Section 2: The Basics

How Should Your Paper Look?

Sample Paper

• All papers need a title. Include the title centered at the top of the first page, right below the header.
• Type or print on one side of standard 8.5 x 11 inch paper.
• Double-space ALL lines of the paper, including the heading and the title.
• Use either a ten or twelve point font size.
• Do not include a title page unless specifically requested by the instructor.
• Use a heading located on the left side of your first page.
• Use a header that includes your last name and the page number in the upper right-hand corner.

• The right-hand margin should not be justified.
• Set ALL margins to 1 inch.
• Indent the first word of each paragraph one-half inch.

Paragraph Length

• A paragraph should have at least two sentences.
• When a paragraph exceeds five or six sentences, think about subdividing it.
• Paragraphs in the body of the paper should be approximately the same length.