affiliation
• Running head (not required for student papers)
• Course name
• Instructor's name
• Page number

Choosing a Psychology Paper Title

One of the most difficult tasks when writing a psychology paper is choosing a good title. Here are a few tips to help.

Be Specific

The paper's title should be as specific as possible. Work to craft a title that can stand alone and be fully explanatory without further elaboration. A reader browsing through paper titles in an online database should be able to quickly read the title and know exactly what the paper is about.

Page Title Examples

• An example of a good, specific title : Second-Order Beliefs and the Use of Self-Presentational Explanations for Behavior
• An example of a title that is too general : Cognitive Abilities and Social Understanding

Use Proper Structure

The best way to structure the title of a psychology paper is to look at the hypothesis and experimental variables . For example, it might be titled "The Effects of [Independent Variable] on [Dependent Variable]."

The official APA publication manual notes that a title should be brief, yet communicate the main topic and variables of interest. Avoid words that serve no real purpose or that do not communicate essential information. Some examples of such words and phrases include “An Experiment on…,” “A Study of…”, “method,” or “results.”

While there is no maximum length for titles, the APA recommends keeping the title concise while still including key terms.

How to Write a Title Page Byline

The next element of a psychology research paper title page is the byline, which lists the author’s name and institutional affiliation. Here's what to include for each.

Author's Name

The recommended format is first name, middle initial(s), and last name. Do not include titles or degrees, such as Dr. or PhD.

Students should include the name of the department followed by the name of their school. This should be centered on the page and appear after the author's name.

School Affiliation

The institutional affiliation is the location where the research was conducted, most often a college or university. In some cases, research may have been supported by more than one institution. In these instances, only include two affiliations if both schools offered substantial support to the research, and only list two affiliations for every author.

What should a person do if they are not affiliated with an academic institution where the research was conducted? In this instance, the APA suggests listing the author's city and state of residence in place of the academic affiliation.

Name and Affiliation Example

June Callaway

Department of Psychology, University of Ohio

PSYCH 101: Introduction to General Psychology

Dr. Ashana Lee

September 7, 2023

*Note: This information should be centered on the title page, not aligned to the left as it appears here.

Title Page Formatting Guidelines

There are additional formatting concerns to observe when drafting an APA format title page for a psychology paper:

• A running head should be included in the upper left-hand corner on all pages, including the title page. This is not required if it's a student paper.
• The running head should be no more than 50 characters , including letters, spacing between words, and punctuation.
• The running head should be in all uppercase letters and only include the title; it should not include the label "running head."
• All pages, including the title page, should also have a page number in the upper right-hand corner.
• The author's title, name, and institution should be double-spaced and centered on the page. Student papers should also include the assignment due date directly below the institution's information.

Formatting Professional Psychology Papers

The APA's guidelines are slightly different for papers intended for publication in professional psychology journals . In addition to the basic elements included in a title page, a professional paper should also include:

• A running head : The running head is a shortened version of the paper's title. It should appear on every page of the paper, along with the page number.
• Author affiliation : In the second paragraph, list any changes in author affiliation. For example, if one of the authors is now affiliated with a different university from where the research was conducted, the author's note might state that "Dr. [Last Name] is now at the Department of Psychology, University of Georgia."
• An author's note : This note includes the author's name, the symbol for the ORCID iD, and the URL for the ORCID iD. An ORCID iD is an alphanumeric code used to identify scientific and academic authors. If an author does not have an ORCID iD, their name should be omitted.  
• Disclosures and acknowledgments : In the third paragraph, list any acknowledgments and disclosures, including possible conflicts of interest and sources of financial support.
• Contact information : In the fourth paragraph of the author's note, include the author's contact information.

Author's Note, Disclosure, and Contact Info

For an author's note, include the author's name followed by a link to their ORCID iD. The disclosure might be a simple sentence stating that there are no known conflicts of interest to disclose. Next, state that correspondence concerning the article should be addressed to the individual listed, then provide the mailing address and email contact for that individual.

Psychology Paper Title Page Checklist

Before turning in a psychology paper, it's helpful to use these questions as a checklist to ensure that the title page is correct:

• Does the title page contain a title, the author's name and institutional affiliation, a running head (not required on a student paper), and a page number?
• Is the title clear and specific, and does it accurately describe what the research paper is about?
• Is the running head in uppercase format and no longer than 50 characters in length?
• Is the title, author's name, and institutional affiliation centered on the page and double-spaced?

If all of these questions can be answered with a 'yes,' then the title page is properly formatted using APA format.

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American Psychological Association. Title page setup . APA Style.

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By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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APA Style Help & Tools

{{page_title}}, best bet: apa's academic writer.

Academic Writer is the only authoritative and complete online environment for teaching, writing, and publishing in APA Style®, now updated to the 7th Edition. Designed to help users develop their writing and professional research skills, Academic Writer combines sophisticated learning and teaching tools, advanced writing and content management technology, and full integration of APA’s best-selling Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association® to create an unparalleled web-based suite of integrated services and tools.

Access Academic Writer anytime with this link:

library.purdueglobal.edu/academicwriter

Academic Writer Documentation & Tips

The below links lead to more information, tips, and training about the basics of using Academic Writer.

• Library Guide to Academic Writer
• Getting Started Guide (PDF)
• Creating Academic Writer Accounts (PDF)
• Accessing the Publication Manual (PDF)
• Technical Requirements

Using Academic Writer's Writing Tools

Academic Writer contains a Writing section where you can create and write a full APA-formatted paper.  You can write the entire paper in Academic Writer or just use it to setup the title page, headings, and references.  Export your work at any time to a Microsoft Word document.  Below are documents from Academic Writer about the essential features of their Writing tools.  

• Setting up the Title Page
• Adding References to Papers (PDF)
• Adding In-Text Citations (PDF)
• Adding Tables (PDF)
• Exporting Papers (PDF)

Featured Items from Academic Writer

Basics of APA Style

Learn the basics of APA Style, including how to format a manuscript, understand the form and function of common manuscript parts, organize and express your thoughts clearly and precisely, employ the mechanics of style, use graphic elements effectively, credit sources and acknowledge the contributions of others, and construct a comprehensive and reliable reference list.

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© 2020 American Psychological Association.

How to Avoid Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism

Learn how to avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism, including how to identify plagiarism, understand its risks and consequences, cite sources properly, and develop sound writing practices.

Learn how to set up the title page of an APA Style paper, including the page header and running head, title, author name and affiliation, and author note.

Paper Template: ("Merenda" Sample Student Paper)

This sample response paper presents a university student's personal reaction to an article about whether medication is prescribed too often to young children to treat psychological disorders. The title page demonstrates the simple default layout for a student paper. The paper has a simple setup with only a title page, body of text, and references. No "running head"! Response papers typically do not include author notes or abstracts, though this may vary by assignment.

Visit the Writing Center

Need writing help?  Visit the Writing Center to contact a tutor, submit your paper for review and feedback, or ask APA Style-related questions, as well as access dozens of writing tutorials, videos, webinars, and other instructional resources.

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Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. This tool is especially popular for heavy researchers at the grad level and above.

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How to Write a Research Paper [Steps & Examples]

As a student, you are often required to complete numerous academic tasks, which can demand a lot of extra effort. Writing a research paper is one of these tasks. If researching for the topic isn't challenging enough, writing it down in a specific format adds another layer of difficulty. Having gone through this myself, I want to help you have a smoother journey in writing your research paper. I'll guide you through everything you need to know about writing a research paper, including how to write a research paper and all the necessary factors you need to consider while writing one.

Order for Preparation of your research paper

Before beginning your research paper, start planning how you will organize your paper. Follow the specific order I have laid out to ensure you assemble everything correctly, cover all necessary components, and write more effectively. This method will help you avoid missing important elements and improve the overall quality of your paper.

Figures and Tables

Assemble all necessary visual aids to support your data and findings. Ensure they are labeled correctly and referenced appropriately in your text.

Detail the procedures and techniques used in your research. This section should be thorough enough to allow others to replicate your study.

Summarize the findings of your research without interpretation. Use figures and tables to illustrate your data clearly.

Interpret the results, discussing their implications and how they relate to your research question. Address any limitations and suggest areas for future research.

Summarize the key points of your research, restating the significance of your findings and their broader impact.

Introduction

Introduce the topic, provide background information, and state the research problem or hypothesis. Explain the purpose and scope of your study.

Write a concise summary of your research, including the objective, methods, results, and conclusion. Keep it brief and to the point.

Create a clear and informative title that accurately reflects the content and focus of your research paper.

Identify key terms related to your research that will help others find your paper in searches.

Acknowledgements

Thank those who contributed to your research, including funding sources, advisors, and any other significant supporters.

Compile a complete list of all sources cited in your paper, formatted according to the required citation style. Ensure every reference is accurate and complete.

Types of Research Papers

There are multiple types of research papers, each with distinct characteristics, purposes, and structures. Knowing which type of research paper is required for your assignment is crucial, as each demands different preparation and writing strategies. Here, we will delve into three prominent types: argumentative, analytical, and compare and contrast papers. We will discuss their characteristics, suitability, and provide detailed examples to illustrate their application.

A.Argumentative Papers

Characteristics:

An argumentative or persuasive paper is designed to present a balanced view of a controversial issue, but ultimately aims to persuade the reader to adopt the writer's perspective. The key characteristics of this type of paper include:

Purpose: The primary goal is to convince the reader to support a particular stance on an issue. This is achieved by presenting arguments, evidence, and refuting opposing viewpoints.

Structure: Typically structured into an introduction, a presentation of both sides of the issue, a refutation of the opposing arguments, and a conclusion that reinforces the writer’s position.

Tone: While the tone should be logical and factual, it should not be overly emotional. Arguments must be supported with solid evidence, such as statistics, expert opinions, and factual data.

Suitability:

Argumentative papers are suitable for topics that have clear, opposing viewpoints. They are often used in debates, policy discussions, and essays aimed at influencing public opinion or academic discourse.

Topic: "Should governments implement universal basic income?"

Pro Side: Universal basic income provides financial security, reduces poverty, and can lead to a more equitable society.

Con Side: It could discourage work, lead to higher government expenditure, and might not be a sustainable long-term solution.

Argument: After presenting both sides, the paper would argue that the benefits of reducing poverty and financial insecurity outweigh the potential drawbacks, using evidence from various studies and real-world examples.

Writing Tips:

Clearly articulate your position on the issue from the beginning.

Present balanced arguments by including credible sources that support both sides.

Refute counterarguments effectively with logical reasoning and evidence.

Maintain a factual and logical tone, avoiding excessive emotional appeals.

B.Analytical Papers

An analytical research paper is focused on breaking down a topic into its core components, examining various perspectives, and drawing conclusions based on this analysis. The main characteristics include:

Purpose: To pose a research question, collect data from various sources, analyze different viewpoints, and synthesize the information to arrive at a personal conclusion.

Structure: Includes an introduction with a clear research question, a literature review that summarizes existing research, a detailed analysis, and a conclusion that summarizes findings.

Tone: Objective and neutral, avoiding personal bias or opinion. The focus is on data and logical analysis.

Analytical research papers are ideal for topics that require detailed examination and evaluation of various aspects. They are common in disciplines such as social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences, where deep analysis of existing research is crucial.

Topic: "The impact of social media on mental health."

Research Question: How does social media usage affect mental well-being among teenagers?

Analysis: Examine studies that show both positive (e.g., social support) and negative (e.g., anxiety and depression) impacts of social media. Analyze the methodologies and findings of these studies.

Conclusion: Based on the analysis, conclude whether the overall impact is more beneficial or harmful, remaining neutral and presenting evidence without personal bias.

Maintain an objective and neutral tone throughout the paper.

Synthesize information from multiple sources, ensuring a comprehensive analysis.

Develop a clear thesis based on the findings from your analysis.

Avoid inserting personal opinions or biases.

C.Compare and Contrast Papers

Compare and contrast papers are used to analyze the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. The key characteristics include:

Purpose: To identify and examine the similarities and differences between two or more subjects, providing a comprehensive understanding of their relationship.

Structure: Can be organized in two ways:

Point-by-Point: Each paragraph covers a specific point of comparison or contrast.

Subject-by-Subject: Each subject is discussed separately, followed by a comparison or contrast.

Tone: Informative and balanced, aiming to provide a thorough and unbiased comparison.

Compare and contrast papers are suitable for topics where it is important to understand the distinctions and similarities between elements. They are commonly used in literature, history, and various comparative studies.

Topic: "Compare and contrast the leadership styles of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X."

Comparison Points: Philosophies (non-violence vs. militant activism), methods (peaceful protests vs. more radical approaches), and impacts on the Civil Rights Movement.

Analysis: Describe each leader's philosophy and method, then analyze how these influenced their effectiveness and legacy.

Conclusion: Summarize the key similarities and differences, and discuss how both leaders contributed uniquely to the movement.

Provide equal and balanced coverage to each subject.

Use clear criteria for comparison, ensuring logical and coherent analysis.

Highlight both similarities and differences, ensuring a nuanced understanding of the subjects.

Maintain an informative tone, focusing on objective analysis rather than personal preference.

How to Write A Research Paper [Higher Efficiency & Better Results]

Conduct Preliminary Research

Before we get started with the research, it's important to gather relevant information related to it. This process, also known as the primary research method, helps researchers gain preliminary knowledge about the topic and identify research gaps. Whenever I begin researching a topic, I usually utilize Google and Google Scholar. Another excellent resource for conducting primary research is campus libraries, as they provide a wealth of great articles that can assist with your research.

Now, let's see how WPS Office and AIPal can be great research partners:

Let's say that I have some PDFs which I have gathered from different sources. With WPS Office, these PDFs can be directly uploaded not just to extract key points but also to interact with the PDF with special help from WPS AI.

Step 1: Let's open the PDF article or research paper that we have downloaded on WPS Office.

Step 2: Now, click on the WPS AI widget at the top right corner of the screen.

Step 3: This will open the WPS PDF AI pane on the right side of the screen. Click on "Upload".

Step 4: Once the upload is complete, WPS PDF AI will return with the key points from the PDF article, which can then be copied to a fresh new document on WPS Writer.

Step 5: To interact further with the document, click on the "Inquiry" tab to talk with WPS AI and get more information on the contents of the PDF.

Research is incomplete without a Google search, but what exactly should you search for? AIPal can help you with these answers. AIPal is a Chrome extension that can help researchers make their Google searches and interactions with Chrome more effective and efficient. If you haven't installed AIPal on Chrome yet, go ahead and download the extension; it's completely free to use:

Step 1: Let's search for a term on Google related to our research.

Step 2: An AIPal widget will appear right next to the Google search bar, click on it.

Step 3: Upon clicking it, an AIPal window will pop up. In this window, you will find a more refined answer for your searched term, along with links most relevant to your search, providing a more refined search experience.

WPS AI can also be used to extract more information with the help of WPS Writer.

Step 1: We might have some information saved in a Word document, either from lectures or during preliminary research. We can use WPS AI within Writer to gain more insights.

Step 2: Select the entire text you want to summarize or understand better.

Step 3: Once the text is selected, a hover menu will appear. Click on the "WPS AI" icon in this menu.

Step 4: From the list of options, click on "Explain" to understand the content more deeply, or click on "Summarize" to shorten the paragraph.

Step 5: The results will be displayed in a small WPS AI window.

Develop the Thesis statement

To develop a strong thesis statement, start by formulating a central question your paper will address. For example, if your topic is about the impact of social media on mental health, your thesis statement might be:

"Social media use has a detrimental effect on mental health by increasing anxiety, depression, and loneliness among teenagers."

This statement is concise, contentious, and sets the stage for your research. With WPS AI, you can use the "Improve" feature to refine your thesis statement, ensuring it is clear, coherent, and impactful.

Write the First draft

Begin your first draft by focusing on maintaining forward momentum and clearly organizing your thoughts. Follow your outline as a guide, but be flexible if new ideas emerge. Here's a brief outline to get you started:

Using WPS AI’s "Make Longer" feature, you can quickly elaborate key ideas and points of your studies and articles into a descriptive format to include in your draft, saving time and ensuring clarity.

Compose Introduction, Body and Conclusion paragraphs

When writing a research paper, it’s essential to transform your key points into detailed, descriptive paragraphs. WPS AI can help you streamline this process by enhancing your key points, ensuring each section of your paper is well-developed and coherent. Here’s how you can use WPS AI to compose your introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs:

Let's return to the draft and start composing our introduction. The introduction should provide the background of the research paper and introduce readers to what the research paper will explore.

If your introduction feels too brief or lacks depth, use WPS AI’s "Make Longer" feature to expand on key points, adding necessary details and enhancing the overall narrative.

Once the introduction is completed, the next step is to start writing the body paragraphs and the conclusion of our research paper. Remember, the body paragraphs will incorporate everything about your research: methodologies, challenges, results, and takeaways.

If this paragraph is too lengthy or repetitive, WPS AI’s "Make Shorter" feature can help you condense it without losing essential information.

Write the Second Draft

In the second draft, refine your arguments, ensure logical flow, and check for clarity. Focus on eliminating any unnecessary information, ensuring each paragraph supports your thesis statement, and improving transitions between ideas. Incorporate feedback from peers or advisors, and ensure all citations are accurate and properly formatted. The second draft should be more polished and coherent, presenting your research in a clear and compelling manner.

WPS AI’s "Improve Writing" feature can be particularly useful here to enhance the overall quality and readability of your paper.

WPS Spellcheck can assist you in correcting spelling and grammatical errors, ensuring your paper is polished and professional. This tool helps you avoid common mistakes and enhances the readability of your paper, making a significant difference in the overall quality.

Bonus Tips: How to Get Inspiration for your Research Paper- WPS AI

WPS Office is a phenomenal office suite that students find to be a major blessing. Not only is it a free office suite equipped with advanced features that make it competitive in the market, but it also includes a powerful AI that automates and enhances many tasks, including writing a research paper. In addition to improving readability with its AI Proofreader tool, WPS AI offers two features, "Insight" and "Inquiry", that can help you gather information and inspiration for your research paper:

Insight Feature:

The Insight feature provides deep insights and information on various topics and fields. It analyzes literature to extract key viewpoints, trends, and research directions. For instance, if you're writing a research paper on the impact of social media on mental health, you can use the Insight feature to gather a comprehensive overview of the latest studies, key arguments, and emerging trends in this field. This helps you build a solid foundation for your paper and ensure you are covering all relevant aspects.

Inquiry Feature:

The Inquiry feature allows you to ask specific questions related to your research topic. This helps you gather necessary background information and refine your research focus effectively. For example, if you need detailed information on how social media usage affects teenagers' self-esteem, you can use the Inquiry feature to ask targeted questions and receive relevant answers based on the latest research.

FAQs about writing a research paper

1. can any source be used for academic research.

No, it's essential to use credible and relevant sources. Here is why:

Developing a Strong Argument: Your research paper relies on evidence to substantiate its claims. Using unreliable sources can undermine your argument and harm the credibility of your paper.

Avoiding Inaccurate Information: The internet is abundant with data, but not all sources can be considered reliable. Credible sources guarantee accuracy.

2. How can I avoid plagiarism?

To avoid plagiarism, follow these steps:

Keep Records of Your Sources: Maintain a record of all the sources you use while researching. This helps you remember where you found specific ideas or phrases and ensures proper attribution.

Quote and Paraphrase Correctly: When writing a paper, use quotation marks for exact words from a source and cite them properly. When paraphrasing, restate the idea in your own words and include a citation to acknowledge the original source.

Utilize a Plagiarism Checker: Use a plagiarism detection tool before submitting your paper. This will help identify unintentional plagiarism, ensuring your paper is original and properly referenced.

3. How can I cite sources properly?

Adhere to the citation style guide (e.g., APA, MLA) specified by your instructor or journal. Properly citing all sources both within the text and in the bibliography or references section is essential for maintaining academic integrity and providing clear credit to the original authors. This practice also helps readers locate and verify the sources you've used in your research.

4. How long should a research paper be?

The length of a research paper depends on its topic and specific requirements. Generally, research papers vary between 4,000 to 6,000 words, with shorter papers around 2,000 words and longer ones exceeding 10,000 words. Adhering to the length requirements provided for academic assignments is essential. More intricate subjects or extensive research often require more thorough explanations, which can impact the overall length of the paper.

Write Your Research Paper with the Comfort of Using WPS Office

Writing a research paper involves managing numerous complicated tasks, such as ensuring the correct formatting, not missing any crucial information, and having all your data ready. The process of how to write a research paper is inherently challenging. However, if you are a student using WPS Office, the task becomes significantly simpler. WPS Office, especially with the introduction of WPS AI, provides all the resources you need to write the perfect research paper. Download WPS Office today and discover how it can transform your research paper writing experience for the better.

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