Note: The explanatory text in this paper template is provided to help you understand the different parts of an APA paper. After reading the information, please delete it, and use the paper as a template for your own papers. In the various areas of the paper, such as the titles, you may wish to edit the text with your own information for your paper instead of deleting it, in order to keep the correct format. Save this template in a file for future use and information.
Page 1 begins on the cover page. The entire document should be double-spaced, have 1-inch margins on all sides, and use 12-point, Times New Roman font.
Full Title of Your Paper
Learner’s Full Name
Capella University
Course Number and Name
Instructor Name
Month Year
APA Style Paper Template: A Resource for Academic Writing
(Please change the titles in this document to fit your paper.)
American Psychological Association (APA) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. APA style is used when writing papers in the psychology programs offered at Capella University. This document serves as an APA style template for you to use when writing your own papers, as well as a resource containing valuable information that can be used when writing academic papers. For more information on APA style, refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020).
In the first section of this paper, the author demonstrates how an introduction effectively introduces the reader to the topic of the paper. In APA style, an introduction never gets a heading. For example, this section does not begin with a heading titled “Introduction,” unlike the following section, which is titled “Writing an Effective Introduction.” The following section will explain in greater detail a model that can be used to effectively write an introduction in an academic paper. The remaining sections of the paper will continue to address APA style and effective writing concepts including section headings, organizing information, the MEAL plan, the conclusion, and the reference list.
Writing an Effective Introduction
An effective introduction often consists of four main components, including (a) the position statement, thesis, or hypothesis, which describes the author’s main position; (b) the purpose, which outlines the objective of the paper; (c) the background, which contains general information needed to understand the content of the paper; and (d) the approach, which is the process or methodology the author uses to achieve the purpose of the paper. This information will help readers understand what will be discussed in the paper. It can also serve as a tool to grab the reader’s attention. Authors may choose to briefly reference sources that will be identified later in the paper, as in this example (APA, 2020; APA, 2010; Walker, 2008).
In an introduction, the writer often presents something of interest to capture the reader’s attention and introduce the issue. Adding an obvious statement of purpose helps the reader know what to expect while helping the writer to focus and stay on task. For example, this paper will address several components necessary to effectively write an academic paper, including (a) how to write an introduction, (b) how to write effective paragraphs using the MEAL plan, and (c) how to properly use APA style.
Level 1 Section Heading Is Centered, Bold, Upper, and Lowercase
Using section headings is an effective method of organizing an academic paper. Section headings can significantly improve the quality of a paper. This is accomplished because section headings help both the reader and the author with the organization of ideas and flow of the work.
Level 2 Section Heading is Flush Left, Bold, Upper, and Lowercase
The heading style recommended by APA consists of five levels (APA, 2020). This document contains two levels to demonstrate how headings are structured according to APA style. Immediately before the previous paragraph, a Level 1 Section Heading was used. That section heading describes how a Level 1 Heading should be written, which is centered and bold, using upper- and lowercase letters. For another example, see the section heading “Writing an Effective Introduction,” on page 3 of this document. A Level 2 heading is used when there are subcategories under a Level 1 topic. For example, you may have a Level 1 heading of Theories, and then subcategories (Level 2 sections) of Behavioral Theory, Cognitive Theory, and Psychodynamic Theory. You made not always need Level 2 headings in your work.
Section Headings Help the Reader
Section headings serve multiple purposes, including (a) helping the reader understand what is being addressed in each section, (b) helping readers, who may be more likely to maintain an interest in the paper, and (c) helping readers choose what they want to read. For example, if the reader of this document wants to learn more about writing an effective introduction, the previous section heading clearly states that is where information can be found. When subtopics are needed to explain concepts in greater detail, different levels of headings are used according to APA style.
Section Headings Help the Author
Section headings do not only help the reader but also can help the author organize the document during the writing process. Section headings can help arrange topics in a logical order, and they can help an author manage the length of the paper. In addition to an effective introduction and the use of section headings, each paragraph of an academic paper can be written in a manner that helps the reader stay engaged. Capella University promotes the use of the MEAL plan to serve this purpose.
The MEAL Plan
The MEAL plan is a model used by Capella University to help learners effectively compose academic discussions and papers. Each component of the MEAL plan is critical to writing an effective paragraph. The acronym MEAL is based on four components of a paragraph (M = Main point, E = Evidence or Example, A = Analysis, and L = Link). The following section includes a detailed description and examples of each component of the MEAL plan.
When writing the content sections of an academic paper (as opposed to the introduction or conclusion sections), the MEAL plan can be an effective model for designing each paragraph. A paragraph begins with a description of the main point, which is represented by the letter “M” of the MEAL plan. For example, the first sentence of this paragraph clearly states that the main point is a discussion of the MEAL plan. Once the main point has been made, evidence and examples are provided.
The second component of a paragraph contains evidence or examples, which are represented by the letter “E” in the MEAL plan. An example of this component is actually this sentence, which provides an example of an example. Evidence can be in the form of expert-opinion and findings from research. For example, evidence shows that plagiarism can occur even when it is not intended if sources are not properly cited (Marsh et al., 1997; Walker, 2008). The previous sentence provides evidence supporting why evidence is used in a paragraph.
Analysis, which is represented by the letter “A” of the MEAL plan, should be based on the author’s interpretation of the evidence. An effective analysis might include a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments, as well as the author’s interpretations of the evidence and examples. If a quote is used, the author should provide an analysis of the quote and the specific point it makes for the author’s position. Without an analysis, the reader might not understand why the author discussed the information that the reader just read. For example, the previous sentence is an analysis by the author of why an analysis is performed when writing paragraphs in academic papers. Even with the first three elements of the MEAL plan, it would not be complete without the final component.
The letter “L” of the MEAL plan refers to information that links the current and the subsequent paragraphs. The link helps the reader understand what will be discussed in the next paragraph. It summarizes the author’s reasoning and shows how the paragraph fits together and leads (that is, links) to the next section of the paper. For example, this sentence might explain that once the MEAL plan has been effectively used when writing the body of an academic paper, the final section is the summary and conclusion section.
Summary and Conclusion
A summary and conclusion section, which can also be the discussion section of an APA-style paper, is the final opportunity for the author to make a lasting impression on the reader. The author can begin by restating positions and summarizing the most important points that have been presented in the paper. It is not a place to introduce new information that was not presented previously in the paper. For example, this paper was written to demonstrate to readers how to effectively use APA style when writing academic papers. Various components of an APA-style paper that were discussed or displayed in the form of examples include a title page, introduction section, levels of section headings and their use, in-text citations, the MEAL plan, a conclusion, and the references list.
References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
American Psychological Association. (2010). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx
Marsh, R. L., Landau, J. D., & Hicks, J. L. (1997). Contributions of inadequate source monitoring to unconscious plagiarism during idea generation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 23(4), 886–897. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.23.4.886
Walker, A. L. (2008). Preventing unintentional plagiarism: A method for strengthening paraphrasing skills. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 35(4), 387–395. http://search.proquest.com/docview/213904438?accountid=27965
Always begin a reference list on a new page. Use a hanging indent after the first line of each reference. The reference list is in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. A reference list contains only sources that are cited in the body of the paper, and all sources cited in the body of the paper must be contained in the reference list.
When a digital object identifier (DOI) is available for a journal article, it should be placed at the end of the citation. If a DOI is not available, a uniform resource locator (URL) should be used. The Marsh, Landau, and Hicks (1997) reference is an example of how to cite a source using a DOI. The Walker (2008) reference is an example of how to cite a source using a URL.
REMINDER: Delete all unneeded placeholder text from your paper. This may include unnecessary headings and explanatory content such as the paragraphs above.
In a minimum of seven pages, discuss the five leadership domains assessed by the ACHE assessment tool. Then, reflect on your own leadership strengths and weaknesses and the qualities of a leader you have and those you have an opportunity to develop. Create a personal development plan with a timeline for developing your leadership skills.
Introduction
Before one can begin to lead other people, one must first understand oneself, especially one’s strengths and weaknesses. For this assessment, you will have an opportunity to explore the concept of competency-based reflection. The ACHE Healthcare Executive 2021 Competencies Assessment Tool [PDF] will be a key component towards completing your assessment. This tool was developed from job analysis surveys conducted by the Healthcare Leadership Alliance (HLA), which is comprised of six member organizations, including the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a professional organization of healthcare leaders. The ACHE competencies, along with your strengths and weaknesses, will be the foundation of this assessment.
Preparation
Before you can begin to lead others, you must first understand yourself. You must understand your strengths so you can further develop those talents, and you must also understand your weaknesses so you can identify areas to improve. Both strengths and weaknesses should be included in a personal development plan.
The ACHE healthcare executive 2021 competencies assessment tool [PDF] is particularly important for this assessment. Complete the assessment tool if you haven’t completed it already, review the results, then analyze the results, and develop a personal leadership plan to set goals for the future.
The assessment tool is broken into five domains:
• Communication and relationship management
• Leadership
• Professionalism
• Knowledge of the healthcare environment
• Business skills and knowledge
Instructions
This assessment has two parts:
Use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] to write a 7–10 page paper that responds to the following:
PART 1: LEADERSHIP SELF-REFLECTION
• Discuss the five leadership domains assessed by the ACHE assessment tool.
• Determine strategies to develop your identified strengths and weaknesses for each of the five domains.
o For each of the five domains, summarize both your strengths and your weaknesses.
o For each domain, identify at least one resource you can use immediately to further develop your skills, for a total of five resources.
• Describe qualities needed by leaders.
• Analyze the qualities of a leader you have and the ones you need to develop.
o From your readings and research, define the primary qualities needed by leaders and apply those qualities to your personal assessment.
o Describe which qualities you possess and which qualities present opportunities for improvement.
PART 2: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
1. Create a 1-year personal development plan.
• This plan should synthesize your assessment results with research you have completed.
• Identify at least three things you would like to work on over the next year.
2. Develop a timeline for your personal development plan with specific metrics to measure your progress.
One potential way to approach this part is to create a table to break the three goals into actionable steps after you have identified three things that you would like to work on. Your table should have the following four columns.
• First column: Overall goals.
• Second column: All the steps necessary to reach each goal.
• Third column: How you will measure the progress toward each step.
• Fourth column: The deadline for completing the steps.
An example of this table could be like this (your table will include three goals and each goal can have more than two steps):
Goal Steps Measure Deadline
Work-life balance. Leave work by 5 p.m. daily. Time left daily. 1-1-20XX
Do not check email from home. Number of times email is checked from home. 3-1-20XX
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Length: A minimum of seven double-spaced pages, not including title and reference pages.
• Font and font size: Arial, 12 point.
• References: Cite at least three references from peer-reviewed journals, in addition to your textbook.
• Format: Use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] to write your paper using current APA style and formatting for the paper as well as for references and citations. Refer to Evidence and APA on Campus for more information. You may use first person for the portions of this paper where it is appropriate to do so.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
• Competency 1: Assess one’s leadership style in a professional health care setting.
o Discuss the five leadership domains assessed by the ACHE assessment tool.
o Determine strategies to develop the identified strengths and weaknesses for each of the five leadership domains.
o Describe qualities needed by leaders.
o Analyze personal leadership qualities and the ones that need development.
o Create a one-year personal development plan.
o Develop a timeline for a personal development plan.
• Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with the expectations for health care professionals.
o Adhere to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
o Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
