The final paper represents the completion and presentation of the original piece of research you have been
working on throughout the course of the semester. Now is the time to put all the pieces together. Your paper
should be no less than 12 pages and no more than 18 pages in length (including reference and appendices) and
be presented in the style of a professional APA journal article. You should be reviewing the Purdue Owl website
located here
(https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.htm
(Links to an external site.)) and found on Canvas. This means it should have the following sections:
Abstract — The abstract should be between 150-250 words in length. The abstract stands alone as the second
page of your paper and is not indented but should be double-spaced. It summarizes the main points of your
research, including the research question, method, central results and implications. It should be written last, after
you have completed the rest of your paper. Be sure to include keywords. For more information see:
http://writingcommons.org/open-text/writing-processes/format/apa-format/1100-formatting-the-abstract-page-apasp-770492217 (Links to an external site.)
Introduction — This section is effectively your literature review. It introduces the topic you are researching, cites
and discusses the relevant research that has already been conducted on the topic/question, and states the
question you are trying to answer. Imagine it like a funnel, which starts broadly but then focuses more specifically
culminating in a research question or hypothesis.