1

Header should only

be the page number
justified to the right

Structure of an Academic Paper

Title is bold, title case

lettering, related to the topic
of the paper
(Do not write the assignment Christa Bixby Double-spaced, 12 pt.
type as your title) font
Westcliff University

BUS110: Business Innovation

Professor Blue

March 19, 2020

Write due date out as:

Month day, year

Green boxes: Pink Boxes:

Descriptive Information Additional Resources
 2
Bold and centered

Abstract

The abstract is a one-paragraph, self-contained summary. It should highlight your context,

purpose and findings. It indicates the most important elements of the paper. Generally, an

abstract is roughly 250 words.

Keywords: servant leaders, philosophy, serve

Do not indent

Keywords should reflect the main ideas or topics in your paper

The term Keywords is indented and italicized – each keyword
is in lowercase (unless it is a proper noun) and separated by
commas

Please note: Abstracts are not required for student

papers (they do not take the place of introductions)

Only write an abstract if your professor specifically

requires one
(If it is required, please see these tutorials for
assistance on structure and content:
Abstract, Overview
Abstract, Informative)
 Bold, centered, title case
Do not add the heading ‘Introduction’ 3

Structure of an Academic Paper Introductory Paragraph

The title of the paper is in title case, bold and centered. Add an introduction paragraph

Indent first underneath the title that does not have a separate heading. Do not include quotations. For an
line of every
paragraph introduction, include the context, connecting information and thesis statement of your paper.
Introduce full form first
Level 1 American Psychological Association’s (APA) Seventh Edition with acronym in
Heading parenthesis
The entire paper should be written in sans serif or serif fonts between 11-12-point font.

Double-space throughout the paper, including the title page, abstract, body of the document, and

references. One space after a punctuation mark.

Creating a Heading Level 2 Heading

A second level heading should be aligned to the left and be written in title case. Title case

refers to capitalizing each major word (even after a hyphen), any word directly following a

colon, and any word of more than four letters.

Creating a Third Level Heading Level 3 Heading

A third level heading should be aligned to the left, bold, and written in title case. Do not

use a colon at the end of the heading.

Credible Sources
Crediting Sources

When writing academically, it is crucial to support yourself with credible research. Add

citation support for any ideas, theories or research that has influenced your work. Each of your

paragraphs should be between five to seven sentences. Avoid bulleted lists when you can.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is different from similarity. Plagiarism is defined as “the act of presenting the

words, ideas, or images of another as your own; it denies the authors or creators of content the

credit they are due” (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 254). To avoid plagiarism,

cite the sources that you use throughout your paper. Similarity is an indication
Period ofparenthesis
comes after what
Group Author
 4

information you incorporate in your paper that is similar to something else that has already been

published. Every paper you turn in will have a similarity rating.

Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism refers to copying your own work and reusing it for a different

assignment. You will always need to submit original work each time you submit an assignment.

Quoting and Paraphrasing

Quoting vs. Paraphrasing
Your citations will either come in the form of direct quotations or through paraphrasing

and/or summarizing information. In academic writing, primarily paraphrase. When you quote too

often, you allow someone to speak for you as opposed to using them to support yourself.

Paraphrasing will also lower your similarity rating on Turnitin.

Direct Quotation of Sources

A direct quote refers to copying, word for word, another author’s work. This should be

used to support and build upon a point made by you, the author. Do not use direct quotations to

speak on your behalf. A direct quote should be less than forty words long. Do not start a sentence

with a quotation but introduce the quotation. This can be done either by identifying the author in
Site without page numbers –
the text or using
Option your
2: section own words to transition.
name Text starts immediately after period

Level 4 Heading Direct Quotation of a Source With No Pages. If you use a source that does not have

any page numbers (such as a website), you have options. You can count how many paragraphs

down the quotation came. For example, “Technology did not create crowdfunding, but it has
Site
without
widely broadened the size of the crowds and increased the potential of both charitable and
pages –
Option 1: entrepreneurial ventures to find funding” (Berlau, 2014, para. 9). Additionally, you can list the
paragraph
numbers Site without page numbers – Option 3:
down section in which the quotation came from. For example, “The Master of Business Administration
section name and paragraph number

(MBA) degree program prepares individuals for careers in management” (Westcliff University,
 5

2013, MBA Program Objectives section). If you think it would be clearer for your reader to

mention both the section and the paragraph number, that is also appropriate. For example, “The

Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program prepares individuals for careers in

management” (Westcliff University, 2013, MBA Program Objectives section, para. 1).

Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Paraphrasing Paraphrasing is used to express the same idea with different words and in a different

structure than how it was originally expressed. Paraphrasing usually equates to roughly the same

amount of text as the original statement or idea. Summarizing is taking the general idea of a text

and communicating that in a simplified fashion. For both instances, only the author’s last name

and publication date is required. You can do that by introducing the author in something like

this: Mollick (2013) stated that crowdfunding provides for-profit ventures with the opportunity to
Narrative citation
be funded by a large number of people contributing small amounts of money. Otherwise, you can

add the information at the end of the paraphrased/summarized information: crowdfunding

provides for-profit ventures with the opportunity to be funded by a large number of people

contributing small amounts of money (Mollick, 2013).

No Authors Parenthetical citation

When your essay includes citations of sources with no author named, use a shortened

version of the source's title instead of an author's name. Use quotation marks if the source would

not be italicized in the reference section; however, if the source is italicized in the reference

section, use italics. For example, parenthetical citations of the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary

would appear as follows: (Merriam-Webster's, 2003). Book title, no author

Conclusion
Conclusion
 6

A conclusion should summarize what you proved in your paper. Do not add any new

information here or any direct quotations. This should solely recap the main points you proved

throughout your paper in different words than were used in your introduction.
 7

Book with group

References
author
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American

Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Hollins, S. (2009). Religions, culture and healthcare (2nd ed.). CRC Press.
Book with author
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315377841

Mollick, E. (2013). The dynamics of crowdfunding: An exploratory study. Journal of Business

Venturing, 29(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2013.06.005 Journal article

Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary (11th ed.). (2003). Merriam-Webster.

Book without
author