Reference no: EM132276923
Research Paper Requirements
As a successful small business owner you want to grow your business. How can you do this?
Research:
you must reflect on your research (e.g. why you chose it) and critically evaluate its merit based on who created the research and the process by which the author created it.
Content:
you must thoroughly address your topic. This may require that you narrow your topic considerably. Your report and presentation must reveal that you understand your thesis, your research and utilize it in developing the analytical content of your paper.
Report:
1200-1500 words in length. (About 5 - 6 pages typed, double spaced, font size 12.) Proper academic writing style and format must be used, with proper documentation of sources (APA).
How to Format an APA Style Paper:
General guidelines:
• Use 8 ½ x 11" paper
• Make 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides
• The first word in every paragraph should be indented one half inch
• Use Times New Roman font, size 12
• Double space the entire paper
• Include a page header
• insert page numbers justified to the right-hand side of the paper
APA Format Papers Components:
• Your essay should include these four major sections:
• An APA format Title Page including the following:
o the title of the paper
o submitted by the author's name
o submitted to the instructor's name
o the course
o the date.
Abstract
On the following page,
1. On the first line of the page, center the word "Abstract" (but do not include quotation marks).
2. On the following line, write a summary of the key points of your research. Your abstract summary is a way to introduce readers to your research topic, the questions that will be answered, the process you took, and any findings or conclusions you drew.
3. This summary should be double-spaced and less than 250 words.
The Body
On the following page, begin with the Body of the APA paper.
1) Start with the title (do not bold, underline, or italicize the title)
2) Next is the introduction.
a) Use the heading Introduction.
b) The introduction presents the problem and premise upon which the research was based. It goes into more detail about this problem than the abstract.
3) Begin the body of your report. Use headings to split the information up into sections. Be sure to use paragraphs within the headings.
4) Following the body of your report, draw conclusions and support how your data led to these conclusions.
a) Use the heading Conclusions
b) Discuss whether or not your hypothesis was confirmed or not supported by your results.
** Throughout the body, in-text citations are used and include the author name(s) and the publication year. In APA format page numbers are not used in-text citations.
Ex: (Wilkonson, 2009).
APA Referencing
On a new page, write your references.
1. Center and bold the title "References" (do not include quotation marks, underline, or italicize this title)
2. Alphabetize and Double-space all entries
3. Use hanging indents (first line is not indented and all subsequent lines are indented)
4. Every article/source mentioned in the paper and used in your study should be referenced and have an entry.