Short



A Model for a Formal Research Paper

Using the APA Citation Style

A. Student

Course Subject Code, Number, & Title (e.g., NESC 410 Native Environmental Ethics)

Northwest Indian College

Dr. Compton

Date

Author Note

(This is optional and intended to explain my purpose and approach in this document.)

Brian Compton developed this template for use by Northwest Indian College students based on APA Style guidelines as presented by the Purdue Online Writing Lab, which includes an example of an APA sample paper in the Portable Document Format (PDF) at . This template may be modified to include a title, references, and other contents based on a student's primary or secondary research. This note and other notes intended to assist the student should be deleted in the final version of the student paper. This is for what may be referred to as a formal research paper, to comprise 10 pages and otherwise correspond to the contents of this document. Differences between a formal and a short research paper are highlighted in yellow, and this template includes a combination of features of APA papers.

Abstract

One difference between a short and a formal research paper using APA style is that a formal research paper may call for an abstract. An abstract is a summary of your paper that should include the main points you are writing about and the conclusions you reach. An abstract is typically 150-250 words long. Abstracts are placed alone on a page. They are written last, and should be based on the content of the paper itself.

A Model for a Formal Research Paper Using the APA Citation Style

This is the first and introductory paragraph to this paper that will demonstrate the attributes of a formal research paper using APA style as opposed to a short research paper using APA style (Compton, 2016a and Compton, 2016b). The formal research paper should consist of approximately 10 pages, including separate pages for the title and reference pages, and it may also focus on a more detailed research topic, including one that may involve experimental methods. If so, the formal research paper may include sections on Methods, Results, and Discussion. There are many examples of formal research papers using APA style on the Internet. The introduction for this type of paper may establish the topic of the paper along with some rationale for the research and background information. There are three basic types of APA papers: 1) literature review, 2) experimental report, and 3) other (as described at Types of APA papers, n.d.).

Literature Review (or) Methods

If you are reporting on primary research (i.e. that which you conducted yourself as opposed to secondary research, which is based on your review of other research), then you may include a section labeled Methods. Here is where the methods should appear as related to the particular topic. If your paper is based on a review and synthesis of other peoples' research (secondary research), you may label this section Literature Review and include details regarding the references you found, such as those that you presented in the annotated bibliography portion of the APA formal research paper assignment. Either way, it should include a centered heading as indicated above as well as brief (in-text) citations of your references as listed on the References page at the end of the paper.

Results (if primary research) (or) The Body of Your Paper (if secondary Research)

This section includes the results of your experiment or other enquiry and should include a centered heading as indicated above. It may be subdivided into subsections as appropriate for your topic as indicated by the suggested secondary headings below.

Subsection

This section could focus on aspects of one subsection of your topic.

Subsection

This section could focus on aspects of another subsection of your topic.

Subsection

This section could focus on aspects of a third subsection of your topic.

Discussion

This section is where you discuss your results and bring your paper to a close. It should be identified with a centered heading as indicated above. It may be subdivided into subsections as appropriate for your topic. Note that in scientific writing, often the conclusion will be in the final paragraph of the discussion but it can sometimes be in a separate section. Some suggested subtopics are indicated below:

Importance to the Environment

Replace with your text.

Importance to the People

Replace with your text.

Importance to the Future

Replace with your text.

References

Compton, B. D. (2016a, January 11). A model for a formal research paper using the APA citation style. Unpublished typescript, Northwest Indian College, Bellingham, WA.

Compton, B. D. (2016b, January 11). A model for a short research paper using the APA citation style. Unpublished typescript, Northwest Indian College, Bellingham, WA.

Types of APA papers [Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University]. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University website:

(Note: NoodleTools Express is a free bibliographic citation generator that is available at: . It includes American Psychological Association (APA) Style, which is acceptable for use in this document.)

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