What This Document Is
This document is a style guide created by the Grand Canyon University (GCU) Writing Center, specifically outlining the requirements for using the 7th edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) style in student papers. It serves as a condensed reference for formatting academic work at GCU, acknowledging that while the university utilizes APA as a framework, some modifications are made for instructional materials.
Why This Document Matters
This guide is essential for all GCU students who are required to submit papers formatted according to APA style. Correct formatting demonstrates professionalism and academic rigor, and ensures clarity and consistency in scholarly writing. It’s particularly useful when beginning assignments, as it provides a quick overview of key elements. The guide clarifies that while GCU provides APA templates and resources, students are generally not required to purchase the full APA Publication Manual.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This guide is *not* a comprehensive manual of APA style. It’s a streamlined overview intended for GCU students and doesn’t cover every nuance of the full APA Publication Manual. It also specifically notes that GCU course materials themselves may not strictly adhere to APA formatting and should not be used as examples for student work. Users may still need to consult the official APA Style website or the GCU Library’s APA guide for more detailed examples and specific situations.
What This Document Provides
This guide includes information on:
* General APA formatting guidelines (font, margins, spacing).
* The standard organization of an APA-style student paper (title page, abstract, body, references).
* Rules for Title Case versus Sentence case capitalization in headings and titles.
* Specific instructions for creating an APA title page.
* Links to additional resources, including the GCU Library’s APA guide and the official APA Style website.
This preview does *not* include detailed examples of in-text citations, reference list entries, or formatting for figures and tables. It also does not cover dissertation or project-specific formatting requirements.
