WITHOUT A TITLE PAGE
         A research paper does not need a title page unless it contains an outline or other prefatory material.  To set up the opening page of a research paper without a title page, follow the directions here.  Begin one inch from the top of the first page and flush with the one inch left margin.  Type your name, your instructor’s name, the course title, and the date on separate lines, double-spacing between the lines.  Double-space again and center the title.  Double-space again between the title and the first line of the text.  Do not underline the title, put it in quotation marks, type it in all capital letters, or type it in a larger font.  Follow the rules for capitalization and underline only the words that you would underline in the text.  See sample V. 1.

Page Numbers Without a Title Page
         Number all pages consecutively throughout the manuscript, including the Works Cited page, in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right one inch margin.  Type your last name before the page number.  Word processors with automatic page numbering will save you the time and effort of numbering every page.  Do not use the abbreviation p. before a page number, add a period, a hyphen, or any other mark or symbol.  Position the first line of text one inch from the top of the page. The opening page does have a number.  See sample V. 1.
 

WITH A TITLE PAGE
        If a research paper contains an outline or other prefatory material, it should also contain a title page.  Even if it does not contain an outline, some instructors may require a separate title page.  If you are writing a title page, follow the directions here.  See sample V. 3.

1.  Provide balanced, even margins for all sides of the title page.  All material should be centered on the page.
2. Start with the title.   Use capitals and lowercase letters without underlining or italicizing and without quotation
marks.  Published works that appear as part of your title do require underlining or quotation marks.  Double-space the title as needed.
3.  Place the word “by” below the title, approximately in the center of the page (both horizontally and vertically). Place your full name next on a separate line.
4.  Near the bottom of the page, provide the following information centered and double-spaced:

   -the course title
   -the instructor’s name
   -the date, with the number first, then the month and year, and no intervening punctuation.

Page Numbers With a Title Page
         Number all pages consecutively throughout the manuscript, including the Works Cited page, in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right one inch margin.  Type your last name before the page number.  Word processors with automatic page numbering will save you the time and effort of numbering every page.  Do not use the abbreviation p. before a page number, add a period, a hyphen, or any other mark or symbol.  Position the first line of text one inch from the top of the page.  See sample V. 5.
Reminder:  The first page of a research paper with a title page does include the student’s last name, a page number, and title.
 

Outline Page

  Include an outline only if required.  Do not number the outline page.

Text of the Paper

1. Text should be typed or word processed if possible.  If not, text should be written in cursive in blue or black ink.  Use one side of the paper only.
2. Typed papers are to be double-spaced; hand-written papers may be single-spaced at the discretion of the instructor.
3. Use one inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides of all pages, unless otherwise specified by instructor.
4. The introduction, body, and conclusion should be typed with continuous paragraphing, without subdivisions or sub-headings.
5. Do not write "The End.”