Format the font size and style and page margins of your word document to correct APA style. According to the Purdue Online Writing Lab, APA style dictates 10-12 point Times New Roman (or similar) font that is typed on standard paper (8.5 x 11) with 1" margins.
Insert a header that will appear on every page throughout the book report. The header should list the title of your paper and appear on the upper left-hand side of every page. On the upper right side of each page of your book report should be the page number. On the title page only, add the words "Running head" followed by a colon before the paper's title in the header.
Create the title page. Write the title of your paper on the upper half of the page aligned center. On the next line, type your first and last name followed by your school on the last line. Remember to include your running head as explained above.
Write the abstract if necessary. An abstract is a paragraph-long summary of your paper that follows the title page. Abstracts are generally used in research-based papers, and instructors generally do not require them for book reports. However, an abstract is part of APA style, so ask your teacher if one should be included. The abstract should be on a page by itself with the word "Abstract" written centered on the first line followed by the abstract text beginning on the next line down.
Begin the actual book report on the page following the abstract. The first line of the paper should be the title of the book report centered. Do not place the title in bold, italics, underline, or in quotes.The book report text begins on the next line using regular paragraph formatting with indents on each new paragraph.
Use citations whenever you mention ideas that are not your own. In a book report, be sure to insert a citation to avoid plagiarism when you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source.
Use author-date style to cite your references in the text. If you mention an author of a source in a sentence, place the date of the text's publication in parenthesis next to the author's name. Example: "Jones (1998) writes that you should always park your bike." If you mention the author's idea, but not his name, in the sentence, place the author's last name followed by the source's date of publication in parenthesis at the end of the paraphrased, quoted, or summarized material. Example: "It is said that you should always park your bike (Jones, 1998)."
Use the page number when quoting. Whenever using a direct quote, indicate the quote's page number. Example: "Jones (1998) writes, 'Always park your bike' (p. 20)." If you do not use the name of the author in the sentence, include the author's name, the date, and the page number after the quote. Example: "It is said, 'Always park your bike' (Jones, 1998, p. 20)."
Create a references page, which should be placed after the book report. Place the word "References" centered on the first line. Do not place the title in bold, italics, underline, etc. Double space the page, and list the works you referenced.
List and format your consulted works. For a book review, it is likely there is only one source to cite, the book itself. Begin each citation with the author's last name, a comma, then the author's first name. End with a period. Next, place the year of publication in parenthesis and end with a period. Now, in italics, type the title of the book followed by a period. Finally, list the location of publication, a colon, and the publisher, followed by a period.
Indent the second line of each citation.
Arrange consulted sources in alphabetical order.