Michelle Post, Ph.D. ([email protected])
APA 6th Edition Basic Formatting
Preparing for Two Headers
Set the Margins
Set the Font
Set the Line Spacing
Insert Title Page Header (Step 1 - 5)
Type the Title Page: Steps
Insert the 2nd Header for the Body of the Paper
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Create the Abstract Page
Create the Body of the Paper
Create the Reference Page
Save it All
YouTube Video Training
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Basic Formatting – The Paper APA 6th Edition Location
Page Size: 8.5” x 11”
Margins: 1” on all sides Chapter 8: Section 8.03 – Margins (p. 229)
Line Spacing: Double spaced for whole document Chapter 8: Section 8.03 – Line spacing (p. 229)
Font Type: Times New Roman (serif typeface) Chapter 8: Section 8.03 – Typeface (p. 228)
Font Size: 12 pt Chapter 8: Section 8.03 – Typeface (p. 228)
Alignment: Flush-left style (right margin is uneven) Chapter 8: Section 8.03 – Line length and alignment (p. 229)
Paragraph and indentation: Indent the first line of every paragraph and footnote. Use the tab key, which should be set at five to seven spaces or a ½”
Chapter 8: Section 8.03 – Paragraph and indentation (p. 229)
Length: The optimal length to effectively communicate the primary ideas.
RULE: “less is more”
Chapter 3: Section 3.01 – Length (p. 61)
Writing Style: Clear communication that uses continuity in presentation of ideas, smoothness of expression, tone, economy of expression, precision and clarity, and linguistic devices.
Chapter 3: Sections 3.05 – 3.10 (pp. 65 – 70)
Voice: Third person point of view and active voice Chapter 3: Section 3.09 – Precision and Clarity: Attribution (pp. 69 -70)
Chapter 3: Section 3.18 – Verbs (p. 77)
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Steps1. Select from the menu bar
Page Layout2. Select Page Setup3. Select the Layout tab4. Check Different first page
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Steps1. Select Page Layout
tab2. Select Margins3. Select 1” on all sides
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Steps1. From the menu bar select Home2. From the Font type drop down
select Times New Roman3. From the Font size drop down,
select 12 pt.
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Steps1. From the Home tab2. Select the Line Spacing
short cut tool3. From the Line Spacing
drop down menu select 2.0
4. NOTE: Make sure there are no spaces before or after a paragraph
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Steps1. Select the Insert tab2. Select Header button3. Select Blank header
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Steps1. Remove the tab marker from the Right margin2. To do this, select the tab with your right mouse
button and drag off the page
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Steps1. Select the decimal tab from the left tab selection
box2. Insert the decimal tab near the 1”right margin (you
cannot place it directly on it)3. Slide the decimal tab onto the 1” right margin
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Steps1. Type the words Running head: in mixed case2. Type a short title of your paper in ALL CAPS one
space after the colon3. NOTE: The title cannot exceed 50 characters
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Steps1. After you finish typing your title hit your tab key until you are at
the right margin2. Select Insert from the menu bar3. Select Page Number from the button menu4. Select Current Position from the drop down menu5. Select Plain Number from the second drop down menu6. NOTE: Do NOT manually enter a number on the right margin. If
you do, each page will have the same page number7. Close the Header box
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Steps1. From the short cut menus select the Center Text Alignment (this
will center your cursor so that you can type your title page information)
2. Hit the Enter Key three times to move the cursor to the right place to start your title page information
3. Type the title of your paper in twelve words or less (Words that are 4 characters or more are capitalized)
4. Hit the enter key to move to the next line, type Your Name5. Hit the enter key to move to the next line, type the University
Name6. After typing the University Name, hit the key combination Control
(Ctrl) plus Enter (This key combination will take you to the beginning of the next page)
7. See the next slide for the finished product
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Steps1. You will create the 2nd header the same way you did the first, the only
difference is you do not use the words “Running head” in the 2nd header2. Select the Insert tab3. Select Header button4. Select Blank header5. Remove the tab marker from the Right margin
1. To do this, select the tab with your right mouse button and drag off the page
6. Select the decimal tab from the left tab selection box7. Insert the decimal tab near the 1”right margin (you cannot place it
directly on it)8. Slide the decimal tab onto the 1” right margin9. Type the same short title from Header 1
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Steps, Cntd.1. After you finish typing your title hit your tab key until you are at the
right margin2. Select Insert from the menu bar3. Select Page Number from the button menu4. Select Current Position from the drop down menu5. Select Plain Number from the second drop down menu
• NOTE: Do NOT manually enter a number on the right margin. If you do, each page will have the same page number
6. Close the Header box7. See the next slide for the finished product
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Steps1. From the current cursor position, type the title Abstract
• Note: The title is in mixed case and is not bold2. Hit the enter key to advance to the next line3. From the Text Alignment Tools, select the Left Align so that the text will be
flushed on the left and jagged on the right4. Begin typing the Abstract
• NOTE: An abstract does not use a paragraph indentation5. When you finish writing the Abstract, hit a Ctrl+Enter key combination and you
will be taken to the next page to begin the body of the paper
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Steps1. Select from the Text Alignment Tools, the Center Alignment Tool to
center your cursor on the page2. Go to the Title Page and copy the Title of the Paper from that page by
highlighting the text and selecting the copy button from the button menu or using the Ctrl+C key combination for Control Copy
3. Return to the Body of the Paper and with your cursor placed in the center of the page select the Paste Button from the menu bar or using the Ctrl+V key combination for Control Paste
4. Hit the Enter key to advance one line5. Select from the Text Alignment Tools, the Left Alignment Tool to
place your cursor on the left-side of the page6. Hit the Tab Key to indent the paragraph by 1/2” or you can use your
space key to space in 5-7 spaces7. Begin typing your paper8. See the next slide for the finished product
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Steps1. After you finish writing your paper, use the Ctrl+Enter key
combination to advance to the next page2. Select from the Text Alignment Tools, the Center Alignment Tool to
center your cursor on the page3. Type the title References if you have more than one reference, if you
only have one reference than the title is not plural.• The title is not in bold and is in mixed case
4. After typing the title, hit the enter key to advance to the next line5. Select from the Text Alignment Tools, the Left Alignment Tool to
place your cursor on the left-side of the page6. Begin entering your references
• Arrange the entries of the reference list by alphabetical order by last name, followed by initials.
• If the author has two or more listings, list by publication date from earliest to latest.
7. See the next slide for the finished product
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Steps1. You have now complete an APA 6th Edition document that you
can save and use again and again2. Select the Office button in the upper left corner3. Select Save or Save As4. Select the location where you want to save your new APA 6th
Edition Template (e.g., Your PC, Laptop or Flash Drive)5. Name the file APA 6th Edition Template6. When you need to write an APA 6th Edition Paper all you need to
do now is open your template and edit your header, title and then type away
Setting up Word 2007 for APA -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwte1ntB2gA
Setting up Word 2010 for APA -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUjhwGmhDrI
APA Format Citations-Sixth (6th) Edition -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pbUoNa5tyY
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