4
[See figure 2.2 Sample Student Title Page on p. 32 for an illustration of a completed title page]
Using hard page breaks between sections of an APA style paper
APA style student papers consist of the cover page, the full text of the paper, reference page(s),
and tables/graphs. A hard page break is inserted between each of these specific sections of the
paper. The page break preserves all formatting on the pages above it while allowing changes in
formatting to the text and pages below it. Do the following to insert a page break after the title
page:
• Position the cursor at the end of the last line of text on the page.
• Click on the Insert link located at the upper left of the toolbar.
• Click on the Pages icon located on the left side of the tool bar, just beneath the File link.
This will open a drop-down menu.
• Clicking on Page Break will insert the page break. You can also use the Ctrl + Enter keys
shortcut to insert page brakes.
Formatting an Abstract page [Section 2.9]
APA Style for student papers does not normally include an abstract. However, some instructors
may require their students include an abstract because condensing an entire paper into a short
paragraph is a way to improve your writing skills. If you include an abstract it immediately
follows the title page, separated by a hard page break.
The abstract in APA style consists of a paragraph length summary of what your paper is about.
The abstract should be 250 words or less in length depending what the journal requirements are.
• Separate the abstract from the title page using a hard page break.
• Type the label Abstract using upper case for the first letter and lower case for the rest of
the word.
• Center the label Abstract by clicking on the Center Justification icon located in the center
of the tool bar directly beneath the link for References.
• Use Left Justification for the text of the abstract. The Left Justification icon is located just
beneath the link for References and is just left of the Center Justification icon.
• Type in the text of the abstract as a single paragraph but do not indent the first sentence
of the abstract. Use double spacing for the abstract.
• Insert a Hard Page Break after the abstract text using the instructions above. This
separates the abstract from the body of your paper.
Formatting the References List [Section 2.12]
• Insert a hard page break between the body of the paper and the reference page(s).
• Type the word References at the top of the page in all caps and bold the text then center
it.
• Type in each reference in alphabetical order using the last name of the first author of each
article or monograph.