The American Psychological Association (APA) is the most widely used format for academic and professional writing. APA style is used in psychology, education, sociology and many other disciplines. When writing an essay in APA format, it is important to ensure that all of the style elements are followed.
When beginning an APA essay, it is important to include a title page. The title page should include the title of the paper, the authors name, the institution affiliation and contact information. The title page should also include a running head that is a shortened version of the title which should appear in all capitals.
The body of the essay should begin with an introductory paragraph, which includes a brief description of the papers purpose and key points. This section should also include a thesis statement, which is the main argument or claim of the essay.
The body of the essay should be composed of concise paragraphs which respond to the main points of the essay. Each paragraph should include a topic sentence which briefly introduces the main idea of each section and clearly connects back to the thesis statement. Every paragraph should provide evidence and examples to support the point being made. Additionally, all sources used in the essay must be cited properly according to APA style rules.
When ending an APA essay, it is important to restate the main points and offer a conclusion about the implications of the evidence presented. The concluding paragraph should also include a summary of the main points of the essay and a final statement that ties back to the thesis statement.
Following the APA format guidelines when writing an essay will help ensure that your paper follows all of the style elements required by your professor or institution. Following these guidelines will help to create an essay that is well organized, clear and concise.