Determine the topics your paper will include. Before you begin an outline for your APA paper, you may want to do preliminary research on the subject. During the research process, use the APA style guide to keep track of the information and references for each publication you read. The APA style guide will contain the format to reference each publication. Remember to keep notes including the publication and page number where you found information you may want to use in your paper.
Organize your topics in the order they will appear in your APA paper. Each topic will form one or more paragraphs that encompass the information for that topic. You may choose to organize your outline by numbering each potential paragraph beginning with the introduction and ending with a conclusion or by focusing only on the topics.
Write thesis statements for each topic. A thesis statement refers to the main idea for each topic included in your APA paper. You may also want to write a main thesis that expresses the central objective or idea for your entire paper and include it in your introduction.
Organize the quotations and information you will include in each topic. Use an APA style guide to cite each reference that you will include in the framework for your paper. While it is possible to cite your references correctly at any point during the paper writing process, it is easier to start with proper citations, and doing so will help you avoid questions of plagiarism.
Write transitional statements for each topic. A transitional statement at the opening and closing of each topic can establish a relationship between the basic concepts for each topic and make the final draft of the paper flow more smoothly.
Add or remove content or topics if necessary. Even though the outline of your APA paper is an approximation of the framework and content you will include in your final draft, you may find that some information does not fit or that more information is needed. The outline is a prewriting tool. It helps to be flexible and revise your outline if necessary.