How to Write a PaperA.P.A. Format

Getting Started

Step One: Generate a research question (what do I want to know?)

Step Two: Break it up into smaller questions (How will I find out?)

Step Three: Find information

Step Four: Organize information

Step Five: Formulate your argument

Finding Information

• Generate key words for Library/Internet research, based on your questions

• Get background info (5 W’s)

• Scan sources for important details BUT also read for context!

• Take organized notes!!

• DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!

• Use credible, reliable sources...

Evaluating your sources

• Author/Organization (Are they an expert? Do they have an agenda?)

• Language (Strong? Vague? Positive? Negative)

• Quality of argument (What information are they basing it on?)

• Source’s sources (how/where did they get their information?)

Sources: Strong vs. Shaky

Shaky• The first thing you find

on Google• Student Essays• Open sites (e.g.

Wikipedia– can be a starting point)

• News, web sites or other media (SOMETIMES)

• Strong• Peer-Reviewed

Journals• Academic Databases• Encyclopedias • News, web sites or

other media (SOMETIMES)

• Remember your questions

• Sort and sift: Does this information answer the questions?

• Arrange information according to question or idea

• Draw conclusions

• Synthesize your information: How does it answer the bigger research question?

Organizing your information

Format• Paper: unlined paper, 8.5”x 11” in size.

• Margins: Leave 1” margin on all sides.

• Typed = Times New Roman & 12 font

• Double-space entire paper (Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs!!!)

• All paragraphs need to be indented.

• Only use one side of the paper; do not write on the back.

Title Page• Center the title approximately in the middle of the

page.

• Do not underline or place quotation marks around the title unless it happens to be a quote or the title of a literary work.

• Capitalize the first letter in the title and all other words except prepositions.

• Double-space the following under the title: Your Name, Course (Block), Teacher’s Name and date.

Title Page & Page #’s

• Page #’s are to be placed in the upper right hand corner of every page, including the title page and reference page.

• Use an abbreviated title, which is 5 spaces to the left of the page number.

• Do not use periods or brackets around the #.

Example of Title Page

Abb. Title 1

An Original Title

Your Name

ACS 11 A-Block

Ms. Reid

Due Date

• Do not use contractions in a formal essay. Instead of using don’t use do not.

• Do not write in the first person. Instead of stating: I think use One may think.

• Write out numbers from 1 to 10 and any other short number i.e. five instead of 5.

DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!!!

• Plagiarism will be dealt with administration!

• It is a serious offence!

• You must give credit for other people’s ideas, opinions or theories!!!

Citations• Use APA in-text citations, which will direct the reader to

a list of references at the end of the paper. They identify the author’s name, the year of publication. For direct quotes, also include the page number.

Use citations when you:• Use quotes (exact words from someone else)• Use ideas from someone else• Summarize and paraphrase other sources• Statistics• Visual info. Such as tables, graphs, diagrams &

illustrations

You do not need to use citations when…• It is your original thoughts and ideas• Common Knowledge (Ottawa is the capital of Canada)

Examples of CitationsQuotations:(Author, date, page #)No date = (Author, page #)No Author = (Abb. Title, date, page #)Web site = Same, but instead of page # use paragraph # (¶ = symbol for paragraph) (Reid, 2005, ¶5) or (Reid, 2005, para. 5)

If the author’s name is mentioned in the text…• Ms. Reid (2005) states "Africa is in an economic crisis due to

European colonization and the aftermath of the Triangular Trade" (p.5).

If the author’s name is not mentioned in the text…• In a recent publication, one observer noted "Africa is in an

economic crisis due to European colonization and the aftermath of the Triangular Trade " (Reid, 2005, p.5).

Examples of Citations• Summary or Paraphrase

Same as above, but you do not need to use page #’s, unless using longer works.

• Two Authors(Clarkson & McCall, 2005).

• Three to Five Authors• Provide the last names of all the authors for the first

citation. For subsequent citations of the same source, use only the first author’s last name and abbreviation et al.

Example: (Reid et al., 2005)

Examples of Citations• If you use a source that was cited in another

source (a secondary source), name the original source in your signal phrase. List the secondary source in your reference list and include it in your parenthetical citation, preceded by the words "as cited in." In the following example, Booth is the secondary source.

Example: Historian Ms. Reid states "Africa is in an

economic crisis due to European colonization and the aftermath of the Triangular Trade" (as cited in Rhymes, 2005, p.5).

Quotations

• Less than 40 words: Include it within your paper, double spacing it the same as the paper, and simply enclosing it in quotation marks. Add the citation at the end of the quotation.

• Over 40 words: Double-indent the quoted passage and single-space it. Do not use quotation marks.

Introduction

Things not to do:

• Do not say “In this paper I will…” or “The purpose of this essay…”

• Do not use a dictionary or encyclopedia definition to start your essay.

Introduction…some ideas

• The introduction should be designed to attract the reader’s attention and give an idea of the essay’s focus.

Begin with an attention grabber.

Option 1: Startling InformationThis information must be true and verifiable, and it doesn’t need to be totally new to your readers. It could simply be a pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the point you wish to make. If you use a piece of startling information, follow it with a sentence or two of elaboration.

Option 2:AnecdoteAn anecdote is a story that illustrates a point. Be sure your anecdote is short, to the point, and relevant to your topic. This can be a very effective opener for your essay, but use it carefully.

Option 3: DialogueAn appropriate dialogue does not have to identify speakers, but the reader must understand the point you are trying to convey. Use only two or thee exchanges between speakers to make your point. Follow dialogue with a sentence or two of elaboration.

Introduction…some ideas

Option 4: Summary InformationA few sentences explaining your topic in general terms can lead the reader gently to your thesis. Each sentence should become gradually more specific, until you reach your thesis.

If the attention grabber was only a sentence or two, add one or two more sentences that will lead the reader from your opening to your thesis statement.

Finish the paragraph with your thesis statement.

Introduction…some ideas

Thesis Statement• The thesis statement tells the reader what the essay will

be about, and what point you, the author, will be making. It maps out the paper as it suggests an order or direction for the paper’s development. A good thesis statement often answers the questions How? and Why?

• First gather the information that you would like to include in your essay

• Ask yourself what do the main ideas and supporting ideas that you have researched say about your topic?

• The thesis statement is the last sentence in your introductory paragraph.

• Restrict your thesis statement by reducing it to a more specific and manageable subject.

Examples of Thesis StatementsAerobic exercise is good for you. (POOR)Aerobic exercise may be part of a weight loss program, but it is also the way to a healthy heart. (BETTER)

• A thesis is limited. This means that you zero in on the parts of your topic that you wish to focus on. Otherwise you could go on and on forever (in theory).

Example:There are many advantages to having professional sports teams in Chicago. (POOR)

Having professional sports teams in Chicago has political, social and economic advantages. (BETTER)

• A thesis is supported by strong arguments. It’s important to discuss the best arguments in favor of your thesis in addition to addressing the strongest ones that go against it.

Example: You can present your opinion on a subject and someone else can say “Okay, but what about…” If you can counter their argument, you’ve just strengthened your own. Imagine that you are having a debate, it is important to see both sides of the argument in order to best defend your own.

Examples of Thesis Statements

• A thesis takes some sort of stand. You may change your mind on a topic you are exploring but in the end, you must draw your own conclusions and support them by research.

Your thesis represents where you stand in relation to a topic or issue.

Examples of Thesis Statements

• A thesis should be arguable. Reasonable people should be able to disagree with your thesis. It’s not interesting of people can’t dispute it. It needs to be controversial enough so people want to continue reading.

Example:“Sir John A. MacDonald was the first Prime Minister of Canada” is a fact people may respond to by saying, “Yeah, so what?”

Examples of Thesis Statements

Example of How to Build a Thesis Statement

• Half of all drug addicted babies are likely to grow up in homes lacking good cognitive and emotional stimulation and would benefit from federal government financed programs to help with their care.

* Notice that this statement meets the five guidelines reviewed earlier!*

Example of How to Build a Thesis Statement

• Programs for Drug Addicted Babies

• More attention should be paid to the environment drug addicted babies grow up in.

• Experts estimate that half of drug addicted babies will grow up in home environments lacking rich cognitive and emotional stimulation.

• The topic you have chosen must now be explained, described, or argued.

• Each main idea that you wrote down in your diagram or outline will become one of the body paragraphs. If you had three or four main ideas, you will have three or four body paragraphs.

Writing the Body Paragraphs

Elaboration• Elaboration can be further description or

explanation or discussion.

• Supporting Point – Commuters appreciate the cost savings of taking

public transportation rather than driving.

• Elaboration – Less driving time means less maintenance

expense, such as oil changes.

– Of course, less driving time means savings on gasoline as well.

– In many cases, these savings amount to more than the cost of riding public transportation.

Each body paragraph will have the same basic structure.

• Start by writing down one of your main ideas, in sentence form.If your main idea is "reduces freeway congestion," you might say this:Public transportation reduces freeway congestion.

• Next, write down each of your supporting points for that main idea, but leave four or five lines in between each point.

• In the space under each point, write down some elaboration for that point.

Transitional Devices• Good transitions can connect paragraphs

• To Add:and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in addition, first (second, etc.)

• To Compare:whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be true

• To Prove:• because, for, since, for the same reason, obviously,

evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that is

• To Show Exception:yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes

• To Show Time:immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then

• To Repeat:in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as has been noted

• To Emphasize:definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically, unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without reservation

Transitional Devices

• To Show Sequence:first, second, third, and so forth. A, B, C, and so forth. next, then, following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently, previously, before this, simultaneously, concurrently, thus, therefore, hence, next, and then, soon

• To Give an Example:for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, to illustrate

• To Summarize or Conclude:in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said, hence, therefore, accordingly, thus, as a result, consequently, on the whole

Transitional Devices

• Once you have fleshed out each of your body paragraphs, one for each main point, you are ready to continue.

Finishing touches of Body Paragraphs

Conclusion

• The conclusion brings closure to the reader, summing up your points and providing a final perspective on your topic

• This paragraph should allude back to your introductory paragraph and restate your thesis statement (do not duplicate the one from your introductory)

Reference Page• At the end of the report (on a separate piece of paper), center

the title References at the top of the page. Do not italicize, underline or use quotation marks around the title.

• Number the page of your reference list the same as the rest of your paper. (shorten title and 5 spaces and then page #)

• Arrange all sources you used in a single alphabetical list by author’s last name or by title if no author is given.

• Double-space all entries in your reference list.

• DO not indent the first line, but always indent the second or third lines (5 spaces). This is called Hanging Indentation.

• Always leave 1 space after commas and 2 spaces after periods and colons.

• Do not # them.

Reference Samples• Book Author. (Date). Title. Place of Publication: Publisher. • EditorName of Editor. (Ed.). (Date). Title. Place of Publication: Publisher.

• Electronic Encyclopedia Title of Article. (Date). Name of Encyclopedia. Publisher.

• EncyclopediaAuthor (if given). (Date). Title of Article. Name of Encyclopedia.

Volume #, Pages.

• Magazine/NewspaperAuthor (if given). (Date, Month). Title of Article. Name of

Magazine/Newspaper, Pages.

• Internet ResourcesAuthor. (Date). Title of Article. Retrieved September 20th,

2005 from URL

• Example:Nielsen, M. E. (2000). Notable People in Psychology of

Religion. Retrieved August 3, 2001, from

http://www.psywww.com/psyrelig/psyrelpr.htm

• No DateNielsen, M. E. (n.d.). Notable People in Psychology of Religion. Retrieved

August 3, 2001, from  http://www.psywww.com/psyrelig/psyrelpr.htm

• No Author, No DateGender and society. (n.d.). Retrieved December 3, 2001, from

http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/gender.html

Reference Samples

Title 5

References

DiLorenzo, Thomas. (2002). The Economics of Slavery.

Retrieved September 17th, 2007, from http://www.lewr

ckwell.com/dilorenzo/dilorenzo29.html

Dodson, Howard. (2003). How Slavery Helped Build a World Economy.

Retrieved on September 17th, 2007, from

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/

2003/01/0131_030203_jubilee2.html

Field, Ron. (1995). African Peoples of the Americas. Great Britain: Cambridge

University Press..

Slavery. (n.d.) Retrieved on September 17th, 2007, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/slavery

The Economics of Slavery. (n.d.) Retrieved on September

17th, 2007, from www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/

article_display.cfm?HHID=80

Editing• Check spelling and grammar.

• Read your essay out loud to yourself and then to someone else

• Make sure you do not have run-on sentences and that you have organized paragraphs!!!

• Make sure that your essay flows and is interesting!!!

Congratulations!

• Once you have checked your work and perfected your formatting, your essay is finished.