The Full Guide on Writing an Appendix: Structure, Format & Examples

The Full Guide on Writing an Appendix: Structure, Format & Examples

An appendix helps a reader get a more comprehensive understanding of the information given in the academic paper. There are particular writing styles one is needed to follow when writing an appendix. This might vary based on your instructor/professor.

What Is an Appendix?

An appendix contains supplementary material that supports the information included in the academic paper. This supplementary information is too bulky to be included in the body of the paper. Appendices are very common in academic journals. You can also come across them in any book of any academia.

Usually, an appendix comprises a summary of all the information used in the paper. This summary plays a significant role in explaining everything in detail to increase the reader’s comprehension of the subject discussed in the paper. This includes references and statistics from various authors and sources( the number can vary depending on the type of paper you are writing).

What is the Purpose of an Appendix?

An appendix aims to give the reader additional information supporting the material in the academic paper. An appendix aims to give your audience a comprehensive understanding of something that was briefly touched on in the academic paper. This supplementary information is put in the appendix to prevent clutter, break up, or distraction in the text.

How to Structure an Appendix

Each format is based on the following structure. Although, they do vary. Studying the general structure is the first step to learning about the topic. Despite APA appendix and MLA following the same structure, their format slightly varies.

Each appendix should comprise of the following:

• Appendix letter or number.
• References for your body paragraphs.
• Page numbers for multiple appendices.
• For reference to your appendix, but (#) after the sentence.
• Lable + Title ( Center of page, Normal Capitalized Fonts). The label should strictly follow the title.
• The crossover of Appendix and Body Text.
• Paragraph 1 is not intended.
• The next body text is paragraphs 2 and 3.
• Every paragraph should be double-spaced.
• In case your appendix has data, include the reference number in the body text.
• If the references used are from third-party sources, cite them as normal in the appendix and body text. It’s not a good idea to create a separate reference list/ work citation.

General Appendix Format

Prior to reading further, it is vital to learn exactly how to format an appendix. The basic format isn’t very complex to comprehend. To make studying the appendix APA and MLA formats a piece of cake, learn it by heart. Remember, the basic format comes in handy when writing your appendix in a book/dissertation.

• Heading “Appendix #.” Contains a number or letter that could be 1 or A.
• Reference List.
• Index Table. Followed a list of appendices.
• Page Number.
• Footnotes.

How to Write an Appendix in Different Styles

You can write an appendix in two different styles. A professor/instructor might ask for one or the other. Depending on the instructor’s guidelines, it is a great idea to know both of them. Below are guidelines and rules for the appendix format for APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago, which our professionals have prepared. They all have some similarities but also possess unique features.

Appendix APA

Most professors require students to write an appendix in a paper of this format. It is good to follow the guidelines and rules for writing in this format in order to get the structure and information correct.

The guidelines for appendix in APA:

• Appendices should start with the heading “Appendix” followed by ABC.
• It should be written on top of the appendix title.
• Abstracts
• Each appendix is to follow the order of the stated information on the paper.
• Include the appendix after the reference list.
• Incorporate page numbers in every appendix.
• Regardless of the size, appendices should have their page individually.
• Incorporate footnotes.

One should follow the general rules for the appendix in APA when writing. This is what instructors look for when they assign you to write the appendices in this format. Know the general rules to get you onto the right path of success. You can memorize this information or keep a record of it.

Rules for APA:

• Incorporate a title for every appendix.
• Each appendix should have its own point. Do not mix ideas in one appendix.
• For multiple appendices, use ABC for tilting them.
• For reference within the body, include (see appendix a) after the text.
• The title should be centered.
• Regardless of the size, all appendices should have their page individually.
• Do not indent the first paragraph of your appendix.
• You should indent the rest of the paragraphs.
• Incorporate double spacing.

Appendix Chicago Style

Writing an appendix in Chicago style is similar to that of APA. However, there are a few differences. Below are guidelines for writing an appendix in Chicago format.

Guidelines for an Appendix Chicago Style

• More than one appendix is described as “appendices.”
• The Chicago style requires you to use the “Times New Roman” font.
• The font size should be 12.
• The page numbers should be displayed on the top right of every page.
• The page numbers should be labeled as “Page 1,2,3.”
• Do not incorporate a page number on the front cover.
• The bibliography should be the final page. It should share a page with any other content.
• You can include footnotes in the bibliography.

Appendix MLA Format

The guidelines and rules are very similar to the appendix APA, but there are several differences. The primary difference being that the MLA appendix comes before the reference list.

The guidelines for MLA format:

• One should include the appendix before the work citation.
• For multiple appendices, use ABC for titling them.
• Each appendix should follow the order of the stated information on the paper.
• Incorporate page numbers for every appendix.
• Regardless of the size, all appendices should have their page.

Rules of MLA

• One should center the title.
• Double-space the list.
• If you include the name of the known writer, use this order. SURNAME, FIRST NAME, YEAR.
• The first line should incorporate every reference in the left margin. One should indent every subsequent line. This is known as “ hanging indent” to make this simpler.
• The reference list should be in alphabetical order. This can be done with the first letter of the author’s surname if he/she is known. In case the writer is unknown, this can be done using the first letter of the title of the reference.
• The titles of complete writings, internet sites, books, recordings should be in Italic
• One should not use an italic font on reference titles that only refer to some part of a source. This includes poetry, short papers, tabloids, sections of PDF, and scholarly entries.

Appendix in Harvard Style

As most professors in America prefer using APA format, professors in the UK prefer using Harvard formatting style.

The Guidelines for Harvard Style:

• Begin the appendix on a new page with the title Appendix or Appendixes (if there is more than one).
• Arrange the appendix items in the same order they are referred to in the text.
• Create a label and descriptive label for each appendix item.
• Centre the label and title.
• The label should be boldfaced, e.g., Appendix B
• If the information is from a published source, use the word ‘ Source’ followed by a short citation (author and year of publication) and place it at the bottom left of the appendix item. Enter the complete reference in your reference list.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, it is a great idea to follow the APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard formats. Learning how to write an appendix is simple once you know these formats and guidelines. Therefore, studying these formats by heart can empower you to write appendices in any form correctly.