APA Formatting Information:

1. Text format: The paper should be written in Times New Roman, 12 pt font with standard margins. You should set the formatting on your document to double spacing before you start and leave it, as every element should be double spaced - no more, no less.

2. Title page: The title page should contain (a) a title for your paper, (b) your full name, and (c) your educational institution: "North Cross School."

3. Header: Go to "View," then "Header and footer" to create a header. This will appear at the top of every page. In the header, type the title of your paper. If the title is lengthy, you may abbreviate it. (Example: If your title is "An Interview with Clinical Psychologist Dr. George Revercomb," you may instead put "Clinical Psychologist," or some other piece of the title, as the header.) Then, at the right side of the header, enter the page number. Be sure to use the "#" button on the header form, rather than typing in a number.

4. Body of paper: Begin your second page with the full title of the paper centered on the first line. Begin the body of the paper just below that. If you have double-spaced the document, you need only hit enter once between the title and the first line.

5. Reference page: The last page should be entitled "References," which should be centered on the top line. Your interview will NOT be listed in the reference section. Any other research sources will be listed here. I am assuming that most of you have used an internet source, so I will provide several options, as the format will depend on the type of internet source you've used. Find instructions here.

6. In-text citation: As all of the information in your paper will come from either your interview or your research source, there should be at least one citation in each paragraph of your paper. Cite your interview like this: (S. Freud, personal communication, September, 15, 2009.) The date should reflect the date of your article. This citation should appear at the end of each paragraph or section of the paragraph where you have discussed the interview, or at the end of each direct quotation. As for your research source, see options for citation format here.

Note: On any writing assignment on which you are asked to use APA format, a portion of your grade will be based on the extent to which you followed APA guidelines. Because this is your first exposure to APA style, I am looking for a reasonable attempt at replicating APA style. Like anything else, it gets easier the more you do it.