1Post Project Proposal: Making an Outstanding Academic Statement with a Good
APA Formatted Paper
Ganga Raju Gangadhara
CIT-500
NAU
Dr. Rick Keeling
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1. What is your proposed topic?
My proposed topic is how to make an outstanding academic statement with a
good APA formatted paper. An academic’s ability to use a specific formatting style is
helpful. Numerous scholarly formatting conventions exist, including APA, Chicago,
Harvard, and MLA. These formatting techniques aim to make the academic paper
readable and understandable for the reader. The arguments are presented coherently.
If they are not, the reader will either misinterpret the document’s meaning or give up
on it entirely. It is comparable to using proper grammar and spelling. My suggestion,
however, will only concentrate on APA formatting. The American Psychological
Association, or APA, is a global academic language developed by the American
Psychological Association. It is the accepted norm in higher education and research
papers to ensure that sources are properly cited (Ciarocco and Strohmez 2021).
It offers the writer a reliable structure they can use each time they write. Authors
can efficiently organize their arguments or research thanks to the consistency of APA
writings. Each and every section follows a predetermined format, from the content on
the title page to the headers that separate the content in the discussion. Another
advantage of APA formatting is that authors can organize their ideas as researchers
do.
2. Why are you interested in this topic?
The topic kindled my interest because it is crucial for my academic and career
success that I learn how to format academic papers correctly. A paper’s readability for
my end users also depends on how well it is formatted. My academic papers will be
easier to read and understand if they are organized in a clear information hierarchy,
making it simpler to convey theoretical ideas. The intended readers become
accustomed to how information is organized and flows when educational documents
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are formatted consistently. Since APA is the most widely used formatting standard
and is used in almost all academic papers, it is the subject of my particular interest.
Therefore, I must get a good grip on the APA formatting rules to excel in academic
writing.
It is also intriguing to learn how mastering the proper APA formatting can
help someone focus on content, follow directions, practice discipline, and have
consistency. The APA style manual provides instructions on choosing specific words
and phrases, addressing clarity and conciseness, and writing from a particular point of
view and voice (Amato 2009). Conciseness and clarity are crucial for effectively
communicating perfect academic research.
3. What do you already know about the topic?
I already know that the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) official
citation format, known as APA, is frequently used to refer to sources in the social
sciences, education, and physiology. The fundamental rules for the APA style
were first published in a 1929 article in Psychological Bulletin. Those
recommendations eventually became the APA Publication Manual (APA org,
2022). The four main sections that make up an APA academic paper are the title
page, the abstract, the main body, and the references list. Title, author name, and
institution affiliation ought to all appear on the title page. The course name,
number, instructor, and paper due date shouldra4 be visible on the page. The goal
of the title page is to quickly inform the reader of the topic and author of the
paper. An academic paper should have an abstract, depending on the particular
publication or instructor requirements. It is a brief synopsis of the essay that
comes after the title page. The abstract should be no longer than 100 to 200 words
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per APA format, though this can change since it is dependent on the particular
instructor or publication requirements (Nagda 2013, pp. 382-383).
The main section of the research essay should include the essay itself.
However, the main body will be divided into additional sections if it is a lab
report. The lab report’s four primary sections are the introduction, method, results,
and discussion sections (Masic 2013, p. 150). The reference section, which
concludes the essay, contains a list of the sources consulted while writing it. Any
information referenced in the paper must be cited correctly in this section.
Understanding that every source listed in the references needs to be cited in your
paper is crucial.
Additionally, it is crucial to reference the sources of the information used in
the essay in the text. These notations are known as in-text citations, and according
to APA style, they must be cited in-text by using the author’s name and the date of
publication. For example, in-text citation (Freud, 1900) from the book written by
Sigmund Freud known as The Interpretation of Dreams. The reference section
should then contain the source’s more detailed information.
4. What do you need to know or don’t know about the topic?
Since I only know the fundamental components of APA formatting, I need to
know the comprehensive method. I need to think seriously and figure out how to
efficiently deliver an excellent academic paper formatted in APA. I need to
understand the fundamentals of format, including the paper’s size, margins and
fonts, spacing, alignment, and indentation, as well as the running head and
pagination, how to create a proper heading, and the order in which the paper
should be arranged (Landrum 2013, p. 260). In addition, I must be aware of every
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detail in each section of the paper. For instance, the components that make up
each section.
I do not know how to format the reference page properly and other
requirements for formatting, like formatting tables and figures. And what are the
formatting requirements for various types of papers? Since APA formatting is
frequently used for social science papers.
5. What is your Research Question?
My research question is how can I use effective APA formatting techniques to
make my academic paper stand out? My study will examine the entire idea of
APA formatting, considering all the conditions necessary for a paper to be
correctly formatted in APA. It covers all the fundamentals and specific
specifications for an APA-formatted paper. The paper’s inch, font, and font size
will all be covered in the fundamentals: word alignment, word indentation, word
spacing, and margins between sentences and paragraphs. We will also examine
the paper’s pagination and the APA standard for the running head. (McDonald
2011). Finally, my research will examine the headings that should be used in each
section of the paper and the order in which the sections should be written.
My research will detail this section’s title page, abstract, body, reference list,
footnotes, and appendices. Each section will be covered, emphasizing what is
needed and how to complete it properly. Examining academic papers with the
relevant sections formatted in APA style will be a part of the discussion and study
of this section. Thus, learning more about this strategy for academic excellence
will be aided by my research question.
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6. What is the intended Goal or Purpose?
To improve academic writing, my aim with this research is to teach and learn
about APA formatting. Instead of getting sidetracked by unfamiliar text and
formats, I will be able to have a proper flow of ideas by following this standard
APA paper format. It will aid in my learning and practice the abilities required to
engage the ideas in my academic paper’s intended audience while establishing its
authority.
The goal is to gain knowledge of the APA academic writing format, learn it,
and pass it on to others. As a result, academic papers can be formatted with in-text
citations, endnotes, footnotes, and reference pages, as well as with organized
content and an active, first-person writing style (Purdue 2015). My research paper
will provide comprehensive writing guidelines to help write an outstanding APA
academic paper that will help achieve academic excellence.
7. Who is the Intended Audience?
My target audience consists of academics and anyone who aspires to academic
excellence by mastering the art of producing the ideal research paper. It might be
a student who wants to get an A on their assignment or a professional who wants
to submit the best possible documentation to advance their career. Their
knowledge of APA paper formatting will significantly aid their ability to
accomplish this goal.
Students and researchers will be able to present their ideas and experiments
consistently by using the APA format. This enables the reader to follow their
ideas while referencing the author’s work in scholarly books and journals. My
research enables my audience to produce flawlessly formatted papers and achieve
academic excellence.
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8. Why is this Important?
Writing in a strong APA style will guarantee credibility because the format is
linked to the publication. It will be noticed when an academic paper is perfectly
formatted in APA style, includes a reference page, and correctly cites reliable
sources (Gulick 2022). Academic ideas will have the credibility they need to take
seriously using the APA language. When formatting is done correctly, a writer
can concentrate on writing the content rather than worrying about how to make a
cover page or assemble a reference list because there will not be any surprises.
Once the methodology is ingrained in mind, one can devote the majority of your
writing time to research and word-processing.
Additionally, APA citations make it simple for readers to cross-reference
sources through the process of publication. Every piece of academic writing is
based on concepts that others have shared through publications, and those
involved in a field want to know where ideas come from. Thus, there is proper
referencing. Finally, giving credit where it is due also aids in preventing
plagiarism. Any phrase or notion borrowed from another source should be
acknowledged in the text using the APA style.
9. Fill in the blanks with any information of value?
To ensure they have the most recent updates on the proper formatting for their
APA paper, it is advised that any student or researcher using the APA paper
format consult the most recent edition of the APA Publication Manual. Before
submitting the papers, it will be helpful to establish clear expectations and
guidelines with the concerned instructors.
However, the fundamental guidelines for APA format typically don’t alter and
apply to all APA papers. Some of these guidelines include the required paper size
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of 8.5 by 11 inches with a 1-inch margin on all sides. A title page, byline, and
reference list should all be included in the essay. A readable font, such as Times
New Roman or Calibri, should be used. They also advise double-spacing the
entire paper and aligning the text to the left. The first line of each paragraph
should be indented by 0.5 inches as the final basic rule. In essence, the APA
format places a strong emphasis on reader accessibility.
10. What scholarly references have you found?
Amato, C. J. (2009). The world’s most accessible guide to using the APA: a userfriendly manual for formatting research papers according to the American
Psychological Association style guide. Corona, Calif.: Stargazer Pub. Co.
American Psychological Association. About APA Style.
Ciarocco, N. J., & Strohmetz, D. B. (2021). Teaching APA style: Missing the forest
for the trees? Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology. (Ciarocco
and Strohmez 2021)
Gulick, A. (2022). APA Formatting for a Professional Manuscript.
Landrum, R. E. (2013). Writing in APA style: Faculty perspectives of competence
and importance. Psychology Learning & Teaching, 12(3), 259-265.
Masic I (2013). The importance of proper citation of references in biomedical
articles. Acta Inform Med.21(3):148-55. doi:10.5455/aim.
McDonald, K. E. (2011). Teaching the 6th edition of APA style of writing in
counselor education. The Journal of Counselor Preparation and
Supervision, 3(2), 5.
Morra, M. APA Formatting.
Nagda S (2013). How to write a scientific abstract. J Indian Prosthodontic
Soc.13(3):382-383. doi:10.1007/s13191-013-0299-x
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Purdue, O. W. L. (2015, July). APA Formatting and Style Guide. Web.