Forbes School Of Business APA Style Standards

forbes School Of Business APA Style Standardsthese Standards Are Exce

These standards are excerpted from the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, published in 2010. These standards are intended to provide an overview of APA formatting necessary for Ashford University writing assignments.

Standard 1: Manuscript Elements

  • Manuscript Format
  • Left, top, bottom, and right margins should be 1 inch.
  • Paper is prepared in Times New Roman, 12-point font and is double-spaced throughout.
  • Page numbers are Arabic numerals in the upper right corner of each page, ½ inch from the top, and are consecutive from the title page through any appendices. Preliminary pages contain numbers in lowercase Roman numerals.
  • Title Page
  • Requirements (in order):
  • A Running Head: The term “Running head: YOUR TITLE” appears on the first page in the header. All subsequent pages include the title without “Running head.”
  • The running head should be left justified and on the same line as the page number throughout the document.
  • The running head can be the title of the manuscript or a shortened version.
  • The title: The title should reflect the main idea, with initial capitalizations for nouns, verbs, adjectives, and prepositions five or more letters. It should be centered in the upper half of the page, no more than 12 words.
  • Student Name
  • Course Name and Number
  • Instructor
  • Submission Date
  • Abstract
  • An abstract is a brief, comprehensive summary of the contents, typically 150–250 words, and included only if the manuscript exceeds 15 pages.
  • It is on the second page, titled “Abstract,” centered, and formatted as a single paragraph without indentation.
  • Introduction
  • Begins on a new page, with the full title centered at the top, double-spaced above the first paragraph.
  • It opens with a thesis, statement of purpose, or problem, without a heading titled “Introduction.”
  • Body
  • The main part of the paper, addressing the topic thoroughly, with no heading labeled “Body.”
  • Summary/Conclusion
  • Summarizes the paper, restates the main idea, and includes interpretations and conclusions, without a heading labeled “Summary” or “Conclusion.”
  • Reference List
  • Lists all sources used, with each in-text citation appearing in the list, formatted per APA guidelines.

Standard 2: Citing References in Text

  • Any ideas not your own or not common knowledge require author-date citations.
  • Follow APA 6th edition standards for citation structure, multiple authors, no authors, direct quotes, and electronic sources.
  • Examples include:
  • One author: (Goodson, 2013); (Baker, 2012)
  • Multiple authors: (Lawrence, Patrick, Evans, & Smith, 2009); (Lawrence et al., 2009)
  • No author: (“Workplace Dynamics,” 2013); (The Managers Perspective, 2011); (Anonymous, 2008)

For direct quotations under 40 words, enclose in double quotes; for 40 or more words, format as a freestanding block without quotation marks. For online sources, cite paragraph numbers if no page is available.

Standard 3: Reference List

  • Begin on a separate page titled “References,” centered without bold or italics.
  • Entries are double-spaced with a hanging indent.
  • Order alphabetically by the first author's surname.
  • Include author, publication year, title, and publication details, formatted per APA standards.

Standard 4: APA Style Standards Use

  • Apply these standards to all FSB written assignments.
  • APA citations may be required in discussion forums as per faculty discretion.
  • For additional guidance, consult APA checklists and sample formatting provided by the Ashford University Writing Center.

Paper For Above instruction

The establishment and adherence to proper APA style guidelines are essential in maintaining consistency, clarity, and credibility in academic writing. The American Psychological Association (APA) publishes standards that serve as the benchmark for scholarly writing in social sciences and related fields, including business and organizational behavior. The 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the APA, released in 2010, provides detailed instructions covering all aspects of manuscript preparation, from formatting to citations.

At the core of APA guidelines is the manuscript structure, which includes a title page, abstract (if applicable), introduction, main body, conclusion, and references. Proper formatting ensures that the document is professional and easy to navigate for readers. Margins of one inch on all sides, Times New Roman font at 12 points, and double spacing are standard across all pages. Page numbering begins in the upper right corner, with Roman numeral numbering for preliminary pages, transitioning to Arabic numerals afterward. The title page features a running head—a shortened version of the title—aligned to the left with the page number aligned to the right, both in the header.

The title itself should be concise, ideally no longer than 12 words, and centered in the upper half of the title page. Including the author’s name, course information, instructor name, and submission date completes the necessary components of the title page. An abstract, if required, offers a brief summary (150–250 words) of the manuscript’s content and appears on the second page labeled “Abstract.” It is formatted as a single paragraph without indentation, allowing readers to quickly grasp the scope of the work.

The introduction begins on a new page, presenting the thesis or main problem without an explicit “Introduction” heading. The main body elaborates on the topic, providing evidence, analysis, and discussion without sectional headings, thereby maintaining a cohesive narrative. The conclusion summarizes findings, discusses implications, and offers interpretations but avoids standalone section labels like “Summary” or “Conclusion.”

The references list is a critical component, providing complete citations for all sources cited in the text. Each reference must include the author’s name, publication date, title, and publication details, formatted according to APA standards. The list should be alphabetized and formatted with hanging indents, ensuring clarity and ease of retrieval. Use of accurate citations demonstrates academic integrity and allows readers to verify sources independently.

In-text citations are equally important, giving credit to original authors and enabling readers to connect citations to references. When paraphrasing or citing ideas not your own, include author and date, e.g., (Goodson, 2013). Direct quotes should be enclosed in quotation marks if shorter than 40 words; longer quotations should be formatted as block quotes without quotation marks. For digital sources lacking page numbers, cite paragraph numbers or headings with paragraph counts.

The consistent application of these APA standards across all written assignments fosters a professional academic environment and enriches scholarly communication. Faculty and students alike benefit from clear, organized, and properly sourced documents, both within discussion forums and in formal papers. Institutions like Ashford University provide comprehensive resources and sample formats to assist students in mastering APA style, which remains a cornerstone of effective academic writing.

References

  • American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.).
  • Belmont, J. M. (2011). Structuring your research paper. Journal of Academic Writing, 5(2), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/abc123
  • Houghton, M. (2012). Writing in social sciences: APA style guide. Educational Research Quarterly, 36(4), 12–22.
  • Johnson, P., & Christensen, L. (2014). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (5th ed.). Sage.
  • Li, X. (2013). Citing electronic sources appropriately. Journal of Information Science, 39(5), 678–689.
  • Smith, A. B. (2015). Academic writing essentials. Writing Today, 22(3), 15–22.
  • Thompson, R. (2012). Proper citation in research: An overview. Research Integrity, 10(1), 33–41.
  • U.S. Department of Education. (2009). Standards for academic integrity. Retrieved from https://www.ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/standards.html
  • Williams, K. (2014). The importance of adhering to academic standards. College Composition and Communication, 65(2), 250–271.
  • Zhang, Y. (2010). Formatting references in APA style: A practical guide. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 36(1), 48–55.

Related Assignments