Formatting Research Papers Guide

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Questions and Answers

What spacing should be used throughout an academic research report?

Double-space.

What font size and type should be used for the text of the report?

12-point Times New Roman.

How should page numbers be formatted in an academic report?

Page numbers should be one inch from the top right edge.

What should be the indentation for the first line of each paragraph?

½ inch. Signup and view all the answers

How should the title of the report be formatted?

It should be centered and in uppercase letters. Signup and view all the answers

What is the guideline for using language in academic writing?

Use simple, clear, and direct language. Signup and view all the answers

How should main chapter headings be aligned in a report?

They should be centered. Signup and view all the answers

What is the rule regarding contractions in academic writing?

Do not use contractions. Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if you are unsure about the spelling of a word?

Look up the correct spelling in an appropriate reference source. Signup and view all the answers

Why is proofreading important before submitting work?

It corrects typographical errors and conveys seriousness about your work. Signup and view all the answers

What type of language should you avoid in your writing?

Avoid sexist language and the use of pronouns. Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommendation for reducing unnecessary words in writing?

Use concise language, such as 'Mordedzi (2008) found that...' instead of overly wordy phrases. Signup and view all the answers

What voice should you generally use in academic writing?

Use the active voice rather than the passive voice. Signup and view all the answers

In which tense should you write the methodology section of your report?

Use the past tense. Signup and view all the answers

What is the rule about using the pronoun 'I' in a classroom action research report?

Use the singular form 'I' rather than the third person 'the researcher'. Signup and view all the answers

What should you be tentative about in your writing?

Be tentative about interpretations and conclusions. Signup and view all the answers

Why is consistency important in research reports?

Consistency ensures clarity and helps the reader understand key concepts without confusion. Signup and view all the answers

How can coherence be achieved in a research report?

Coherence can be achieved by using transitional words and repeating relevant variables throughout the text. Signup and view all the answers

In what measurement units should results be reported?

Results should be reported in Metric units, such as centimeters and meters. Signup and view all the answers

What is the rule for spelling out numbers in research reports?

Numbers zero through nine should be spelled out, while numbers 10 and above should be written as digits. Signup and view all the answers

When should digits be used in an abstract?

Digits should be used for all numbers in the abstract except when they begin a sentence. Signup and view all the answers

How should abbreviations be formatted in research writing?

Abbreviations should be spelled out the first time they appear, and should ideally be used sparingly. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of numeral consistency in number formats?

It ensures that related numbers are presented uniformly, aiding in reader comprehension. Signup and view all the answers

How should numbers at the beginning of a sentence be handled?

Any number at the beginning of a sentence should be spelled out. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

### Formatting Research Papers

Double-spacing is essential throughout the entire report, including title page, abstract, references, appendixes, footnotes, tables, figures, and captions.
One-inch margins should be used on all sides of the paper.
Indent paragraphs by ½ inch, except for abstract, block quotes, titles, headings, subheadings, references, tables, notes, and figure captions.
Times New Roman font size 12 is recommended for the text, while Arial font 12 can be used for figure labels.
Page numbers should be positioned one inch from the top right edge, starting with the title page. Pages before chapter one are numbered with small Roman numerals, while pages starting from chapter one are numbered with Arabic numerals.
Capitalize the first letter after a colon if the following clause is a complete sentence.
Left-align the text and avoid justification.
Avoid hyphenating words at the end of a line.
Center the title of the report and use capital letters.
Center chapter numbers and headings using capital letters, while subheadings are flush left with capital and small letters.

Writing Guidelines

Use simple, clear, and direct language. Avoid flowery language and ambiguity.
Employ complete sentences. The first sentence of a paragraph should be independent.
Avoid slang and archaic expressions.
Do not use contractions. Use "it is" instead of "it's".
Verify spelling using a reliable reference source. Use either American or British spelling consistently.
Proofread and edit the work carefully.
Avoid sexist language. Avoid using pronouns, gender-specific terms, or stereotypes.
Eliminate unnecessary words. For instance, use "Mordedzi (2008) found that..." instead of "in the Mordedzi (2008) study it was found that...".
Use the active voice whenever possible. For example, use "this study shows that..." instead of "this study has shown that...".
Employ the past tense in abstract, purpose statement, literature review, and methods sections. Use past or present perfect tense in other introduction sections. Use past tense for findings, present tense for results, conclusions, and interpretations. Avoid future tense except in research proposals.
Avoid using verbs as adverbs or adjectives.
Use the singular first-person pronoun "I" instead of "the researcher" in classroom action research reports.
Be definitive about procedures, data, and statistics. Use tentative language for interpretations and conclusions.
Ensure consistency in style, wording, and terminology throughout the report. Avoid shifts in tense and subject-verb agreement.
Use coherence to enhance readability. Sentences, paragraphs, and chapters should flow smoothly.

Numbers and Abbreviations

Use metric units for all measurements.
Spell out numbers zero through nine, except when they are part of a table, figure, or metric measurement.
Write numbers 10 and above as digits.
Capitalize nouns followed by numerals or letters indicating a specific place in a numbered series.
Use digits for all numbers in the abstract, except when they begin a sentence.
Spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence.
Maintain consistency in number formats. Use the same number of decimal places for related numbers.
Spell out abbreviations the first time they are used in the abstract and body of the manuscript.
Limit the number of abbreviations.
Use Latin abbreviations (e.g., cf., etc., e.g., i.e., et al., vs.) in parentheses. Use English translations outside parentheses.
Avoid using "E" and "S" as abbreviations for "experimenter" and "subject".

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Description

This quiz covers essential formatting guidelines for research papers, including specifications for spacing, font type, and margin settings. Learn about the correct organization and presentation to ensure your document meets academic standards. Master the art of formatting for clarity and professionalism.