Purpose of Correct Formatting
Running head: SAMPLE PAPER 1
A Sample Paper for the Purpose of Correct Formatting
Student Name
Liberty University
Per the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA; 6th edition), double-space the
entire paper (p. 229), except with charts or tables. Do not add any extra spacing. Use Times New Roman, 12-point font. Do not use bold except for headings as necessary (see page 62 of your APA manual).
Margins are set for 1″ on top, bottom, and sides. All page references will be to the APA manual, 6th edition. Add two spaces after punctuation at the end of each sentence, except in the reference list, for the sake of
readability (pp. 87-88). The header on the cover page is different from the headers on the rest of the paper.
Only the cover page header includes the words Running head (without the italics; p. 41). The header is flush
left but the page numbers are flush right (see bottom of p. 229). Make sure the header font is the same as the
rest of the paper. Handouts on how to format the cover page (as well as other handouts) are available on the
Online Writing Center’s webpage: http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=17176, and a superb YouTube
video demonstration that provides visualized step-by-step instructions for setting a paper up in proper APA
format is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUjhwGmhDrI
Note: Comments inside boxes are not part of the formatting of the paper. Section or page number references
to the APA manual are denoted in parentheses throughout. Most citations within the body of this paper are
fictional, for instructional purposes only, but are also included in the reference list for illustrative purposes of
correlating citations in the body of the paper with resources in the reference list.
. Note: Center the following information in the top half of the page: title, your name, and school name (2.01, p.
23; 41). Some professors require the course title and section, the instructor’s name, and the date; add those on
the lines beneath the required title page information. Do not use contractions in formal papers—in either the
title or the body of the paper (i.e., use “do not” rather than “don’t”). Titles should include no more than 12
words. Titles use upper and lowercase letters (i.e., “title case;” 20.1, p. 23; see also 4.15 on pp. 101-102).
Prepared by Christy Owen, Brian Aunkst, and Dr. Carmella O’Hare. Last updated June 28, 2016.
http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=17176
SAMPLE PAPER 2
Abstract
Begin your abstract at the left margin (2.04 on p. 27; see also p. 229). This is the only paragraph
that should not be indented. Unless otherwise instructed, APA recommends an abstract be
between 150–250 words (p. 27). It should not contain any citations or direct quotes. This should
be a tight, concise summary of the main points in your paper, not a step-by-step of what you plan
to accomplish in your paper. Avoid phrases such as “this paper will,” and just structure your
sentences to say what you want to say. The following three sentences exemplify a good abstract
style: There are many similarities and differences between the codes of ethics for the ACA and
the AACC. Both include similar mandates in the areas of —-, —, and —. However, each differs
significantly in the areas of —, —, and —. For more detailed information, see “Writing an
Abstract” at http://www.liberty.edu/academics/graduate/writing/?PID=12268 This is just now at
168 words, so take a moment to eyeball how brief your abstract must be. Think of your paper as
a movie, and the abstract as the summary of the plot that you would share to draw people’s
interest into wanting to come and see your movie. Same thing: you want to really hook and
intrigue them. What you have to say is important! Still only at 221 words here; remember to try
to stay under 250, unless your professor advises otherwise. The keywords noted below highlight
the search terms someone would use to find your paper in a database; they should be formatted
as shown (indented ½”, with the word “Keywords” in italics, and the few key words in normal
print, separated by a comma.
Keywords: main words, primary, necessary, search terms
http://www.liberty.edu/academics/graduate/writing/?PID=12268
SAMPLE PAPER 3
A Sample Paper for the Purpose of Correct Formatting
The title of your paper goes on the top line of the first page of the body. It should be
centered, unbolded, and in title case (all major words—usually those with four+ letters—should
begin with a capital letter) — see figure 2.1 on p. 42 and 4.15 on pp. 101-102. You can either
give a brief introductory paragraph below that or go straight into a Level 1 heading. In APA
format, the Introduction never has a heading (simply begin with an introductory paragraph
without the word “Introduction”); see first paragraph of section 2.05 on page 27, as well as the
first sentence under the bolded headings on page 63 of your APA manual (American
Psychological Association [APA], 2010). As shown in the previous sentence, use brackets to
denote an abbreviation within parentheses (third bullet under 4.10). Write out acronyms the first
time mentioned, such as American Psychological Association for APA, and then use the
acronym throughout the body of the paper (4.22; note the section on underuse, however, at the
top of p. 107).
Basic Rules of Scholarly Writing
Most beginning students have difficulty learning how to write papers and also format
papers correctly using the sixth edition of the APA manual (APA, 2010). However, the Liberty
University Online Writing Center’s mission includes helping students learn how to be
autonomous, proficient writers, and thus this sample paper is designed so it cannot be used as a
template for inserting the correct parts. For the purpose of instruction, this paper will use second
person (you, your), but third person (this author) must be used in most student papers. First
person (I, me, we, us, our) is not generally permitted in scholarly papers. Students should refrain
from using first or second person in academic courses (even though the APA manual appears to
encourage this in other writing venues) unless the assignment instructions clearly permit such (as
SAMPLE PAPER 4
in the case of personal reflection sections or life histories). Though some written assignments
will not require an abstract, understand that APA generally requires one unless otherwise stated
in your assignment instructions or grading rubric.
Heading Levels—Level 1
This sample paper uses primarily one level of headings (Level 1), so each heading
presented herein is centered and in boldface. APA style, however, has five heading levels, which
will be demonstrated briefly for visual purposes. See page 62 of your APA manual (APA, 2010)
if employing more than one level. Level 1 headings are bolded and in title case — capitalize
each major word (usually those with four or more letters), including hyphenated compound
words. Four-Year Pilot Study on Attachment Disorders, and Self-Awareness of Pollen are
examples of headings with compound words. Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the) in headings
unless they begin a title or follow a colon.
Level 2 Heading
Level 2 headings are bolded, in title case, and left-justified. The supporting information
is posed in standard paragraph form beneath it. Never use only one of any level of heading. You
must use two or more of any level you use, though not every paper will require more than one
level.
Level 3 heading. Is bolded, indented ½”, in sentence case (only the first word should
begin with a capital letter in most cases), and ends with a period. Add two spaces, then begin
typing your content on the same line, as presented in this paragraph.
Level 4 heading. Same as Level 3, except italicized, too.
Level 5 heading. Same as Level 4, but unbolded. Despite heavy writing experience, this
author has never used Level 5 headings.
SAMPLE PAPER 5
Annotated Bibliographies, Tables of Contents, and Outlines
A few requirements in various assignments are not addressed in the APA manual, such as
outlines, tables of content, and annotated bibliographies. APA does not regulate every type of
paper, including those forms. In those cases, follow your professor’s instructions and the
grading rubric for the content and format of the outline or annotations, and use standard APA
formatting for all other elements (such as running head, title page, body, reference list, 1″
margins, double-spacing, Times New Romans 12-point font, etc.).
That being said, when I organize outlines in APA format, I set my headings up in the
proper levels (making sure there are at least two subheadings under each level), and then I use
those to make the entries in the outline. Level 1 headings become Roman Numbers (I, II, III),
Level 2 headings become capital letters (A, B, C), Level 3 headings become numbers (1, 2, 3),
and Level 4 headings become lowercase letters (a, b, c). Some courses require “working
outlines,” which are designed to have the bones and foundational framework of the paper in
place (such as title page, abstract, body with title and headings, and references), without all the
supporting “meat” that fills out and forms a completed paper
Appendices
Appendices, if any, are attached after the reference list (see top of p. 230). You must
refer to them in the body of your paper so that your reader knows to look there (see top of p. 39).
The word “Appendix” is singular; use it to refer to individual appendices. I am attaching a
sample Annotated Bibliography as a visual aid in “Appendix A.” You will see that I included
the title “Appendix A” at the top of the page and formatted it in standard APA format beneath
that.
SAMPLE PAPER 6
Crediting Your Sources
Paraphrasing is rephrasing another’s idea in one’s own words. Quoting is using another’s
exact words. Both need to be cited; failure to do so constitutes plagiarism. Liberty University
also has a…
