You can think of APA as the standard by which we want to write our papers. You can think of it as an agreement between you and the person you are writing for. No matter what university you attend or what academic journal you may be writing for, APA provides a standard across all social sciences. It also helps readers to understand a paper, as APA follows a specific format and structure. Some students find APA intimidating and complicated, but once you learn the recipe, you will get the hang of it in no time. The guides are there to help you. Also always feel free to ask questions of your instructor. 

• Consistency: APA helps maintain a consistent format across different papers and disciplines, making it easier for readers to follow your arguments.

• Credibility: By properly citing your sources, you demonstrate the depth of your research and avoid plagiarism.

• Professionalism: APA style reflects the professional and academic tone expected in college-level writing.

Levels of heading

There are five levels of heading in APA Style. Level 1 is the highest or main level of heading, Level 2 is a subheading of Level 1, Level 3 is a subheading of Level 2, and so on through Levels 4 and 5.

The number of headings to use in a paper depends on the length and complexity of the work.

• If only one level of heading is needed, use Level 1.

• If two levels of heading are needed, use Levels 1 and 2.

• If three levels of heading are needed, use Levels 1, 2, and 3 (and so on).

Use only the number of headings necessary to differentiate distinct sections in your paper; short student papers may not require any headings. Furthermore, avoid these common errors related to headings:

• Avoid having only one subsection heading within a section, just like in an outline.

• Do not label headings with numbers or letters.

• Double-space headings; do not switch to single spacing within headings.

• Do not add blank lines above or below headings, even if a heading falls at the end of a page.  

From APA Style Guide

The APA Style Guide provides templates for both professional and student papers. Here are some sample student templates:

• Annotated bibliography student paper template (DOCX, 36KB)

• Design project student paper template (DOCX, 2MB)

• Discussion post student paper template (DOCX, 32KB)

• Literature review student paper template (DOCX, 36KB)

• Quantitative study student paper template (DOCX, 50KB)

To establish credibility and ethical integrity, scholarly writers must acknowledge the work of others. APA Style provides a framework for doing so, guiding writers in citing a variety of sources, from traditional publications to less formal ones. By following these guidelines, writers can demonstrate their understanding of the field, build upon existing research, and avoid plagiarism. 

You can find more detailed information here and here.

References provide the information necessary for readers to identify and retrieve each work cited in the text.

Check each reference carefully against the original publication to ensure information is accurate and complete. Accurately prepared references help establish your credibility as a careful researcher and writer.

Consistency in reference formatting allows readers to focus on the content of your reference list, discerning both the types of works you consulted and the important reference elements (who, when, what, and where) with ease. When you present each reference in a consistent fashion, readers do not need to spend time determining how you organized the information. And when searching the literature yourself, you also save time and effort when reading reference lists in the works of others that are written in APA Style.

From APA Style Guide

The APA Style Guide provides specific guidance for abstracts and key words. You can find the style sheet here. 

The APA Style Guide also provides specific guidance on the writing and formatting of the main body of your paper. You can review the guidance here.

APA style is a widely adopted format for academic writing, especially in the social sciences. It emphasizes clear, concise, and objective communication. Key APA style and grammar conventions include:

Writing Style:

• Clarity and Conciseness: APA prioritizes direct and straightforward language, avoiding unnecessary jargon and complex sentence structures.

• Active Voice: Using active voice makes writing more engaging and easier to understand. For instance, instead of "The experiment was conducted by the researchers," write "The researchers conducted the experiment."

• Third-Person Perspective: To maintain objectivity, generally use the third-person perspective.

• Formal Tone: A formal tone is crucial, avoiding slang, contractions, and personal pronouns.

Grammar Conventions:

• Punctuation: Adhere to standard English punctuation rules, with particular attention to comma usage, quotation marks, and italics.

• Sentence Structure: Use clear and concise sentences, avoiding run-on sentences and fragments.

• Verb Tense: Use the past tense for completed actions and the present tense for general truths or established facts.

• Number Usage: Follow specific guidelines for using numbers in text. Typically, numbers 10 and below are spelled out, while numbers 11 and above are written as numerals.

• Headings and Subheadings: Organize your paper clearly with a specific heading and subheading structure.

• Citation and Referencing: APA style demands accurate citation and referencing of sources. Use in-text citations to credit sources within the text and a reference list at the end of the paper for full bibliographic information.