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APA Citation Guide (7th Edition)

The APA 7th edition was published in October 2019. Please check with your instructor about which edition should be used for your work.

Organizing Your Paper

APA 7th Edition uses a system of up to 5 headings to organize your paper. Student papers often have 1-3 headings, while professional papers might have more. 

  • All headings in your paper should be in title case, which means all the important words are capitalized. Articles and conjunctions are not capitalized, such as the, a, an, and, etc. 
  • In the body of your paper, you will have the paper title at the top followed by the introduction. Use Heading level 1 for this paper title. No heading that says introduction is needed. It is assumed that your writing between the title and the following heading is your introduction. 
  • After your introduction comes the headings for the rest of the paper. It is easiest to determine the headings if you already have an outline.
  • Just like with an outline, you want each Heading/Section to have at least two items in it. 

 

Level 1 Heading in Title Case Bolded Centered

Level 2 Headings in Title Case Bolded Left

Level 3 Headings in Title Case Bolded Italicized Left

Level 4 Heading in Title Case Bolded Indented

Level 5 Headings in Title Case Bolded Italicized Indented

 

These examples show an outline in a format you may be more familiar with and then how it looks formatted in APA:

 

Literature Review Paper Outline

I. Guided Imagery and Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Group Psychotherapy

II. Guided Imagery

a. Features of Guided Imagery

b. Guided Imagery in Psychotherapy

III. Progressive Muscle Relaxation

a. Features of Progressive Muscle Relaxation

b. Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Group Psychotherapy

IV. Guided Imagery and Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Group Psychotherapy

V. Conclusion

a. Limitations of Existing Research

b. Directions for Future Research

(Outline taken from APA Student Paper Example)

Student Paper Outline in APA Format

Guided Imagery and Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Group Psychotherapy

Guided Imagery

Features of Guided Imagery

Guided Imagery in Psychotherapy

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Features of Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Group Psychotherapy

Guided Imagery and Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Group Psychotherapy

Conclusion

Limitations of Existing Research

Directions for Future Research

Study/Experiment Paper Outline

I. Comparison of Student Evaluations of Teaching With Online and Paper-Based Administration

a. Online Administration of Student Evaluations

b. Effects of Format on Response Rates and Student Evaluation Scores

c. Purpose of the Present Study

II. Method

a. Sample

b. Instrument

c. Design

III. Results

a. Response Rates

b. Evaluation Ratings

c. Stability of Ratings

IV. Discussion

a. Implications for Practice

i. Improving SET Response Rates

ii. Evaluation SET Scores

b. Conclusion

(Outline taken from APA Professional Paper Example)

 

Study/Experiment Outline in APA Format

Comparison of Student Evaluations of Teaching With Online and Paper-Based Administration

Online Administration of Student Evaluations

Effects of Format on Response Rates and Student Evaluation Scores

Purpose of the Present Study

Method

Sample

Instrument

Design

Results

Response Rates

Evaluation Ratings

Stability Ratings

Discussion

Implications for Practice

Improving SET Response Rates Italicized Left

Evaluating SET ScoresItalicized Left

Conclusion

Need help setting up Word for APA Headings or need more information? Download the APA Template with Tables and Headings for a document already set up with Headings or checkout Microsoft's article on customizing headings in Word: