APA Format

Thesis

A thesis, which is sometimes called a research question (though it is not written as a question but rather a statement) in an empirical paper, is the driving force behind any paper. A thesis, in general, is a clear statement of the paper’s purpose. The thesis may be written in a way where it is implicit or explicit, but making a thesis explicit can help the author in writing the manuscript by creating a guide to what should be included.

Unity and Coherence

Once a paper has a clear thesis, the next step in writing is to make sure that the paper hangs together. Like any other paper, a manuscript written in APA format must have unity and coherence, which allows readers to remain focused on the relevant topic. Unity is when a paper logically flows [Page 98]from topic to topic throughout the manuscript, and each paragraph only contains a core idea. Specifically, the paper is united across all topics and each is linked to the thesis.

Coherence is when the ideas within a paragraph are presented in a rational order, and each is necessary in supporting the single idea presented in that paragraph. Thus, a paragraph should start with a topic sentence (that links to the thesis), include evidence supporting the topic, and then end with a concluding sentence that leads into the next paragraph. Papers include unity and coherence flow from the thesis to the conclusion, and this improves writing style and readability.

Grammar

Chapters 3 and 4 of the APA manual, as well as many other writing guides such as William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White’s The Elements of Style, detail the requirements and expectations of proper grammar and writing with the style expected for scientific papers. Some of the concepts in Chapter 3 include organization, clarity, removing bias from language, and smoothness of expression. Chapter 3 ends with grammar and usage recommendations for scientific writing, such as avoiding the passive voice.

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