Mastering the Art of Argumentation: A Comprehensive Guide to APA 7th Edition Student Papers

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a widely recognized and utilized format for academic writing, particularly in the social sciences, education, and business. This guide delves into the intricacies of crafting an argumentative essay in APA 7th edition, providing a structured approach for students to develop well-organized, persuasive, and properly cited papers.

Understanding APA Style

APA style emphasizes clarity, conciseness, and accuracy in presenting information. It provides guidelines for various aspects of a paper, including formatting, citation, and organization. Adhering to these guidelines ensures that the focus remains on the content rather than the presentation.

Structuring Your Argumentative Paper

A well-structured argumentative paper in APA format typically includes the following sections:

Title Page

The title page is the first page of your paper and should include the following elements, centered both vertically and horizontally:

Title of the Paper: The title should be concise and accurately reflect the topic of your paper. It should be in bold font.
Student's Name: Your full name.
Institution: The name of the university or college you are attending.
Course: The course name and number.
Instructor: The name of your professor.
Date: The date of submission.

Abstract (Optional)

An abstract is a brief summary of your paper, typically around 150-250 words. It should outline the main argument, methods, and findings. While not always required for student papers, it is a common element in professional publications.

Introduction

The introduction sets the stage for your argument. It should:

Hook: Begin with an engaging hook, such as a relevant anecdote or statistic, to capture the reader's attention.
Background Information: Provide context and background information on the topic.
Thesis Statement: Clearly state your main argument or thesis.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs form the core of your argument. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point that supports your thesis.

Topic Sentence: Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main point.
Evidence and Reasoning: Provide evidence from credible sources to support your claims. Use a combination of paraphrasing, summarizing, and direct quotes.
Explanation: Explain the logic behind your thoughts and how the evidence supports your point.
In-Text Citations: Properly cite all sources using APA in-text citation format.

Conclusion

The conclusion summarizes your main points and restates your thesis in a new way. It should:

Restate Thesis: Reiterate your main argument without being repetitive.
Summarize Main Points: Briefly summarize the key points from your body paragraphs.
Concluding Statement: End with a strong concluding statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Mastering APA Citation Style

Accurate and consistent citation is crucial in APA style. Every time you use the work or thoughts of another, you must cite the original author. This includes summarizing, paraphrasing, and directly quoting.

In-Text Citations

In-text citations provide brief references within the body of your paper. They typically include the author's last name and the year of publication. Page numbers are added for direct quotes.

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Basic Format: (Author, Year)
Direct Quote: (Author, Year, p. XX)
Example: According to Brown (2019), "Direct quote" (p. XX).

Specific Scenarios for In-Text Citations

Multiple Authors: List the first author’s last name followed by the abbreviation “et al.” (and others).
No Author: If no author is listed, and the source is published by an organization or group, list the group’s full name in the text or citation, followed by the abbreviation if well known. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), abbreviations are ok if the abbreviation is well known (2019).
Author and Date in Sentence: If the author’s name, publication date, and or page numbers are given in the sentence, omit them from the following in-text citation. According to music critic Mark Prindle (2017), Minneapolis rock combo The Cows are an acquired taste (p. X).
Direct Quotations (Less than 40 words): Enclose the quote in quotation marks and include the author, year, and page number.
Direct Quotations (More than 40 words): Introduce the quote with a colon, start on a new line, and indent a half-inch from the left margin. Do not indent the first line, add quotation marks, or adjust line spacing.

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Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cell. They are organelles that act like a digestive system which takes in nutrients, breaks them down, and creates energy rich molecules for the cell. The biochemical processes of the cell are known as cellular respiration. (p. X)
Omissions in Quotes: Place an ellipsis (…) where parts of a quote were omitted in the middle of the sentence (e.g. “Grammar… is the study of writing techniques”). Ellipses are not necessary to indicate the first part of a phrase was omitted.
Common Knowledge: Facts or information that you already know, is widely available, and undisputed is considered common knowledge, which does not require an in-text citation.

Reference List

The reference list appears at the end of your paper and provides complete citations for all sources used.

Formatting:
- Start on a new page.
- Center the title "References" in bold font at the top of the page.
- List sources in alphabetical order by the author's last name.
- Use a hanging indent for each entry (the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented 1/2 inch).
- Double-space the entire list.
Basic Format:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), Page numbers.

Examples of Reference Entries

Journal Article:
Ashing‐Giwa, K. T., Padilla, G., Tejero, J., Kraemer, J., Wright, K., Coscarelli, A., Clayton, S., Williams, I., & Hills, D. (2004). Understanding the breast cancer experience of women: A qualitative study of African American, Asian American, Latina and Caucasian cancer survivors. Psycho‐Oncology, 13(6), 408-428.
Newspaper Article:
Kennedy, M. (2018, October 15). To prevent wildfires, PG&E pre-emptively cuts power to thousands in California. NPR.
Book:
Schmidt, N. A., & Brown, J. M. (2017). Evidence-based practice for nurses: Appraisal and application of research (4th ed.). Publisher.
Chapter in an Edited Book:
McCormack, B., McCance, T., & Maben, J. (2013). Outcome evaluation in the development of person-centred practice. In B. McCormack, K. Manley, & A. Titchen (Eds.), Practice development in nursing and healthcare (pp. 190-211). Publisher.
Website:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, August 22). Preventing HPV-associated cancers. Source.
Report:
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (2017, January). Key indicators of health by service planning area. Source.
Dissertation/Thesis:
Valentin, E. R. (2019, Summer). Narcissism predicted by Snapchat selfie sharing, filter usage, and editing [Master's thesis, California State University Dominguez Hills]. CSU ScholarWorks.

Formatting Guidelines

Consistency in formatting is essential in APA style. Here are some key guidelines:

Font: Use Times New Roman, 12-point font.
Margins: Use 1-inch margins on all sides.
Spacing: Double-space the entire paper, including the title page, abstract (if applicable), body paragraphs, and reference list.
Page Numbers: Include page numbers in the header, justified to the right margin.
Running Head: Include a running head (a shortened version of your title) in the header, flush left. For student papers, the running head is not required.

Headings

APA style uses five levels of headings to organize your paper.

Level 1: Centered, Bold, Title Case
Level 2: Left-aligned, Bold, Title Case
Level 3: Left-aligned, Bold Italic, Title Case
Level 4: Indented 1/2", Bold, Title Case, end with a period.
Level 5: Indented 1/2", Bold Italic, Title Case, end with a period.

Outlining Your Paper

Creating an outline is a crucial step in writing a well-organized argumentative paper. It helps you structure your thoughts, organize your evidence, and ensure that your argument flows logically.

Outline Formats

APA 7th edition does not prescribe a specific outline format, but it provides guidelines for structuring your paper. Common outline formats include:

Alphanumeric Outline: Uses a combination of Roman numerals, uppercase and lowercase letters, and Arabic numerals to indicate levels of headings and subheadings.
Decimal Outline: Uses decimal numbers to indicate levels of headings and subheadings.
Full-Sentence Outline: Every line to be a proper sentence. A full-sentence APA style outline is best recommended for essays and speeches. Full Sentence APA format heading utilizes Roman numerals I, II, and III. Every heading must be a full sentence.

Steps to Create an Outline

Understand Your Assignment: Carefully review the requirements and expectations for your paper.
Define Your Research Question and Thesis: Clearly state your main argument or research methods, and purpose.
Choose Your Outline Format: Select an outline format that suits your needs and preferences.
Identify Main Sections of Your Paper: Determine the main sections of your paper (e.g., Introduction, Body Paragraphs, Conclusion).
Break Each Section into Subpoints: Use bullet points, decimal levels, or indentation to list supporting arguments, evidence, or citations.
Review Hierarchy and Logic: Ensure your outline flows logically and each subpoint directly supports its parent point.
Format According to APA Guidelines: Label sections clearly.

Principles of Outlining

A Definite Goal: Start by writing your main goal or thesis at the top - keep it clear and focused. Your goal should be specific and measurable.
Division: Breaking things up rather than allowing them to become verbose is known as the division rule.
Parallelism: It is mainly related to the consistency and structure of the document. It keeps your paper’s layout tidy and also ensures relevancy.
Coordination: Having headings aligned is critical to creating a well-organized outline. This rule also applies to subheadings, which is a good thing.
Subordination: Subordination deals with maintaining a connection between your paper’s headings and subheadings. It helps in the proper sequencing of headings and subheadings.
Avoid Redundancy: While writing a paper outline, look through it many times and cross out any items that aren’t necessary or have no significance.
Wrap it Up in a Good Way: Creating an outline not only helps in writing a coherent term paper, but it also helps in ending with a precise understanding.

Tables and Figures

Tables and figures can be used to present data and information in a clear and concise manner.

Labeling: Label tables and figures numerically (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1).
Design: Design the table and figure so that it can be understood on its own, i.e.
Notes: Notes go below tables and figures.

Additional Tips for Writing an Effective Argumentative Paper

Choose a Strong Topic: Select a topic that is relevant, interesting, and debatable.
Conduct Thorough Research: Gather evidence from credible sources to support your claims.
Develop a Clear Thesis: Clearly state your main argument or thesis in your introduction.
Organize Your Thoughts: Create an outline to structure your paper and ensure a logical flow of ideas.
Use Strong Evidence: Support your claims with evidence from credible sources.
Address Counterarguments: Acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints to strengthen your argument.
Write Clearly and Concisely: Use clear and concise language to communicate your ideas effectively.
Proofread Carefully: Proofread your paper for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

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