FAQ: How should I format an outline in APA Style?

Section 4.26 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) discusses the advantages of writing from an outline such as improved flow, logic, and focus in your paper, but it does not provide a specific format for outlines.

Another benefit of using an outline that the Manual mentions is that it makes it very easy to pinpoint the headings and subheadings you will use in your paper. For guidelines on how to format the headings and subheadings, please review the APA Style blog’s Headings Level Template: Student Paper.

Academic Support created a guide on how to create a formal outline This link opens in a new window.

More Information

• APA guide (Shapiro Library)

Further Help

This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Please be sure to speak to your professor about the appropriate way to cite sources in your class assignments and projects.

Campus Students

To access Academic Support, visit your Brightspace course and select “Tutoring and Mentoring” from the Academic Support pulldown menu.

Online Students

To access help with citations and more, visit the Academic Support via modules in Brightspace:

• Academic Support Overview: Getting Help with your Schoolwork This link opens in a new window

References

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