Create your title page. Set your margins, line-spacing and create a running page header. On a standard, white 8.5 by 11 inch piece of paper, set all margins to 1-inch.
Approximately a half an inch from the top margin, create a running page header. To do this, set page numbers flush right and type the title flush left.
You should set your font to 12 pt. Times New Roman, and use that setting consistently throughout.
Type the title of your paper centered, approximately one-third of the way down from the top of the page, using both upper and lowercase letters. Your title should be just above the mid-line of the page on the top half.
Type your first name, middle initial, and last name, followed by the location where you completed your research, also centered.
Create an abstract page. An abstract is a paragraph between 150 and 250 words that summarizes the main points of your research. Drop below the header and type "Abstract" centered on the page. Write a concise statement summarizing your research topic, methodology and conclusions.
Write the body of the paper. Introduce the research topic and develop the background, using credible research.
Describe the methodology used for completing the research, and develop conclusions about the research.
Paragraphs should be longer than one sentence, but no longer than one manuscript page. The standard rules of American grammar apply with respect to spelling, sentence structure and punctuation.
Write clearly and concisely in complete sentences and avoid using jargon, dangling modifiers and beginning sentences with adverbial phrases.
Cite your references. Whenever you use information from an outside source, including previous writing of your own, you must cite the source in the body of the paper. When using an indirect reference, include the author's last name and the year of publication, separated by a comma and contained within parenthesis. When referencing a direct quote, also include the page number on which the original quote appears.
Quote sources properly. Use double quotation marks for direct in-text quotes. Make sure you close punctuation inside quotation marks. Place long quotations of more than 40 words in block quotes without quotation marks. If the first letter of a quotation appears at the beginning of a sentence, change lowercase to uppercase. Use three ellipsis to indicate an omission within a quoted sentence -- and four ellipsis to indicate an omission between two quoted sentences.
Create a reference page. Under the header, type "References," centered on the page.
For a book, the citation should look like this: Author's last name, first name (year published). Title in italics. Location: Publisher.
For a periodical, the citation should look like this: Author's last name, first name (year published). Article title. Magazine title. Volume number or month. Page numbers.
Write a short annotation after each citation, summarizing the source and analyzing its importance with respect to your topic.