Format Requirements

Works completed by writers must fully meet the following format requirements.

Company Format Requirements are the following

 File Name: Order ID_General Topic, e.g. 12789_Sociology. If there are more than one file
in order, use additional numbering, e.g. 12789_Sociology2.
 File Format: doc, docx, rtf, ppt, pptx, PDF.
 Font Size: 12pt. Times New Roman
 Margins: one inch (2.54 cm) on each side
 Paper Spacing: double-spaced or single-spaced
 Minimum Page Length: double-spaced - 275 words/page, single spaced - 550
words/page
 Maximum Paper Length: total word count of a fully completed paper must not exceed
the initial requirement by more than 130 words.
 Text Alignment: left or justified
 Paragraphs: no extra spacing between paragraphs
 Subheadings: can be used to improve paper organization; do not overuse in short papers
(less than 3-4 pages)
 Graphics: can be used, if requested by customer; if you initiate usage, ask for
confirmation from customer
 Bibliography: reference list at the end of the paper must correspond to the citation style
selected by customer, is excluded from the total page count; should be included, if
requested by customer
 Outline: if requested by a customer, must be provided; is excluded from the total page
count; should enumerate the main points covered in the paper, shouldn't be done in a
form of abstract

Example 1

Outline

 Introduction
 Learning Plan: Exploring Literacy
 Diversity Justification
 Effectiveness of the Learning Plan and Future Planning
 Conclusion

Example 2

Outline

I. Introduction
II. Overview of the Original Unit
 III. Suggested Revisions
1. Cultural Responsiveness
2. Co-Teaching Strategies
3. Research-Based Literacy Strategies
4. Best Practices for Students with Special Needs and ELLs
5. Effective Assessments
6. Fiction Texts
IV. Conclusion
V. References
VI. Appendix A

Customer Format Requirements

Refer to extras selected by a customer (Title Page, Outline, Bibliography) that must be provided
upon request. If a customer specified a different font or footnotes to be used in the paper, and
these requirements contradict company requirements (i.e. Times New Roman), preference
should be given to customer format requirements.

General Format Requirements

Refer to the rules imposed under a certain citation style, i.e. MLA, APA, Harvard, or any other.

Please, mind the following Do’s and Don’ts, since they are applicable to all the citation styles.
Note, the stated below suggestions should be followed, but they are not all-inclusive and,
certainly, under a certain citation style, there are more rules to be followed.

1. Start the reference list on a new page. Title it (choose one of the options below) and
center the title:
o MLA – Works Cited or Work Cited (only if ONE source is cited);
o APA – Reference List/References (Reference if citing one work only);
o Harvard – Reference List/List of References/References (Reference if citing one
work only);
o Chicago
 Author Date Citation Style – References;
 Notes-Bibliography Citation Style – Bibliography;
o Vancouver – Reference List/References(Reference if citing only one
work)/Bibliography;
2. Provide entries in an alphabetical order;
3. For works with multiple authors, alphabetize by the last name of the first listed author;
4. Double space within and between entries;

Exceptions out of this rule:

Chicago uses single spacing specifically on bibliography pages

5. Indent the second and the following lines 5 spaces (or one half inch);
 Exceptions out of this rule:

Vancouver can go both ways - indenting all of the lines OR only the 2nd line and
everything that comes after it. It depends on specific requirements.

Harvard - no indentation required.

6. Do not use numbers or bullets with bibliography entries;

Exceptions out of this rule:

Vancouver specifically requires you to have entry numbers in the bibliography

7. Use only one space after a punctuation mark for all in-text references;
8. Do not leave extra spacing between heading/subheadings and the text itself;
9. Provide the page number(s) or parts for quotations and references to a specific part of
the work. Page numbers are unnecessary when referring to a whole work.