ASA Style Paper | Complete Student Guide

I get it ASA Style Paper formatting is stressful If you’re staring at a blank document and a professor’s rubric that says “ASA style,” you’re not alone.

Formatting and citing correctly feels boring — but small mistakes cost marks. This guide gives a calm, exact, and actionable roadmap for writing a high-quality asa style paper that meets instructor expectations and improves your grade.

You’ll get concrete examples, a ready-to-use template, and grading-friendly checklists.

What is ASA Citation Format?

ASA uses an author-date, parenthetical in-text citation system. In text you normally include the author’s last name and year; for direct quotes add page numbers after a colon. The full bibliographic entries go on a final References page, alphabetized and with a hanging indent.

Manuscript & Paper Formatting Guidelines

Follow these baseline ASA paper formatting guidelines unless your instructor says otherwise:

• Font: 12-point Times New Roman (or Times) is standard.
• Spacing: Double-space all text, including the References page.
• Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides (some guides list 1¼” — check course instructions).
• Page numbers: Number pages in the upper right (or as your instructor requires).
• Paragraphs: Indent first line of each paragraph (no extra line between paragraphs).
• Title page: See next section for full ASA title page format.

If your course has an ASA style template, always use instructor guidance over generic web guides.

ASA Title Page Format — What to Include

An ASA title page usually includes:

1. Full title (concise, no more than ~12–15 words).
2. Author name(s) and institutional affiliation.
3. Course, instructor, and due date (if required).
4. Word count (optional but sometimes requested).
5. A running head or short title (if instructor/journal asks).

Place these centered and double-spaced on one page. Don’t use bold or underline for the title unless the instructor asks. Some instructors ask for author note/contact info as a footnote on the title page. Always verify with your syllabus.

In-Text Examples — ASA in-Text Citation Examples

Use author-date parenthetical citations or signal phrases. Examples:

• Parenthetical (paraphrase)
• Parenthetical (quote with page)
• Narrative
• Two authors
• Three or more authors
• Multiple sources in same parentheses

Note: page numbers follow a colon with no space before the number. These conventions are core to how to cite in ASA style.

Reference List Format — ASA Reference List Format (Examples)

Start a new page titled References. Entries are alphabetical by author’s last name, double-spaced, with a hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented).

Examples (exact formatting matters):

Book (single author)
Smith, John. 2016. Social Change and Policy. New York, NY: Routledge.

Journal article (print or with DOI)
Garcia, Ana L. 2020. “Community Networks and Urban Mobility.” Urban Studies 56(4):451–72. doi:10.1177/004209802091.

Chapter in edited volume
Lee, Mira. 2019. “Migration and Family Structure.” Pp. 77–92 in Migration Studies Today, edited by H. Patel. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Online source
National Research Council. 2018. Civic Data and Policy. Retrieved January 8, 2024.

If a DOI exists, include it; if you use a URL, include retrieval date if the content is likely to change. Clear, consistent reference entries are a top point-saver when instructors grade.

ASA Style Paper Template — Outline

Use this simple template to start a document:

1. Title Page (centered; see title page format)
2. Abstract (150–200 words) — optional for course papers but required for journal submissions.
3. Body
   • Introduction
   • Literature Review (if applicable)
   • Methods / Methodology (quantitative analysis / qualitative approach)
   • Results / Findings
   • Discussion
   • Conclusion
4. Acknowledgments or Notes (if needed)
5. References (alphabetical, hanging indent)

When working on your structure, make sure your opening paragraph is academically engaging and well-framed. You can learn detailed techniques on how to write an introduction for a research paper to ensure your ASA paper starts strong and captures your reader’s attention.

Writing & Methodological Tips for Higher Grades

1. Match rubric language. Convert rubric criteria into subheadings (e.g., “Operationalization of variables,” “Sampling and validity”). Instructors grade against rubrics; mirroring their words makes it easier to hit full marks.
2. Methods clarity = credibility. For quantitative projects include sample size, measurement, key equations/statistics, and software used (e.g., STATA, R). For qualitative work, explain sampling, interview protocol, coding reliability.
3. Use active voice and signposting. Start sections with brief sentences that tell the reader what to expect. E.g., “This section describes the dataset and variable construction.”
4. Cite smartly. Use a mixture of foundational sources and recent peer-reviewed research (last 5 years) to show domain knowledge and currency. When you paraphrase, cite the synthesis, not every sentence.
5. Proof the reference list. Authors’ names, years, volume/issues, DOIs — one typo in a DOI can lose credibility.

If you’re still finalizing your topic or field of interest, explore these trending research paper topics to align your paper with current academic discussions.

5 Steps to a Perfect Thesis Section

1. Clarify a testable claim — turn a broad topic into a precise thesis sentence.
2. Collect targeted literature — prioritize 6–10 high-quality sources the first week.
3. Design robust methods — choose measures and justify reliability/validity.
4. Write focused results — present tables/figures and interpret, don’t restate.
5. Defend implications — connect results to theory, limitations, and future research.

Following these steps ensures your thesis is readable, defensible, and aligned with ASA expectations.

Checklist for Submission

• Title page matches required format.
• Abstract (if required) under 200 words.
• All in-text citations follow (Author Year[:Page]) formatting.
• References page titled References, alphabetized, hanging indent.
• Double-spaced text, 12-pt Times, 1-inch margins, page numbers.
• Figures and tables labelled and cited in text (Table 1, Figure 2).
• Run spellcheck and check DOI/URL accuracy.
• Turnitin/Originality check: <15% (or as required by instructor).

This checklist helps you catch the top items that cause point deductions.

Common Pitfalls & How to Fix Them

• Mixing citation styles (APA + ASA): Fix by standardizing to ASA examples here. Use university guides (Purdue OWL/ASA manual) if unsure.
• Incorrect page numbers for quotes: In ASA include page numbers after a colon with no space.
• Reference formatting inconsistencies: Use reference manager (Zotero, EndNote) and an ASA output style; always manually verify final list.

Quick Revision & Submission Checklist

• Run a search/replace for straight quote marks, em dashes, and non-standard spacing.
• Confirm every in-text citation has a matching reference.
• Verify every reference has correct punctuation and order.
• Export to PDF and confirm pagination.
• Rename the file per assignment rules (e.g., Lastname_Assignment_ASA.pdf).

FAQ’s