How to write an analysis paper

Writing an analysis paper involves critically examining a text, piece of art, event, or any
subject matter to understand its components, meaning, and significance. Here are the steps to
help you write an effective analysis paper:
Choose a Topic:
Select a specific topic or subject for your analysis. It could be a literary work, a historical
event, a film, a piece of art, a scientific concept, or any other subject that interests you or
aligns with your assignment's requirements.
Gather Information:
Collect relevant information and materials related to your chosen topic. This may include
reading the text, researching background information, reviewing scholarly articles or
critiques, or conducting interviews, depending on the nature of your analysis.
Thesis Statement:
Develop a clear and concise thesis statement that presents the main argument or interpretation
you will make in your analysis. This statement should guide the entire paper and be specific,
debatable, and well-defined.
Outline Your Paper:
Create an outline to organize your thoughts and structure your analysis. Common sections
include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each section should serve a
specific purpose.
Introduction:
 Begin with an engaging introduction that provides context for your analysis and
introduces your thesis statement.
 Briefly mention the subject and its significance.
 Preview the main points or arguments you will discuss in the body of the paper.
 Body Paragraphs:
 Divide the body of your paper into paragraphs, each focused on a specific aspect or
argument related to your thesis statement.
 Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main point of that
paragraph.
 Support your points with evidence from the text, research, or other sources. Provide
examples, quotes, and analysis to strengthen your arguments.
 Analyze the evidence and explain how it supports your thesis.
Ensure smooth transitions between paragraphs and ideas to maintain coherence.
Use Critical Thinking:
Analyze the subject critically. Consider its strengths and weaknesses, underlying themes,
symbolism, and any other relevant elements.
Address counterarguments or alternative interpretations and refute them if necessary.

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Conclusion:
 Summarize your main arguments and restate your thesis in different words.
 Reflect on the broader implications of your analysis and its significance.
 Avoid introducing new information or arguments in the conclusion.
Cite Sources:
Properly cite all sources used in your analysis paper, following a citation style guide such as
APA 7.
Proofread and Revise:
Review your paper for clarity, coherence, grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
Consider seeking feedback from peers or professors to improve your analysis.
Formatting:
Format your analysis paper according to the guidelines provided by your instructor or the
specific formatting style required.
 Finalize:
 Make any necessary revisions and edits.
 Create a bibliography or reference page with a list of all sources used.
 Ensure your paper is well-organized and polished before submission.
Writing an analysis paper requires critical thinking, research, and effective communication of
your insights. By following these steps, you can create a well-structured and persuasive
analysis paper on your chosen subject

Writing an analysis paper in APA Format

Writing an analysis paper in APA format can be a challenging task, but with some guidance
and practice, you can master it. Here are some steps and tips to help you:
 Choose a topic and formulate a research question. You need to have a clear and specific
focus for your analysis paper, so you can narrow down the scope of your research and
avoid irrelevant information. A research question is a statement that guides your inquiry
and helps you develop a thesis statement. For example, if you are interested in analyzing
the effects of social media on mental health, you might ask: How does social media use
influence the mental well-being of adolescents?
 Conduct a literature review and find credible sources. You need to review the existing
literature on your topic and identify the main arguments, theories, methods, and gaps in
the research. You also need to find reliable and relevant sources that support your
analysis, such as peer-reviewed journal articles, books, reports, or websites. You can use
the search web tool to find some sources on your topic. For example, here are some web
search results for “social media and mental health” 1234. You should evaluate the quality
and credibility of your sources before using them in your paper.
 Create an outline and write a draft. You need to organize your ideas and evidence in a
logical and coherent way. You can use an outline to plan the structure and content of your

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 paper. An APA format analysis paper typically consists of four main sections: title page,
abstract, main body, and references. The main body may include an introduction, a
method section, a results section, a discussion section, and a conclusion. You can use the
Sample papers 4 as a reference for formatting and style. You should write a draft of your
paper using clear and concise language, following the APA Style rules for grammar,
punctuation, and spelling.
 Cite your sources and create a reference list. You need to give credit to the authors of the
sources you use in your paper, both in the text and in the reference list. You can use the
APA Style rules for in-text citations and reference list entries, depending on the type and
number of sources you cite. You can also use the APA Format: Easy Explanations And
Samples 3 as a guide for citation examples. You should use a consistent and accurate
citation style throughout your paper, and avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism.
 Revise and edit your paper. You need to review your paper and make sure it is clear,
coherent, and accurate. You can use the A step-by-step guide for creating and formatting
APA Style student papers 1 as a checklist for revising and editing your paper. You should
check for the following aspects: content, organization, style, format, grammar,
punctuation, spelling, and citations. You can also ask someone else to read your paper
and give you feedback. You should make the necessary changes and improvements to
your paper before submitting it.

A step-by-step guide for creating and formatting APA Style student papers

Learn insider tips that will make creating student papers as simple as possible.
By Hayley Kamin, PhD
The start of the semester is the perfect time to learn how to create and format APA Style
student papers. This article walks through the formatting steps needed to create an APA Style
student paper, starting with a basic setup that applies to the entire paper (margins, font, line
spacing, paragraph alignment and indentation, and page headers). It then covers formatting
for the major sections of a student paper: the title page, the text, tables and figures, and the
reference list. Finally, it concludes by describing how to organize student papers and ways to
improve their quality and presentation.

The guidelines for student paper setup are described and shown using annotated diagrams in
the Student Paper Setup Guide (PDF, 3.40MB) and the A Step-by-Step Guide to APA Style
Student Papers webinar. Chapter 1 of the Concise Guide to APA Style and Chapter 2 of
the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association describe the elements,
format, and organization for student papers. Tables and figures are covered in Chapter 7 of
both books. Information on paper format and tables and figures and a full sample student
paper are also available on the APA Style website.

Basic setup
The guidelines for basic setup apply to the entire paper. Perform these steps when you first
open your document, and then you do not have to worry about them again while writing your
paper. Because these are general aspects of paper formatting, they apply to all APA Style
papers, student or professional. Students should always check with their assigning instructor
or institution for specific guidelines for their papers, which may be different than or in
addition to APA Style guidelines.

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Seventh edition APA Style was designed with modern word-processing programs in mind.
Most default settings in programs such as Academic Writer, Microsoft Word, and Google
Docs already comply with APA Style. This means that, for most paper elements, you do not
have to make any changes to the default settings of your word-processing program. However,
you may need to make a few adjustments before you begin writing.

Margins
Use 1-in. margins on all sides of the page (top, bottom, left, and right). This is usually how
papers are automatically set.

Font
Use a legible font. The default font of your word-processing program is acceptable. Many
sans serif and serif fonts can be used in APA Style, including 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial,
12-point Times New Roman, and 11-point Georgia.

Line spacing
Double-space the entire paper including the title page, block quotations, and the reference
list. This is something you usually must set using the paragraph function of your word-
processing program. But once you do, you will not have to change the spacing for the entirety
of your paper–just double-space everything. Do not add blank lines before or after headings.
Do not add extra spacing between paragraphs. For paper sections with different line spacing,
see the line spacing page.

Paragraph alignment and indentation

Align all paragraphs of text in the body of your paper to the left margin. Leave the right
margin ragged. Do not use full justification. Indent the first line of every paragraph of text
0.5-in. using the tab key or the paragraph-formatting function of your word-processing
program. For paper sections with different alignment and indentation, see the paragraph
alignment and indentation page.

Page numbers
Put a page number in the top right of every page header, including the title page, starting with
page number 1. Use the automatic page-numbering function of your word-processing
program to insert the page number in the top right corner; do not type the page numbers
manually. The page number is the same font and font size as the text of your paper. Student
papers do not require a running head on any page, unless specifically requested by the
instructor.

Title page setup

Title page elements
APA Style has two title page formats: student and professional (for details, see title page
setup). Unless instructed otherwise, students should use the student title page format and
include the following elements, in the order listed, on the title page:
 Paper title.
 Name of each author (also known as the byline).
 Affiliation for each author.
 Course number and name.
 Instructor name.
 Assignment due date.

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  Page number 1 in the top right corner of the page header.
The format for the byline depends on whether the paper has one author, two authors, or three
or more authors.
 When the paper has one author, write the name on its own line (e.g., Jasmine C.
Hernandez).
 When the paper has two authors, write the names on the same line and separate them
with the word “and” (e.g., Upton J. Wang and Natalia Dominguez).
 When the paper has three or more authors, separate the names with commas and
include “and” before the final author’s name (e.g., Malia Mohamed, Jaylen T. Brown,
and Nia L. Ball).
Students have an academic affiliation, which identities where they studied when the paper
was written. Because students working together on a paper are usually in the same class, they
will have one shared affiliation. The affiliation consists of the name of the department and the
name of the college or university, separated by a comma (e.g., Department of Psychology,
George Mason University). The department is that of the course to which the paper is being
submitted, which may be different than the department of the student’s major. Do not include
the location unless it is part of the institution’s name.
Write the course number and name and the instructor name as shown on institutional
materials (e.g., the syllabus). The course number and name are often separated by a colon
(e.g., PST-4510: History and Systems Psychology). Write the assignment due date in the
month, date, and year format used in your country (e.g., Sept. 10, 2020).

Title page line spacing

Double-space the whole title page. Place the paper title three or four lines down from the top
of the page. Add an extra double-spaced blank like between the paper title and the byline.
Then, list the other title page elements on separate lines, without extra lines in between.

Title page alignment

Center all title page elements (except the right-aligned page number in the header).

Title page font

Write the title page using the same font and font size as the rest of your paper. Bold the paper
title. Use standard font (i.e., no bold, no italics) for all other title page elements.

Text setup
Text elements
Repeat the paper title at the top of the first page of text. Begin the paper with an introduction
to provide background on the topic, cite related studies, and contextualize the paper. Use
descriptive headings to identify other sections as needed (e.g., Method, Results, Discussion
for quantitative research papers). Sections and headings vary depending on the paper type and
its complexity. Text can include tables and figures, block quotations, headings, and footnotes.

Text line spacing

Double-space all text, including headings and section labels, paragraphs of text, and block
quotations.

Text alignment
Center the paper title on the first line of the text. Indent the first line of all paragraphs 0.5-in.
Left-align the text. Leave the right margin ragged.

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Block quotation alignment
Indent the whole block quotation 0.5-in. from the left margin. Double-space the block
quotation, the same as other body text. Find more information on the quotations page.

Text font
Use the same font throughout the entire paper. Write body text in standard (nonbold,
nonitalic) font. Bold only headings and section labels. Use italics sparingly, for instance, to
highlight a key term on first use (for more information, see the italics page).

Headings format
For detailed guidance on formatting headings, including headings in the introduction of a
paper, see the headings page and the headings in sample papers.
 Alignment: Center Level 1 headings. Left-align Level 2 and Level 3 headings. Indent
Level 4 and Level 5 headings like a regular paragraph.
 Font: Boldface all headings. Also italicize Level 3 and Level 5 headings. Create
heading styles using your word-processing program (built into AcademicWriter,
available for Word via the sample papers on the APA Style website).

Tables and figures setup

Tables and figures are only included in student papers if needed for the assignment. Tables
and figures share the same elements and layout. See the website for sample tables and sample
figures.

Table elements
Tables include the following four elements:
 Number
 Title
 Body (rows and columns)
 Note (optional if needed to explain elements in the table)

Figure elements
Figures include the following four elements:
 Number
 Title
 Image (chart, graph, etc.)
 Note (optional if needed to explain elements in the figure)

Table line spacing

Double-space the table number and title. Single-, 1.5-, or double-space the table body (adjust
as needed for readability). Double-space the table note.

Figure line spacing

Double-space the figure number and title. The default settings for spacing in figure images is
usually acceptable (but adjust the spacing as needed for readability). Double-space the figure
note.

Table alignment

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Left-align the table number and title. Center column headings. Left-align the table itself and
left-align the leftmost (stub) column. Center data in the table body if it is short or left-align
the data if it is long. Left-align the table note.

Figure alignment
Left-align the figure number and title. Left-align the whole figure image. The default
alignment of the program in which you created your figure is usually acceptable for axis titles
and data labels. Left-align the figure note.

Table font
Bold the table number. Italicize the table title. Use the same font and font size in the table
body as the text of your paper. Italicize the word “Note” at the start of the table note. Write
the note in the same font and font size as the text of your paper.

Figure font
Bold the figure number. Italicize the figure title. Use a sans serif font (e.g., Calibri, Arial) in
the figure image in a size between 8 to 14 points. Italicize the word “Note” at the start of the
figure note. Write the note in the same font and font size as the text of your paper.

Placement of tables and figures

There are two options for the placement of tables and figures in an APA Style paper. The first
option is to place all tables and figures on separate pages after the reference list. The second
option is to embed each table and figure within the text after its first callout. This guide
describes options for the placement of tables and figures embedded in the text. If your
instructor requires tables and figures to be placed at the end of the paper, see the table and
figure guidelines and the sample professional paper.
Call out (mention) the table or figure in the text before embedding it (e.g., write “see Figure
1” or “Table 1 presents”). You can place the table or figure after the callout either at the
bottom of the page, at the top of the next page, or by itself on the next page. Avoid placing
tables and figures in the middle of the page.

Embedding at the bottom of the page

Include a callout to the table or figure in the text before that table or figure. Add a blank
double-spaced line between the text and the table or figure at the bottom of the page.

Embedding at the top of the page

Include a callout to the table in the text on the previous page before that table or figure. The
table or figure then appears at the top of the next page. Add a blank double-spaced line
between the end of the table or figure and the text that follows.

Embedding on its own page

Embed long tables or large figures on their own page if needed. The text continues on the
next page.

Reference list setup

Reference list elements
The reference list consists of the “References” section label and the alphabetical list of
references. View reference examples on the APA Style website. Consult Chapter 10 in both
the Concise Guide and Publication Manual for even more examples.

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Reference list line spacing
Start the reference list at the top of a new page after the text. Double-space the entire
reference list (both within and between entries).

Reference list alignment

Center the “References” label. Apply a hanging indent of 0.5-in. to all reference list entries.
Create the hanging indent using your word-processing program; do not manually hit the enter
and tab keys.

Reference list font

Bold the “References” label at the top of the first page of references. Use italics within
reference list entries on either the title (e.g., webpages, books, reports) or on the source (e.g.,
journal articles, edited book chapters).

Final checks
Check page order
 Start each section on a new page.
 Arrange pages in the following order:
 Title page (page 1).
 Text (starts on page 2).
 Reference list (starts on a new page after the text).

Check headings
 Check that headings accurately reflect the content in each section.
 Start each main section with a Level 1 heading.
 Use Level 2 headings for subsections of the introduction.
 Use the same level of heading for sections of equal importance.
 Avoid having only one subsection within a section (have two or more, or none).

Check assignment instructions

 Remember that instructors’ guidelines supersede APA Style.
 Students should check their assignment guidelines or rubric for specific content to
include in their papers and to make sure they are meeting assignment requirements.

Tips for better writing

 Ask for feedback on your paper from a classmate, writing centre tutor, or instructor.
 Budget time to implement suggestions.
 Use spell-check and grammar-check to identify potential errors, and then manually
check those flagged.
 Proofread the paper by reading it slowly and carefully aloud to yourself.
 Consult your university writing centre if you need extra help.

About the author

Hayley S. Kamin, PhD, is a content development manager with the APA Style
team of the American Psychological Association.