Elementary teachers require outlines to teach students to format research papers. Basic outlining format is important, starting with Roman numerals, then capitalized alphabetic letters, followed by numbers and lower case letters. The outline helps your child formulate what information is important, as well as the order in which it should be discussed.
Format is also important for elementary students. The required format will vary based on the preferences of the teacher or the subject of the research paper. However, the two main formats are from the Modern Language Association, or MLA format, and the American Psychological Association, or APA format. While elementary students do not have to follow these formats as closely as college students or professionals, elementary school marks the time where students learn the basics of these formats.
Elementary student papers require proper layout and conventions. This aspect of research papers is simplified by the regular use of a word processing software, as items, such as spell check and proper grammar are caught by many recent software programs. However, other aspects of the paper, such as the use of 1-inch margins, double spacing, title pages, proper font size and type and page numbering are also important. Also the student needs to understand that word processing software does not catch all spelling and grammar errors, so it's important to double check what you write.
Works cited or bibliographies are also required for research papers. As children age, the number and types of sources required for papers increases. Students must credit their sources through a works-cited page or bibliography, depending on the requirements of the teacher, to prevent plagiarism. This includes correctly formatting different sources, such as print, electronic and online sources. In some cases, elementary school teachers require proper in-text citations, depending on the grade level.