Writing an outline in APA format is quite different from other formats such as MLA, Harvard, etc. APA stands for American Psychological Association and the APA writing style has been designed by the association. It provides the basic template and layout style for writing a research paper or an outline in APA format. However, most of the time students are not aware of the intricacies involved in writing a research paper or an outline in APA format. This article will serve as a guide for those students who are thinking about writing an outline in APA format. Basically, APA format is used in the social sciences but it is not just limited to social sciences alone. However, its usage is more prevalent in the following subjects: Psychology, Economics, Criminology, Sociology, Linguistics, Business and Management Studies, Nursing, etc.
APA research paper outline writing requires you to consider the following: Roman numbers are used for the main headings and capital letters for subheadings. Using shoddy grammar makes your paper. Sample APA-7 Paper: Student Format for Undergraduate Students The title of your paper goes on the top line of the first page of the body (American Psychological Association APA, 2019, section 2.11).
Some basic formatting to be used while writing an outline in APA format
Templates and tips on writing APA research paper outline: ❶ Decimal ❷ Full Sentence Format and ❸ Basic APA style outline. ➜ Click to see examples.
- The margin of the pages should be set to one inch – left, right, bottom and top.
- The paragraphs should be double spaced. Single spaced paragraphs should never be used while writing an outline in APA format.
- The font should be Times New Roman.
- The font size should be 12 points.
- In addition to the above information, the first page of the outline should contain the following information: name of the student, name of the guide/teacher or professor, title of the paper/course and date of the paper.
The above steps can be easily done using any word processor like Microsoft Word. MS Word has all the options and features that can help you in making and formatting the outline in standard APA format.
Some of the functions of MS Word required to format the outline in APA format are:
- Indenting and Margin: Click on the File menu – Go to Page Setup. Clicking this sub menu will bring a pop-up window box that will show the margins of the document that you are currently working on. Now, to make one-inch margins, set the margin to 1' by entering it manually with the keyboard or by using the up or down arrows provided in the box. Make all the four sides – top, left, bottom and right to 1' and click OK to set it to 1' indenting.
- Paragraph Spacing: To make the paragraph double-spaced, select the paragraphs in the outline. Click on Format menu, select Paragraph. It will open a new box which will be showing the Indents and Spacing tab selected by default. Select the Line Spacing drop down button and select the 'Double' option; then click OK. The selected paragraphs of the outline will be double-spaced by performing the above steps.
- Font Style: Generally, MS Word has Times New Roman as the default Font settings in its standard New Document template but if it's not showing in your word document, you can change it easily by following one of the steps. The first step is to click on the Format Menu, select Font. A new popup box will appear. On the Fonts tab, select the font as Times New Roman from the list of fonts. The second step is to click on the font drop down menu which is positioned on the Formatting toolbar just below the Standard toolbar. The last option is to select whatever text you have typed, right click on the selected text. Select the Font option and change the font style to Times New Roman.
- Font Size: For the font size to be set at 12 points, just repeat the above steps mentioned in the previous paragraph. But instead of selecting the font style, select the font size from the appropriate menu/drop down buttons.
Once the basic formatting level has been achieved, it is now time to organize and layout the main outline above formatting has been done in the outline document, the main outline needs to be constructed. You must be wondering by now: 'how to write an outline in APA format', as the above steps mention how to take care of the formatting, but not the main outline. The following steps will solve your problem in making an outline in APA format:
Basic criteria for making an outline in APA format:
- The main headings (that come topmost on the pages) should always be accompanied by Roman Numerals (I, II, III, etc.) For example, if you are writing an essay on The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB, you should make your heading something like this:
I. The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB
This is the first and basic step in formatting your outline. After the main heading has been created and formatted with the Roman numeral at the beginning of the heading, it is now time to move to the next formatting level.
- For making a subheading immediately after the main heading, you need to start the subheading sentence with a capital letter (English alphabets). In the above example, the main heading was on The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB. Suppose the subheading was 'Introduction to Antibiotics'. The subheading should start with the letter A. (in capitals) and should look something like this:
A. Introduction to Antibiotics
So now the heading and the subheading should look like this:
I. Role of antibiotics in control of TB
A. Introduction to Antibiotics
Apa Outline Example
- If you want to add more than one subheading to your main heading, you can do that just by adding the next alphabet in capital letters at the start of the next subheading. For example, if you want to add a second subheading to the above example, say 'The effect of Antibiotics on the Human Body', you should write like this:
B. The Effect of Antibiotics on the Human Body
Now the heading and subheading will look like this:
I. The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB
A. Introduction to Antibiotics
B. The Effect of Antibiotics on the Human Body
- If you want to add further subheadings to the subheading, you should do it with Arab numerals (1,2, 3 and so on). For example, if there is a subheading titled 'How Does Antibody React With the Antigen' under the parent heading B, it should be written as:
1. How Does Antibody React With the Antigen?
Now the outline should look something like this:
I. The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB
A. Introduction to Antibiotics
B. The Effect of Antibiotics on the Human Body
1. How Does Antibody React With the Antigen?
- Now if there are some more subheadings, under the last subheading, it should be followed by lower case letters (a, b, c ….). If there are more subheadings to the parent subheading, then it should start with Arab numerals in parenthesis. An example to elucidate the above is mentioned here for you:
I. The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB
A. Introduction to Antibiotics
B. The Effect of Antibiotics on the Human Body
1. How Does Antibody React With the Antigen?
a. Antigen – antibodies interaction
(1) Enzymes That Help in the Interaction of Antigens
Remember that writing an outline in APA format is quite different from writing an outline in MLA format. You should use parallelism in the outline structure, which will help in maintaining uniformity and consistency between the headings and subheadings. Coordination, subordination and division between the headings and subheadings are also an important element to be kept in mind while writing an outline in APA format. Writing an outline in APA format can be a lot easier if the above steps and guidelines are followed.
Get your original paper!
The guidelines from the American Psychological Association (APA) are used for writing papers and doing assignments in the social sciences. The standard APA format provides guidelines for research papers from the initial title page to the final works cited page. The APA even provides format examples for outlines to be prepared before the paper is written.
Understanding the APA Outline Format
When you look at the basic APA outline format example below, you will see that:
- Roman numerals are used for the main headings in your outline.
- Capital letters are used for the first level of subheadings.
- Arab numerals (1-9 type numbers) are used inside those subheadings.
- Lower-case letters are used below Arab numeral subheadings.
- Arab numerals in parentheses are used below those subheadings.
The full sentence outline follows exactly the same format. The only difference is that you will write a full sentence, rather than a sentence fragment, at each level of the outline.
The APA decimal outline is a rarer format, but by no means unknown. It's the simplest of the bunch. Just break your headings into paragraphs and number them using Arab numerals. The first number indicates the heading, the second number indicates the paragraph, and the third number indicates the point being made.
- The first heading is numbered 1.0.
- The first paragraph in the first heading is 1.1.
- The first point or sentence of your first paragraph is 1.1.1.
- The second sentence is 1.1.2.
- The second sentence of your second paragraph is 1.2.2.
- As you move on to the second heading, you progress to 2.0.
- The first sentence in the first paragraph under your second heading is indicated as 2.1.1.
Your professor should tell you which format they want you to use. If you don't know, ask!
Three Ways to Outline
The best way to gain an understanding of the three distinct forms of the APA outline format is to look at examples. We've provided one example of each:
- APA basic outline
- Full sentence format
- Decimal outline format
- The main headings (that come topmost on the pages) should always be accompanied by Roman Numerals (I, II, III, etc.) For example, if you are writing an essay on The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB, you should make your heading something like this:
I. The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB
This is the first and basic step in formatting your outline. After the main heading has been created and formatted with the Roman numeral at the beginning of the heading, it is now time to move to the next formatting level.
- For making a subheading immediately after the main heading, you need to start the subheading sentence with a capital letter (English alphabets). In the above example, the main heading was on The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB. Suppose the subheading was 'Introduction to Antibiotics'. The subheading should start with the letter A. (in capitals) and should look something like this:
A. Introduction to Antibiotics
So now the heading and the subheading should look like this:
I. Role of antibiotics in control of TB
A. Introduction to Antibiotics
Apa Outline Example
- If you want to add more than one subheading to your main heading, you can do that just by adding the next alphabet in capital letters at the start of the next subheading. For example, if you want to add a second subheading to the above example, say 'The effect of Antibiotics on the Human Body', you should write like this:
B. The Effect of Antibiotics on the Human Body
Now the heading and subheading will look like this:
I. The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB
A. Introduction to Antibiotics
B. The Effect of Antibiotics on the Human Body
- If you want to add further subheadings to the subheading, you should do it with Arab numerals (1,2, 3 and so on). For example, if there is a subheading titled 'How Does Antibody React With the Antigen' under the parent heading B, it should be written as:
1. How Does Antibody React With the Antigen?
Now the outline should look something like this:
I. The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB
A. Introduction to Antibiotics
B. The Effect of Antibiotics on the Human Body
1. How Does Antibody React With the Antigen?
- Now if there are some more subheadings, under the last subheading, it should be followed by lower case letters (a, b, c ….). If there are more subheadings to the parent subheading, then it should start with Arab numerals in parenthesis. An example to elucidate the above is mentioned here for you:
I. The Role of Antibiotics in Control of TB
A. Introduction to Antibiotics
B. The Effect of Antibiotics on the Human Body
1. How Does Antibody React With the Antigen?
a. Antigen – antibodies interaction
(1) Enzymes That Help in the Interaction of Antigens
Remember that writing an outline in APA format is quite different from writing an outline in MLA format. You should use parallelism in the outline structure, which will help in maintaining uniformity and consistency between the headings and subheadings. Coordination, subordination and division between the headings and subheadings are also an important element to be kept in mind while writing an outline in APA format. Writing an outline in APA format can be a lot easier if the above steps and guidelines are followed.
Get your original paper!
The guidelines from the American Psychological Association (APA) are used for writing papers and doing assignments in the social sciences. The standard APA format provides guidelines for research papers from the initial title page to the final works cited page. The APA even provides format examples for outlines to be prepared before the paper is written.
Understanding the APA Outline Format
When you look at the basic APA outline format example below, you will see that:
- Roman numerals are used for the main headings in your outline.
- Capital letters are used for the first level of subheadings.
- Arab numerals (1-9 type numbers) are used inside those subheadings.
- Lower-case letters are used below Arab numeral subheadings.
- Arab numerals in parentheses are used below those subheadings.
The full sentence outline follows exactly the same format. The only difference is that you will write a full sentence, rather than a sentence fragment, at each level of the outline.
The APA decimal outline is a rarer format, but by no means unknown. It's the simplest of the bunch. Just break your headings into paragraphs and number them using Arab numerals. The first number indicates the heading, the second number indicates the paragraph, and the third number indicates the point being made.
- The first heading is numbered 1.0.
- The first paragraph in the first heading is 1.1.
- The first point or sentence of your first paragraph is 1.1.1.
- The second sentence is 1.1.2.
- The second sentence of your second paragraph is 1.2.2.
- As you move on to the second heading, you progress to 2.0.
- The first sentence in the first paragraph under your second heading is indicated as 2.1.1.
Your professor should tell you which format they want you to use. If you don't know, ask!
Three Ways to Outline
The best way to gain an understanding of the three distinct forms of the APA outline format is to look at examples. We've provided one example of each:
- APA basic outline
- Full sentence format
- Decimal outline format
Note that the first example is a full-scale outline pattern for you to follow. The other two demonstrate the differences between the APA basic format and the full sentence and decimal outline formats. Always ask your instructor which format they prefer.
APA Basic Outline: College Application Process
The following outline on the college application process illustrates the APA basic outline format. We've also created a downloadable PDF of all three approaches to APA outlines available at the end of this section. Just download and use it as a template, starting at the first Roman numeral.
I. Choose Desired Colleges
A. Visit and evaluate college websites
Identify tour dates and interesting on-campus events.
- Student/faculty ratio
- Retention rate
- Note important statistics
- Schedule time with heads of interesting departments
B. Visit and evaluate college campuses
- Take tour
Meet with heads of departments
- On- and off-campus housing
- Recreation (restaurants, sports, and music venues)
- Explore area around campus
II. Prepare Application
A. Write a personal statement
- Choose an interesting topic
- Describe an influential person in your life
- Favorite high school teacher
- Grandparent
2. Include important personal details
- Volunteer work
- Participation in varsity sports
B. Revise personal statement
III. Compile resume
A. List relevant coursework
B. List work experience
C. List volunteer experience
- Tutor at foreign language summer camp
- Volunteer at suicide prevention hotline
APA Full Sentence Format: Greenhouse Gas Essay
As noted above, the only difference between APA basic and a full-sentence outline is that the headings are in full sentences. Again, just start at the first Roman numeral for an APA-compliant full-sentence essay outline.
I. Man-made pollution is the primary cause of global warming.
A. Greenhouse gas emissions are widely identified by the scientific community to be harmful.
1. The burning of coal and fossil fuels are the primary releasers of hazardous greenhouse gases.
2. Harmful greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Decimal Outline Format: College Selection
Apa Outline Template
Decimal outlines differ from other APA-compliant formats only in their numbering system. Follow that and you're set. Start at 1.0.
1.0 Choose Desired College
1.1 Visit and evaluate college campuses
1.2 Visit and evaluate college websites
1.2.1 Look for interesting classes
1.2.2 Note important statistics
View & Download PDF
More Tips on Creating an Outline
A well-written outline is a valuable tool in crafting the best possible research paper. By building an outline, you establish a structure for what you will say and how you say it. Here are a few tips on creating a great outline:
- Coordination: Coordinating your headings is vital to a well-organized outline. Coordination means that each of your headings has the same amount of significance. That rule also applies to subheadings. If you find one of your headings is of less importance than another, try to incorporate it into a subheading instead.
- Division: Division is the simple rule of keeping your outline sections specific and splitting things up rather than letting them grow verbose. Make sure every subheading serves its heading. If it doesn't, put it elsewhere or delete it.
- Parallelism: Parallelism refers to keeping a consistent structure between headings and subheadings. Use parallelism to keep your outline organized and your writing on topic. If you start each heading with a verb, for example, then all your headings and subheadings should start with a verb.
- Subordination: Subordination is the relationship between the headings and subheadings. Use subordination to keep your headings and subheadings in the right order. Headings should start out general, with subheadings growing more and more specific the deeper they go.
Outlines Are Here to Help
After laying out all these specific guidelines, it may seem like the outline for a paper will be as much work as the paper itself. Not so. By using this structure, you establish a backbone for your paper. From there, all you need to do is build out. It makes the writing process much easier and produces a better result. Bibliography.com offers further guidelines on basic APA citation format.
For more help with formatting, particularly in other disciplines or contexts, take a look at our examples of MLA format and University of Chicago format. Be sure to stick with the style guide your instructor prefers.
