Mastering APA 7th Edition: A Guide to Liberty University's Sample Paper Format
Liberty University's academic programs often require specific writing styles. To ensure clarity and consistency, the university provides sample papers and templates for various academic writing styles. These resources are designed to guide students in adhering to the approved writing style guides. This article focuses on the APA 7th edition format, particularly as it applies to Liberty University's requirements for graduate students writing professional papers.
Approved Writing Style Guides
Liberty University administrators have vetted and approved specific writing style guides for use in the university's programs. Students are encouraged to download and save the selected template file to their desktop in .dotm format for easy access. For PLST and JURI courses where formatting requirements are not explicitly specified, Bluebook resources may be used for essays and research papers. However, it's crucial to remember that graduate students are expected to adhere to APA 7th edition formatting guidelines for professional papers. To support this, Liberty University's Writing Center offers both a template paper and a sample paper.
General APA Formatting Guidelines
APA (American Psychological Association) style is a widely used format for academic writing, particularly in the social sciences. The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual provides comprehensive guidelines for formatting papers, citing sources, and structuring content. Several key elements define the general appearance and structure of an APA paper.
Spacing
In general, APA papers should be double-spaced throughout the entire document, including the title page, abstract, body, references, and appendices. This ensures readability and allows for instructor comments.
Margins and Alignment
Your paper should use 1-inch margins on all sides of standard-sized paper (8.5' x 11'). This provides ample white space around the text, making it easier to read. The text should be left-aligned, creating a clean and professional look.
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Indentation
The first sentence of each new paragraph in the body of the paper should be indented a half inch. This helps to visually separate paragraphs and improve readability. However, the abstract should not be indented.
Headings
Headings are used to organize the content of your paper and make it easier for readers to follow your arguments. APA style uses five levels of headings, each with its own distinct formatting. All headings should be in title case, meaning that the first letter of each major word is capitalized.
Level 1 Headings: These are the main headings of your paper and should be centered and in bold.
Level 2 Headings: These are subheadings that fall under Level 1 headings and should be left-aligned and in bold.
Level 3 Headings: These are subheadings that fall under Level 2 headings and should be left-aligned and in bold italic.
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Level 4 Headings: These are subheadings that fall under Level 3 headings and should be indented like regular paragraphs, bold, and end with a period.
Level 5 Headings: These are subheadings that fall under Level 4 headings and should be indented like regular paragraphs, bold italic, and end with a period.
Title Page
The title page is the first page of your paper and provides essential information about your work. It should include the following elements:
Title of the Paper: The title should be concise and accurately reflect the content of your paper. It should be centered and in bold.
Author's Name: Your name should be placed below the title, also centered.
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Affiliation: Your affiliation (e.g., Liberty University) should be placed below your name, centered.
Course Information: Include the course code and name, as well as the instructor's name.
Due Date: Include the date the assignment is due.
Author Note
Place the author note in the bottom half of the title page. Center and bold the label "Author Note." Align the paragraphs of the author note to the left. The author note is used to provide additional information about the author(s), such as acknowledgements, disclosures of conflicts of interest, or contact information.
Abstract Page
The abstract page follows the title page and provides a brief summary of your paper. It should include the following elements:
Abstract: The abstract is a brief but comprehensive summary of your paper. It should be no more than 250 words and should accurately reflect the content of your paper. It should be written in a clear and concise style. The abstract should not be indented.
Keywords: Keywords are used for indexing in databases and as search terms. Your keywords should capture the most important aspects of your paper in three to five words, phrases, or acronyms. These should be listed below the abstract, labeled as "Keywords:" and indented.
Body of the Paper
The body of the paper is where you present your main arguments and evidence. It should be well-organized and clearly written. Use headings and subheadings to guide the reader through your paper. Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea.
References
The references section lists all of the sources that you cited in your paper. It should be placed at the end of your paper, after the body. The references should be alphabetized by the first author's last name. Each reference should include the following information:
- Author(s)
- Year of publication
- Title of the work
- Publication information (e.g., journal name, volume number, page numbers)
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