Introduction of a research paper apa
{"Image DocumentName": "Basic APA Elements of a Research Paper", "Image ImageDescription": "Abstract. Sample APA style research paper. Basic Elements of a Research Paper. Introduction. Body of paper. In-text citations. Parenthetical Tables and figures. Conclusion. References. Reference page format. Order of source information for each resource. Order of all sources on reference page (alphabetized) Hanging indent-5 spaces. One element which may be included in an APA style paper is an abstract but this is up to the professor. If an abstract is requested, write it after the paper is completed. The abstract is a word summary of the contents of the paper. It lets the potential reader have a glimpse of the information that is included in the body of the paper, and they can decide whether they might find the information useful or not. The abstract is located on a separate page between the title page and the introduction to the paper. The introduction follows the abstract, and it is where the reader\u2019s interest is piqued on the topic of the paper and also where the thesis is stated or the problem being solved is described. Next is the body of the paper which is where the bulk of the citations will be. The citations give credit to the sources used while also providing the reader with the ability to easily locate the researched information, either to verify it for themselves or to do additional research. Citations should be included with: direct quotations, anything that is not common knowledge, summarized or paraphrased material, and statistics and graphics. The general rule for in-text citation is to either include them as part of a sentence for instance: Roberts (2009) states\u2026, or at the end of a sentence (Roberts, 2005). A page number is required after any quoted material and some professor\u2019s will require it for any research; however, in general, the page number is only needed with a quotation. APA style also has rules for labeling tables and figures. Click on the Powerpoint link for a handout with instructions. And of course, the paper will have a conclusion. Not just a summary of what has been written thus far, but some meaningful discussion of why the topic is important, answering the So what? question. Another element, the reference page will list all the sources (and only those sources) that were used in the body of the paper. Each reference page entry should include the author\u2019s name (or the title for works with no author), the publication date, the title of the article, the title of the periodical, and the publication information. For example, HerbstDamm, K. L. & Kulik, J. A. (2005). Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients. Health Psychology, 24, doi: / There are variances for different types of sources, but each generally follows this format. Finally, the professor may request some elements that aren t required in APA style such as an Executive Summary, a Table of Contents, special page numbering, or appendices that are located in an excel document. These do require special handling, but there is some leeway in the way they are presented in a paper. The Writing Center or the professor can help with these components.", "Image XResolution": "37", "Image YResolution": "37", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Centimeter", "Image Software": "SlidePlayer", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered"}