APA Step by Step

This handout provides a brief overview of APA formatting and writing conventions. For additional guidance, consult the APA Publication Manual (7th edition) or the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL).

Writing Style Points

Use strong, clear writing.
Use strong topic sentences; say only what needs to be said.
Use active voice instead of passive voice.
- Passive: The dog was seen by me while running down the street.
- Active: I saw the dog run down the street.
Use a neutral, professional tone and avoid biased language.
Use past tense when writing about research studies.
Use headings to organize your paper.

Student Title Page

Begin the text three lines down from the top of the page by pressing Enter three times.
Insert the page number in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

Required elements may include:

Title of the paper
Student’s name
Blinn College
Date (if requested by the instructor)

References Page

Alphabetize all entries by the author’s last name.
If multiple works by the same author are used, list them from least recent to most recent.
If multiple works by the same author were published in the same year, use letters (a, b, etc.) after the year.
Whenever available, use a DOI instead of a URL for online sources.
Use brackets to describe titles of audio, visual, audiovisual, and social media sources.

Sample References

TED. (2011, January 3). Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o

Drichel, S. (2008). Regarding the other: Postcolonial violations and ethical resistance in Margaret Atwood’s Bodily Harm. Modern Fiction Studies, 54(1), 26–49. https://doi.org/10.1353/mfs.2008.0023

Ask Your Professor About Formatting

APA formatting requirements can vary by instructor. Always ask your professor the following questions before submitting your paper:

Do you require a professional title page or a student title page?
Do you require a professional running head or header?
Do you require an abstract?
Do you require an author’s note?
Which heading levels do you accept?

Additional Resources

See the APA Publication Manual (7th edition), pages 49, 50, and 61, for additional formatting guidance.

Infographic content adapted from the APA Classroom Poster by Purdue OWL.
Purdue Online Writing Lab – APA Style