Research Paper Format

Research paper format may vary depending upon the instructions of the teacher and the subject. If your instructor has not given you any guidelines with reference to your research paper format, then you can safely use the following general research paper format.

While abiding by the general research paper format, place the contents of the paper in the following order: title page, paper abstract, outline or table of contents, list of illustrations, the text of the paper, footnotes or endnotes, bibliography and index.

Create a title page by typing the title of your paper in the center of the page. This should be followed by your name, your instructor's name, the title of the course and the date. Each entry should be on a new line.

Write the abstract on a separate page.

Create an outline for your research paper and use it later to build up the table of contents.

List illustrations on a separate page. Write down the name and page number of all illustrations included in your paper.

It is essential to create an index while employing the general research paper format. On a separate page or pages, list all major topics, citations, names and references that appear in your paper, along with the page number on which each reference occurs. Do this in alphabetical order

Add page numbers in the upper right-hand corner of each page, excluding the title page.

If you intend to use the general research paper format, remember to seek your instructor’s permission.