A Detailed Manual On How To Write An APA Dissertation Chapter


There are specific things you need to pay attention to when you are writing in the APA style of writing. Here are some guidelines for formatting your dissertation chapter in the American Psychological Association (APA) style of writing.

General guidelines

General guidelines would indicate that your entire dissertation should be double-spaced on regular paper which is 8.5” by 11”. Make sure you have 1” margins on all sides. You should use a font that you can read easily but APA suggests using 12 pt. font size and Times New Roman font.

This style of paper recommends a page header at the top of every page. Another name for this is a running head. Put the page number flush to the right and put the running head flush to the left. Use all capitals and then put your title in all capitals. Limit this page header to under 50 characters so you may need to shorten it.

Title Page

You should indicate the title of the paper, the author’s name, and what the name of the school is. Use the page header even on the title page. Indicate that it is the Running head by writing that on the title page. For example it should look like this:

Running head: TITLE OF YOUR ESSAY

In all of the running heads that follow, you don’t need to write the words, “running head”. Just write the title in all capital letters.

Type the title of your paper centered in the upper half of the page using regular upper and lower case lettering. APA asks that you keep your title to 12 words or less and try not to put abbreviations or words that aren’t necessary. You can use up to two lines and double-space the title if you have two lines. Under the title, double-spaced, should be your name typed the normal way with first name, middle initial, and last name. Don’t use titles at all, even if it is Dr. or degree such as PhD. Under your name please put the name of your school or actually it should be the location where you did your research.

Your chapters should be double spaced with your running header on the left and your page number on the right. Indicate Chapter Number and then Chapter title double spaced underneath the chapter number and then double space twice and begin writing text.

Your dissertation chapters should be numerically and double spaced. Keep everything as consistent as possible throughout your paper and you should be in good shape.


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