Writing

Common Writing Errors

1. All pages should be numbered. The title page should be numbered “1”.

2. The title page should have a running head.

3. The running head on all pages should appear flush left at the top. The actual running head is in all upper case letters. Example from APA man. Page 41: “Running head: EFFECT OF AGE ON DETECTION OF EMOTION” Note that on following pages “Running head:” is not used.

4. Make sure the title page has a title, author, running head, and institution. I do not require an author note for these papers.

5. APA wants you to use your middle initial for your name on the title page.

6. Don’t forget the dash in Embry-Riddle when writing the name of the institution. It is a matter of pride!

7. Follow APA levels of headings , (APA para 3.03). Nearly all headings are in bold

8. The title page is page 1. The abstract page is page 2. The main body of the paper normally starts on page 3 unless you have a contents page following the abstract page (optional).

9. Title on the abstract page should be centered and NOT bold.

10. The abstract is a single paragraph and is not indented.

11. While there are a number of ways to write an abstract, I want your abstract to contain the following:

a. One or two sentences to introduce the subject.

b. A clear statement of the purpose of the research/paper

c. Methods (where did your data/information come from?)

d. What did you conclude based on the data/information. The conclusion is the most important part of the abstract.

12. I want to see your main title (same as on page 1) to be at the top of the main body (page 3). As per APA, the title (just before the main body) is NOT bold. See example on page 42 of the APA manual Ed. Six.

13. Introduction. APA does not require the first (introduction) paragraph to have a title (Introduction). It is understood to be an introduction because of its location.

14. Your paper should contain major...