Part I of your paper will discuss your developmental journey by identifying critical episodes (peaks and troughs) that you have experienced over your

7th Edition

Student Paper Setup Guide

This guide will help you set up an APA Style student paper. The basic setup directions apply to the entire paper. Annotated diagrams illustrate how to set up the major sections of a student paper: the title page or cover page, the text, tables and figures, and the reference list.

Basic Setup Seventh edition APA Style was designed with modern word-processing programs in mind. Most default settings in programs such as Academic Writer, Microsoft Word, and Google Docs already comply with APA Style. However, you may need to make a few adjustments before you begin writing.

• Margins: Use 1-in. margins on all sides of the page (top, bottom, left, and right). • Font: Use a legible font. Many fonts are acceptable, including 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, 12-

point Times New Roman, and 11-point Georgia. The default font of your word-processing program is acceptable.

• Line spacing: Use double-spacing for the entire paper (including block quotations and the reference list). Do not add blank lines before or after headings. Do not add extra spacing between paragraphs.

• Paragraph alignment and indentation: Align paragraphs of text to the left margin. Leave the right margin ragged. Do not use full justification. Indent the first line of every paragraph of text 0.5 in. using the tab key or the paragraph-formatting function of your word-processing program.

• Page numbers: Put a page number in the top right corner of every page, including the title page or cover page, which is page 1. Student papers do not require a running head on any page.

Title Page Setup

Title Page Elements

• The affiliation consists of the department of the course and the name of the university.

• Write the course number and name and instructor name as shown on course materials.

• Use the date format used in your country for the assignment due date.

• Page number 1 appears in the top right of the page in the page header.

• No running heads are required for student papers.

Title Page Line Spacing

Title Page Alignment

Title Page Font

Text Setup

Text Elements

• Repeat the paper title at the top of the first page of text.

• Begin with an introduction to provide background and context.

• Use descriptive headings to identify other sections (e.g., Method, Results, Discussion for quantitative research papers).

• Sections and headings vary depending on paper type and complexity.

• Text can include tables and figures, block quotations, headings, and footnotes.

Text Line Spacing Double-space all text, including

• headings and section labels • paragraphs of text • block quotes

Text Alignment

Block Quotation Alignment

Text Font

• Use the same font throughout the entire paper.

• Write body text in standard (nonbold, nonitalic) font.

• Use italics sparingly, for instance, to highlight a key term on first use (see C oncise Guide to APA Style Section 4.15).

Headings Format Level Format

1

Centered, Bold, Title Case Heading

Text begins as a new paragraph.

2

Flush left, Bold, Title Case Heading

Text begins as a new paragraph.

3

Flush Left, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading

Text begins as a new paragraph.

4

Indented, Bold, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period. Text

begins on the same line and continues as a regular paragraph.

5 Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period. Text

begins on the same line and continues as a regular paragraph.

• Alignment: Center Level 1 headings. Left-align Level 2 and Level 3 headings. Indent Level 4 and Level 5 headings like a paragraph.

• Font: Boldface all headings. Also italicize Level 3 and Level 5 headings. • Tip: Create heading styles using your word-processing program (built into Academic

Writer, available for Word via sample papers on the APA Style website).

Tables and Figures Setup

• Only some papers have tables and figures.

• Tables and figures share the same elements.

Table Elements

Figure Elements

Table Line Spacing

Figure Line Spacing

Table Alignment

Figure Alignment

Table Font

Figure Font

Placement of Tables and Figures

You can embed tables and figures in the body of the paper.

This guide shows options for placement. If your instructor requires tables and figures to be placed at the end of the paper, see examples in the Publication Manual and in the professional sample paper on the APA Style website.

• Embed tables and figures in the text.

• Call out (mention) the table or figure in the text before embedding it.

• Place the table or figure after the callout

o at the bottom of the page

o at the top of the next page

o by itself on the next page

• Avoid placing tables and figures in the middle of the page.

Embedding at the Bottom of the Page

Embedding at the Top of the Page

Embedding on Its Own Page

• Embed long tables or large figures on their own page if needed.

• Text continues on the next page.

Reference List Setup

Reference List Elements

• View reference examples on the APA Style website

• Consult Chapter 10 for even more examples.

Reference List Line Spacing

Reference List Alignment

Reference List Font

Final Checks Check Page Order • Start each section on a new page.

• Arrange pages in the following order:

o Title page (page 1)

o Text (starts on page 2)

o Reference list (starts on a new page after the text)

Check Headings • Check that headings accurately reflect the content in each section.

• Start each main section with a Level 1 heading.

• Use Level 2 headings for subsections of the introduction.

• Use the same level of heading for sections of equal importance.

• Avoid having only one subsection within a section (have two or more, or none).

Check Assignment Instructions • Instructors’ guidelines supersede APA Style.

• Students should check their assignment guidelines or rubric for specific content to include in their papers and to make sure they are meeting assignment requirements.

Tips for Better Writing • Ask for feedback on your paper from a classmate, writing center tutor, or instructor.

• Budget time to implement suggestions.

• Use spell-check and grammar-check to identify potential errors.

• Proofread the paper by reading it slowly and carefully aloud to yourself.

• Consult your university writing center if you need extra help.

More information on student papers can be found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) and in the Concise Guide to APA Style (7th ed.).

SOURCE: American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Last updated 10/21/2020

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National University

LED 620 World View and Adult Development

DEVELOPMENTAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT DETAILS

This assignment is split into two parts: • Part I DUE in Week 2 requires students to look back over their life’s journey to explore

how their worldview was shaped and what factors and life experiences contributed to their

overall development as a person and leader. • Part II DUE in Week 4 requires students to analyze their journey and identify two

theoretical models which best explains / supports their developmental journey as a person

and leader. Developmental Autobiography Part I – Due Sunday, Week 2 by 11:59 p.m. PST

Part I of your paper will discuss your developmental journey by identifying critical episodes (peaks

and troughs) that you have experienced over your lifetime. This may include people / mentors,

career roles, lessons, educational background, and significant experiences that may have played a

role in shaping and contributing to your development over the course of your life. As you share your developmental journey, its recommend that you organize your paper using sub-

headings to section off your paper as well. There are a few ways that you may choose to organize

your paper. Here are a few suggestions. You may mix and match these options.

• Stages of your life (childhood, young adulthood, adulthood, etc.)

• Significant / impactful moments, milestones, or turning points that have contributed to your

development.

• Experiences, education, jobs, and people that have contributed to your development.

• Age Ranges that help you discuss a timeline approach to your development.

• The following are prompts that my help you think of how to organize your paper:

o What were your typical ways of thinking and acting earlier in your life?

o What are your typical ways of thinking and acting now?

o What are your future aspirations for developing how you think and act?

o What has triggered your own development toward greater maturity?

o What might be triggering your development now? Feel free to also incorporate any discoveries made about your development through the course

activities and readings as appropriate. Part I should be written in first person. Be sure to use real-world examples to explain the

impact (not just tell) the reader about the evolution of your development. This paper will only be

read by the professor and will not be shared with other students. As a resource, there are a few

sample papers provided under the Student Resources section.

This assignment must be written in APA format with a proper title page and reference page. It is

expected that each part of your paper will be 4- 5 pages long (which means that your final

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submission will be 8-10 pages). The title and reference page does not count toward your page

count.

FINAL Developmental Autobiography (Part I & Part II) – Due Sunday, Week 4 by 11:59

p.m. PST

Part II requires students to analyze and explain their own development journey from an objective,

theoretical perspective. Part II requires that students use at least one theory of adult development

to explain the student’s evolution as a person and at least one theory of leadership to analyze the

student’s evolution as a leader. Students may choose to use more than one theory for each. This

means that students will have, at least, 2 references listed on their “Reference” page. This will

also mean that students will have several in-text citations as they paraphrase and/or quote from

their resources. Keep in mind, students should paraphrase in their own words more often than

using direct quotes.

Part II must also include details focused on your future development and who you want to become

as a leader. Students must also include cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral development

activities that might help further their development and what results they anticipate as an outcome.

The following questions should be addressed as well:

• What will positive development toward your aspirations look and feel like and what will

drive it?

• How can you facilitate the development of other people?

• How can you build a shared culture for positive development in the direction required by

the work of your organization or community?

• What are the implications you see for adult development as it connects with the exercise of

leadership? In other words, development for what purpose?

• No theory is perfect, so what is your critique of developmental theory? Where are the

holes? The unanswered questions? The gaps?

This assignment requires students to adhere to APA formatting and writing guidelines. No abstract

or table of contents is required. Please be sure to check out the sample papers available in the

Student Resource section. Also, be sure to use the grading criteria listed on the next page to guide

your efforts. It is expected that each section be 4- 5 pages long (this means that your final

submission will be 8-10 pages long). You may go over this page count; however, grades will be

assigned based on quality, not quantity, of analysis.

As this is the final course paper, late work will not be accepted for this assignment.

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Developmental Autobiography Grading Criteria

1. Analysis: How well did you integrate theory and data to create a coherent diagnosis of the

current situation and future action in the paper?

• Translates major theoretical perspectives from the lectures and the readings to

leadership theory being studied into concrete implications and interventions in his/her

own learning and practice.

• Demonstrates the ability to make connections between organizational processes and

larger social dynamics and patterns

2. Self-Reflection: How well did you demonstrate an understanding of how elements of your

identity and history affect your world view, development and exercise of leadership?

• Expresses unique personal insights derived from application and evaluation of course

content.

• Sustains sense of inquiry

3. Data: How well did you utilize descriptive data to support your analysis?

• Uses specific examples from your own life.

• Offers a description of the situation giving the reader enough background to follow your

analysis.

• Presents evidence, interprets evidence, relates evidence to own development and strategies

for the exercise of leadership.

4. Theory: How well can you apply the conceptual material offered in readings and lectures to

reflect on and provide new insights into personal experiences?

• Relates subject of paper to course concepts and materials, and has sufficient

number of references.

• Outlines theory’s relevance to one’s own development, world view, and exercise of

leadership.

5. Organization: How clear, focused, and well-organized is the paper?

• Demonstrates masterful organization that strengthens your analysis.

• Synthesizes connections making explicit statements (not expecting instructor to infer

student’s meaning).

6. Writing: Does the paper reflect professional and graduate-level quality in grammar,

writing style, and adherence to APA 6th format?

• Cites course materials (lectures, readings) appropriately.

• Properly formats paper using 12pt font, 1-inch margins, double- spacing, and proper sub-

headings.

• Avoid contractions (i.e., I’m, you’re, we’re, etc. in academic writing)

• Indent all first lines of paragraphs (.5-inch tab)

• One main idea per paragraph with 2-3 supporting sentences (paragraphs should be 3-5

sentences in length.