CMGT/400 - Penetration Testing Plan

APA (6th ed.) Format and Style Checklist

General Guidelines

( Font

Style must be Times New Roman. Font size is 12-pt.

( Running Heads

Running heads must include a maximum of 50 characters, including punctuation and spaces. Type the page header flush left using capital letters at the top of every page (p. 229, 8.03; sample paper, p. 41).

Note: Page headers no longer exist in the 6th edition and now only running heads are needed. Note the running head is different on the title page than on the other pages, which will necessitate the use of a section break between the title page and the remainder of the document.

Title Page

( Double-space, use upper and lowercase, include a running head, and number as page 1. APA contents of title page are listed on pp. 23-25. Sample is on p. 41.

Main Body of the Text

( Margins

All four sides must be 1 in., per University of Phoenix guideline. (APA states at least 1 in., p. 229, 8.03). Make the right margin ragged.

( Page Numbers

The 6th edition of the APA Publication Manual says to “use the automatic functions of your word-processing program to generate headers and page numbers for your file” (p. 230). (See sample papers beginning on p. 41.)

( Abstract

Use only for University of Phoenix papers if required by the assignment. When assigned, use APA guidelines (pp. 25-27, 2.04; see sample on p. 41).

( Title of Paper

Type in upper and lowercase letters, center on first page of text, double-space, and then start text (see sample on p. 41).

( Headings

Headings indicate the organization of the paper and establish importance. Match headings to the complexity of the paper. Use at least Level 1 to organize a paper. Title of paper (centered upper and lowercase) on first page is not considered a separate heading level. If the paper requires two headings, use Levels 1 and 2; if three headings are required, use Levels 1, 2, and 3, etc. (pp. 62-63, 3.02-3.03). See manuscript examples, pp. 41-59.

( Justification

Use flush-left style, leaving the right margin ragged. Do not hyphenate words at the end of the line (p. 229, 8.03).

( Paragraphs

Indent paragraphs 5-7 spaces or 1/2 in. Use the tab key for consistency (p. 229, 8.03). Paragraphs should contain one topic. Do not use one-sentence paragraphs or lengthy paragraphs (p. 68).

( Punctuation

Two spaces should be used after punctuation marks at the end of sentences, and one space should follow commas, colons, semicolons, all parts of a reference, and initials in a person’s name. Uses of punctuation can be found on pp. 87-96, 4.01-4.11.

( Abbreviations

Use of abbreviations is covered on pp. 103-104, 3.20. The first time, spell out the full name (p. 104, 3.21). Some abbreviations are accepted as words (p. 105, 3.22).

( Capitalization Rules

General principles of capitalization can be found on pp. 106-111, 4.22-4.30.

( Seriation

Enumerate elements in a series to prevent misreading or clarify the sequence, particularly if lengthy or complex (see pp. 63-65, 3.04).

( Series Within a Paragraph or Sentence

Identify elements by lowercase letters. The use of semicolons, commas, or colons in a series can be found on p. 64. Example 1: The three choices were (a) a blue and white flag, (b) a red and white flag, and (c) a blue and red flag. Example 2: The three choices were (a) a red, white, and blue flag; (b) a red, white, and green flag; and (c) a red and white flag.

( Series in Separate Paragraphs, Such as Itemized Conclusions or Lengthy Steps

Includes steps in a procedure using Arabic numerals (pp. 63-64, 3.04).

( Series Without Implying an Ordinal Position

New to the 6th edition Publication Manual is the use of bulleted lists (pp. 64-65, 3.04).

( Citation of References in Text

General guidelines for reference citations can be found on pp. 174-179, 6.11-6.21.

( When Paraphrasing or Referring to an Author’s Work

Cite author(s) and year (pp. 174-178, 6.11-6.16; p. 171, 6.03) Example: (Smith, 1997).

( When Quoting Directly

Cite author(s), year, and page number (p. 179, 6.19). Example: Smith (1997) said, “Take me home to Kansas” (p. 2) or The organization is the “largest in the Western Hemisphere” (Smith, 1997, p. 2). For quotations of 40 or more words, use block quotations (p. 171). If referencing electronic media, cite the paragraph number (pp. 171-172, 6.05).

( Citing a Secondary Source

Use infrequently; however, if you do not have the primary source, see p. 178, 6.17.

Example: Orem (as cited in Smith, 1997).

( Citing Personal Communications or Nonpermanently Archived Electronic Materials, such as Your Instructor’s Lectures, etc.

General guidelines can be found on p. 179, 6.20.

Example: A. C. Smith (personal communication, February 14, 1997) Example: F. J. Turner (RES 711, week 3 lecture, March 24, 2004) [This sounds like a form of personal communication that is recoverable, as mentioned on p. 179, which refers the learner to section 7.10]

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Reference List

( Start on a new page, titled Reference(s), centered in upper- and lowercase letters (p. 37, 2.11).

( Alphabetize by author’s last name, double-space, and use a hanging indent (1st line of each entry flush left, indent subsequent lines 5-7 spaces or .5 in., p. 37, 2.11, p. 180, p. 181, 6.25).

( Citation in text must specifically match reference page (p. 174). Follow examples on pages 198-224, 7.01-A7.07.

( Note the new citation styles in the 6th edition, paying particular attention to subsequent citations in text (pp. 174-175, 6.11-6.12; Table 6.1)

( University of Phoenix guidelines require more than one reference unless the paper is an article analysis. The number and variety of references should match the complexity of assignment. Use scholarly journals unless otherwise instructed by the faculty member. Titles of books, periodicals, and microfilm publications are italicized.

Refer to examples of references that are frequently troublesome (see complete list of references in table of contents, pp. 193-198).