Instructions for Conducting Literature Reviews
In the realm of academic writing, a literature review is no exception when it comes to adhering to specific formatting guidelines. For student papers following the APA 7th edition, the title page of a literature review typically includes the following components, centred and placed about one-third down the page:
- Paper Title (bolded and in title case)
- Author’s Name (your full name)
- Affiliation (usually your university and department/school)
- Course number and name
- Instructor’s Name
- Due date of the paper
These components should appear on the title page using double spacing, with a readable font such as 12-pt Times New Roman or an accessible serif/sans serif font, and 1-inch margins all around.
Additional points according to APA 7 guidelines for student papers:
- No running head or author note is required unless specifically requested by the instructor.
- The cover sheet should follow the student title page format, which differs slightly from the professional title page APA uses for publications.
- If your instructor requests an abstract, it should come on a new page after the title page, labeled "Abstract" bolded and centred.
- The body of your literature review starts on a new page after the title page (or abstract if included), with the paper title repeated at the top.
Because a literature review is a type of research paper, the title page components apply equally as for any student APA paper unless otherwise directed by your instructor.
Here's a summary table of the APA 7th Edition student title page components:
| Component | Description | |---------------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | Paper Title | Bold, centered, title case, about one-third down page | | Author Name | Full name, centered below title | | Affiliation | Institution Name and Department/School | | Course Information | Course number and name | | Instructor Name | Full name of instructor | | Date | Due date of assignment |
A well-designed cover sheet includes the title of the work, the author's name, institutional affiliation, and submission date, setting the stage for a professional and well-structured literature review. Adhering to specific formatting guidelines, such as the APA style (7th edition), demonstrates attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high academic standards.
In the process of composing an online education course on academic writing, a key topic would involve learning about the proper formatting guidelines for a literature review, such as the APA 7th edition, which includes creating a well-designed cover sheet for self-development and education-and-self-development purposes. This cover sheet, entitled "Online Education: Understanding APA Formatting for Literature Reviews," would center and place the title about one-third down the page, using a readable font like 12-pt Times New Roman or an accessible serif/sans serif font, with a readable font size, and 1-inch margins all around. Additionally, this course would emphasize the importance of structuring the cover sheet similarly to a student title page for APA student papers, with the title repeated at the top of the body of the literature review once it begins.
