Setting Up an APA Style Student Paper in Google Docs

Introduction

• Focus: Formatting a student paper in APA style using Google Docs.
• APA has different formatting for student vs. professional documents.

Basic Parameters

• Font: Not specific, but Times New Roman 12 is recommended for its readability.
• Spacing: Ensure everything is double-spaced.

Adding Page Numbers

• Only the page number goes in the header for student papers.
• Insert -> Page Number -> Top Right Corner.
• Ensure "Different first page" is unchecked.

Title Page Setup

• Align text to the center.
• Title: Bold and centered. Capitalize major words.
• Author Name: Centered. Include middle initial if applicable.
• Department and University: E.g., "Department of Psychology, University of University".
• Course Details: Course number and name, e.g., "Psychology 120: Intro to Psychology".
• Instructor's Name: Use appropriate title, e.g., "Dr. Indiana H Jones".
• Due Date: Can be in American style (e.g., March 17, 2024) or European style (e.g., 17 March 2024).

Starting the Paper

• Use a page break to start the paper on a new page.
• Repeat the title at the top of the second page, align left, and unbold.
• Indentation: Set the first line of each paragraph to be indented by 0.5 inches.

Writing the Paper

• Type the paper content with the first line of each paragraph indented.
• Maintain double spacing without extra spaces between paragraphs.

Saving and Sharing

• PDF Conversion: File -> Download -> PDF Document. Ensure indentations are set before converting.
• Important for electronic submissions and plagiarism checks.
• Follow your instructor's or school's submission preferences.

Additional Tips

• Check out other tutorial videos for more in-depth guides.
• Ensure that your formatting aligns with any additional school-specific guidelines.