APA research paper outline: format, template, and examples

An APA research paper outline is a planning tool. It helps structure ideas and sources to match your research question or thesis. Do not be tempted to skip the outline if it’s not a mandatory requirement. This guide will help you make sense of the outline benefits and walk you through the process.

What is an APA research paper outline?

The research paper outline APA students commonly use is a structured list of major sections and subpoints of a future paper. It presents the main points and the project's logical flow, referencing key evidence. APA 7 does not demand an outline, so there are no hard rules for formatting it, but we’ll go over the general requirements to help you plan.

Why students use an outline before drafting

Many students prefer to skip the planning stage, but it’s always a mistake. Because an outline can:

• Ensure your paper is consistent and cohesive, matching the thesis statement
• Help speed up the writing process, guiding each paragraph
• Make revision less painful, eliminating the need to delete full passages

Besides, some professors require you to submit an outline before you start writing. But even if yours doesn’t, outlining saves more time than it takes, so DO NOT skip it. It’s one of the critical steps we mention in our guide on how to write an APA paper.

APA outline vs APA research paper structure

The generic structure is the same for (nearly) all papers. It’s a whole made up of three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. For a research paper, you can zoom in on the body parts and split the main section into literature review, methodology, results, and discussion. Such a structure is hardly enough to help you write the paper.

An APA outline is derived from this structure, but it’s specific to your paper. Besides, it can delve deeper into the nitty-gritty of each paragraph, rather than remain a high-level view of the whole project.

APA research paper outline format

The APA style guide does not prescribe specific rules for formatting outlines, so you should follow the general recommendations.

Basic APA formatting rules for student papers

Here’s a brief reminder of basic APA formatting guidelines that also apply to the outline.

Element	Formatting
Typeface and font size	Times New Roman 12 pt or Arial 11 pt
Spacing	Double spacing
Margins	1 inch on all sides
Title	Centered, bold, Title Case
Page numbers	Right-aligned, top of the page

If you don’t need to submit your outline for grading, you can skip the formatting. Still, it’s good to get into the habit of formatting everything you write properly. It’ll make the final formatting easier.

APA heading levels and outline hierarchy

APA 7 offers 5 heading levels, but you don’t have to use them all:

Heading level	Formatting
Level 1	Centered, bold, title case
Level 2	Flush left, bold, title case
Level 3	Flush left, bold, italic, title case
Level 4	Indented, bold, title case with a period at the end
Level 5	Indented, bold, italic, title case with a period at the end

You also don’t have to apply this formatting to your outline, but you should know that your largest sections (Introduction, Conclusion, etc.) will be Level 1, subsections will be Level 2, and so on. By the way, if you’re curious about the difference between APA vs MLA headings, we cover them in a separate post.

Topic outline vs full-sentence outline vs decimal outline

APA does not mandate a specific outline format, so you’re free to choose among the three options:

• A topic outline uses short phrases instead of full sentences at all heading levels. It’s the fastest and easiest approach, especially if you’re new to outlining.
• A full-sentence outline uses complete sentences you can later paste into your paper to use as topic sentences. This approach makes you think harder and takes longer because you have to formulate each point carefully. But it saves time in the long run.
• A decimal outline uses decimal numbering (Arabic numerals with periods) instead of Roman numerals and letters to indicate different heading levels. This format works for both topic and full-sentence outlines. It’s often easier to navigate, especially when you use all five heading levels.

Choose your preferred style upfront and stick to it. And remember to maintain parallel structure and consistent hierarchy to avoid confusion. Or reach out to our write my paper for me service for help if you’re still lost.

How to write an APA research paper outline step by step

You can skip straight to the APA paper outline template and examples. But if you want to understand how to write APA paper and develop it, it can be ready in just a few steps.

Choose and narrow your research topic

If you have a free choice of a topic, make sure it’s relevant and narrow enough. For example, instead of writing about “Social media”, focus on how it affects sleep quality among first-year college students. You can add more “filters” to narrow the topic by focusing on a specific population, period, quality, etc.

Before you start writing, do a quick Google Scholar search to make sure there’s enough material for you to work with. And run your topic by your professor. Once you receive their approval, take the next step.

Write a clear thesis statement or research question

Distill the essence of your research paper into a single sentence. It can be a thesis statement or a research question. You need to have it ready before outlining and writing to keep your project focused and avoid unnecessary sidetracks. Remember to put your thesis in the introduction and your APA abstract, add a little context, and your opening plan is ready.

Organize the main sections of your paper

Start simple with the major sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. Then divide the main body into smaller chunks, depending on your study type. Empirical papers must include a mandatory methodology section, whereas non-empirical studies may use thematic sections. These major parts will all be level-1 headings in your outline and in the final paper. Skip to the template below to see how they fit together.

Add supporting points, evidence, and source notes

At this point, add level-2 and level-3 headings to your major sections to flesh them out. The level of detail depends on your preferences. For example, you can write out topic sentences for every major paragraph or group several together under one outline heading.

It’s a good idea to add additional info to your outline. For instance, add reference data (author, date, etc.) to major points you’ll make in a literature review. You can also note figures and tables you plan to borrow or create.

Review the outline for flow, balance, and clarity

Take a break and try to look at your outline with fresh eyes.

• Does it make sense?
• Do the sections flow logically?
• Is there any evidence missing?
• Is every section connected to your thesis or research question?

Now is the time to make changes and adjust your outline before you get down to writing. You may decide to split overlong sections or combine several shorter ones. Either way, it’s easier to achieve at the planning stage than after you’ve finished the first draft.

APA research paper outline template

Here is a generic APA outline template for an empirical research paper. You can adjust it by adding, removing, or renaming sections to match your assignment. You can adjust it by adding or removing sections, as long as you preserve the paper's overall flow.

1. Introduction
   1. Broad background/context
   2. Topic focus
   3. Topic’s significance
   4. Thesis statement/research question
   5. Brief paper roadmap
2. Literature review
   1. Major theories/models
   2. Key empirical findings
   3. Gaps in knowledge
   4. Research question tie-in
3. Methodology
   1. Data sources
   2. Instruments
   3. Procedures
   4. Ethical considerations
   5. Data analysis methodology
4. Results
   1. Observation findings
   2. Statistics, significance, etc.
   3. Tables/figures
5. Discussion
   1. Results interpretation
   2. Theoretical/practical implications
   3. Study limitations
   4. Future research potential
6. Conclusion
   1. Thesis statement/research question +main finding
   2. Main points summary
   3. Final thoughts/call to action
7. References

APA research paper outline example

To help put the template above into perspective, we’ve prepared three samples featuring the same APA research paper example topic: the relationship between social media use and sleep quality among college students.

Sample topic outline

1. Introduction
   1. College students’ low sleep quality
   2. Increase in late-night scrolling
   3. Thesis: Nighttime scrolling is associated with shorter sleep duration and lower academic performance among first-year college students.
2. Literature review
   1. Circadian rhythms and screen time
   2. Emotional response to social media
   3. Sleep duration and cognitive performance
3. Methodology
   1. Survey of first-year students
   2. Measuring sleep duration, social media timing, GPA
4. Results
   1. Duration of late-night social media use
   2. Sleep duration
   3. Relationship between sleep quality and GPA
5. Discussion
   1. Mechanisms linking social media and sleep quality
   2. Comparison with existing studies
   3. Implications for campus orientation programs
   4. Limitations of the study (sample size, etc.)
6. Conclusion
   1. Summary
   2. Recommendations for a digital curfew among college students

Sample full-sentence outline

1. Introduction
   1. First-year students report sleep deprivation.
   2. Many students spend more time on social media at night.
   3. Thesis: Nighttime scrolling is associated with shorter sleep duration and lower academic performance among first-year college students.
2. Literature review
   1. Screen exposure before bedtime delays sleep onset and reduces sleep quality.
   2. Studies establish a relationship between sleep quality and academic performance.
3. Methodology
   1. The sample size will include 150 first-year college students.
   2. Participants will complete an online survey to measure social media use, sleep duration, and GPA.
   3. Regression and correlation analysis will be used to identify relationships between variables.
4. Results
   1. First-year students' survey results show the prevalence of late-night social media use.
   2. Correlation analysis will check the relationship between social media use and sleep duration.
   3. Regression models will test whether late-night scrolling affects GPA.
5. Discussion
   1. The findings will help formulate theories about social media's impact on academic performance.
   2. The study’s limitations include small sample size and self-reported data.
   3. Suggestions will include interventions to encourage healthier nighttime technology use.
6. Conclusion
   1. Summary of the relationship between late-night social media use, sleep quality, and GPA.
   2. The conclusion will include suggestions for the practical steps to improve sleep quality and academic outcomes.

Sample decimal outline

1. Introduction
   1. College students’ low sleep quality
   2. Increase in late-night scrolling
   3. Thesis: Nighttime scrolling is associated with shorter sleep duration and lower academic performance among first-year college students.
2. Literature review
   1. Circadian rhythms and screen time
      1. Blue light effects
      2. Cognitive/emotional arousal
   2. Emotional response to social media
   3. Sleep duration and cognitive performance
3. Methodology
   1. Survey of first-year students
   2. Measurement methodology
      1. Sleep duration
      2. Social media timing
      3. GPA
4. Results
   1. Duration of late-night social media use
   2. Sleep duration
   3. Relationship between sleep quality and GPA
5. Discussion
   1. Mechanisms linking social media and sleep quality
   2. Comparison with existing studies
   3. Implications for campus orientation programs
   4. Limitations of the study (sample size, etc.)
6. Conclusion
   1. Summary
   2. Recommendations for a digital curfew among college students

If you still have trouble planning your project, our APA paper writing service is always happy to help. Contact our support team to learn more or place your order right away.

FAQ

What should an APA research paper outline include?

The major sections include: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and references.

Does APA require a research paper outline?

No, the formatting guidelines do not require an outline, but your instructor may ask you to submit it for grading anyway. Even if it’s not required, an outline is critical for making your paper cohesive and consistent.

What is the correct APA outline format?

APA does not require one specific outline format. You may use Roman numerals and letters or a decimal numbering system, as long as the hierarchy and formatting remain consistent. You can also use Arabic numerals separated by periods (1.1, 2.4.6, etc.)

How many levels should an APA outline have?

An outline may include as many levels as needed, but two or three levels are usually enough for most student papers.

Is an APA outline the same as an APA research paper?

No, an outline is just a plan or a blueprint. A full research paper is a finished manuscript.