APA Basics

1. APA Basics MSUM Nursing Department Revised 1/2006

2. APA Formatting Basics • Set the margins 1in all 4 sides: go to File, page set up and change the default settings of 1.25 in to 1 in. If you check the box next to default it will keep your margins like this otherwise you need to reset the margins for each and every APA paper. • Set font: go to Format and select-Times New Roman • Set size: go to Format, font and select 12 • Set line spacing to double: go to Format, paragraph and select double from the drop down box under line spacing • While in the same screen, make sure the spacing before and after is set to 0 (zero) and not auto Revised 1/2006

3. Formatting your Title Page • Type in your Running head at the first line top left on the margin-notice lower case “h” in head • Open the Header/ Footer tool link found under View; select right align so that your pagination will be at top right side of paper; type in 2-3 words of your title-see pg 288 for correct spacing • Click close • This is the icon in the Header/footer tool bar you click to insert the page number after typing in a name for your page title-make sure there are 5 spaces after the title before the page # • Title is line and page centered; see pg 306 in the APA text Revised 1/2006

4. Adding 5 spaces between pagination and title in header 1. Type in title and add page as listed on slide 3 2. Put cursor at the numeral and using the space bar insert 5 spaces and the title will move to the left, leaving the page number on the right margin line. Revised 1/2006

5. Completed Title Page (see pg 306) Revised 1/2006

6. Content • Refer to the sample paper pgs 306-312 • APA uses Headers • Refer to paper criteria • Your title will match the paper requirements • (N430): Research Critique • (N348L): Community Project • Use the paper evaluation criteria as your headers. Put them in your document as you start working that way you will not forget a section of paper you will be graded on. Revised 1/2006

7. 1) How to set the tabs for your reference page: margins of course are 1 in all 4 sides, line spacing is double, and spacing before and after is 0 2) Type in your reference and refer to APA text Ch 4 (E-refs pgs 271-281 3) Notice the tab triangles on the ruler top of page? Revised 1/2006

8. #4 Hit tab key once and whole citation moves over #4) 5th ed APA uses the hanging indent. When you tab in the whole reference moves! Notice where the tab keys are-indented .5 inch, but you want the top line to be left margin aligned, and the remaining lines of the reference indented Revised 1/2006

9. Removing the hyperlink-blue underline 5) Put your cursor anywhere over the link and do a right mouse button click 6) Select remove hyperlink Revised 1/2006

10. #7 7) Place your cursor here and it will flash Take your mouse up to the top tab triangle, and slide it over to the edge of the blue line which is your 1 in margin mark. You will probably see a dotted line on the left side; that is o-k. Hyperlinks will jump back easily, so maybe you want to wait until the very end to remove Revised 1/2006

11. Here is your completed reference. If it is easier to remove hyperlinks once you have all of the references listed, that is fine; just do a right click, select remove. APA does not have any blue hyperlinks or underlines on the reference page. Just be careful as those hyperlinks want to jump back in anytime your mouse gets near them! Revised 1/2006

12. APA Resources • Use the APA Text • http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html Revised 1/2006