Forms of Writing

Undergraduate Writing

Undergraduate students in Saint Mary's University's School of Professional Programs will follow APA style as described in the Writing Center booklet, Introduction to the APA. The booklet, which is based on the APA's new 6th edition manual, contains a section explaining how to use Microsoft Word 2007 to support APA style. A print version of the booklet will be available at the University bookstore later in the semester. In the meantime, you can use the online version with its searchable Table of Contents.

Why not just use the APA manual?
You may use the APA manual if you wish, and some students chose to do so. The Writing Center will gladly help you with APA questions.

Why do I need a writing guide at all?

Using a consistent style helps us read and understand each other's writing because the formats and conventions are familiar from paper to paper. We all punctuate the same way; we use headings the same way; we cite sources the same way, and so on. Such standards make academic discourse easier to follow because we don't have to figure out the rules every time we pick up a new paper. APA style was designed to support ethical research, clear and critical thinking, and socially sensitive presentation of ideas.

Writing Resources
Required Stylebook for Professional Programs Search the index Click image to download booklet for printing. Set printer for double-sided. Note that the booklet is lengthy (70 pages) and can take some time to download and print.
APA Templates The templates below are already formatted in APA style. For a quick start to an APA paper, open a template and save it as a document of your own under a new filename.
General Academic Paper	Includes title page, 3 levels of heading, reference page.
Capstone Paper	Coming soon