Recommendations For A Science Fair Research Paper: APA Format

Formatting is a crucial element in any academic writing. It makes your arguments easier to understand and eliminates confusion. This allows your readers and supervisors to concentrate on your content. It is also easier to trace information cited, follow the flow of ideas and read more about the subject from your reference materials. Here are rules to follow when formatting a paper for your science fair in APA style.

Paper Component

• There are four main sections of an APA paper.
• A title page- it gives the details of the writer, the paper and the institution.
• Abstract- it captures in general terms the idea being discussed. From reading the abstract, a person should deduce your main point of argument.
• Main Body- this is the heart of your paper. It has an introduction, body and conclusion. This is where you introduce the specifics of your topic, provide supporting facts and make conclusions based on the details of your discussion.
• References- this is a list of books and other academic materials used to construct your argument. References give credibility to your work. Use authoritative books and materials to strengthen your arguments.

• Title Page

The page captures the name or title of the paper as a running header, name of institution, name and details of the author and a note about the paper. The note indicates the reason for engaging in research which could be to fulfill certain academic accreditation. Do not use abbreviations or words that have no purpose. Center the page and use 12pts font size unless instructed otherwise.

• Abstract

The title of this section is ‘Abstract’ which should be written in capital letters, centered and with no quotations. The section should summarize the paper by introducing the topic, the questions you seek to answer, approach given and conclusion drawn.

• Body

It contains an introduction that opens the debate. The body includes such sections as literature review, data presentation, data analysis, and discussion. Cite all the works referred to and provided full details of the citation at the end of your paper.

• References

Provide full details of books, journals, papers and articles, among other materials used in supporting your discussion. Use an alphabetical order and the right presentation beginning with the name of the author. It must begin on a new page on your document.

APA formatting for your science fair research paper should be consistent. Failure to be inconsistent leads to confusion. You will also be penalized for mixing formatting styles.