You’ve set up your document; your title page is flawless; and now you’re ready to begin work in earnest: organizing and expressing your ideas, research, and arguments in the body of your paper. How do you start? If you said an introduction, congrats—you’re exactly right!
But here’s something that often surprises students: when writing your paper in APA style, there’s no need to formally label your introduction.
Allow us to explain.
Section 2.27 of the APA 7 manual states: “Because the first paragraphs of a paper are understood to be introductory, the heading ‘Introduction’ is not needed. Do not begin a paper with an ‘Introduction’ heading…” Instead, the level 1 heading on the first line – the title of your paper – serves as the de facto introduction to your work.
So what should the start of the body of your paper actually look like?
On page 2 of your APA 7 student research paper, your title appears centered, bold, and in Title Case on the first double-spaced line. From there, you simply begin typing your introductory paragraph. No extra label, no additional heading – just your writing flowing naturally beneath the title.
At first, this can feel a bit strange. Many other writing formats (and even high school conventions) encourage explicitly labeling sections like “Introduction.” APA, however, prioritizes clean, streamlined formatting and assumes your reader already understands the structure of an academic paper.
To make this more concrete, let’s look at a few examples of effective APA-style introductions.
Example 1: Clear and Direct Opening
Imagine a paper titled The Impact of Social Media on Academic Performance. After the centered, bold title, the first paragraph might begin like this:
Social media has become an integral part of daily life for college students, influencing how they communicate, study, and manage their time. While these platforms offer opportunities for collaboration and connection, they may also contribute to decreased academic performance. This paper examines the relationship between social media usage and student success, with a focus on time management and attention span.
Notice what’s happening here: the writer immediately introduces the topic, provides context, and hints at the paper’s purpose – all without a heading labeled “Introduction.”
Example 2: Engaging with a Hook
For a paper titled Sleep Deprivation Among College Students, an introduction might look like this:
The average college student gets far less sleep than experts recommend, often sacrificing rest to meet academic and social demands. Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to a range of negative outcomes, including impaired cognitive function and decreased academic performance. This paper explores the causes of sleep deprivation in college populations and evaluates potential strategies for improving sleep habits.
This example uses a compelling opening statement (a “hook”) to draw the reader in before narrowing the focus to the paper’s purpose.
Example 3: Starting with Research Context
For a more research-heavy topic like The Effects of Remote Work on Employee Productivity, the introduction could begin this way:
In recent years, remote work has shifted from a niche arrangement to a widespread practice across industries. Researchers have examined its effects on productivity, job satisfaction, and work-life balance, with mixed findings. This paper reviews current literature on remote work and analyzes how flexible work environments influence employee performance.
Here, the writer begins by situating the topic within a broader research conversation – another strong approach for academic writing.
Across all of these examples, a few common elements stand out. Strong APA introductions typically:
- Introduce the topic clearly and concisely
- Provide relevant background or context
- Establish the significance of the topic
- End with a purpose statement or thesis
And importantly, they do all of this without announcing themselves as the “Introduction.”
There is one exception to this rule, however (rules love exceptions). If your professor or instructor specifically requires an “Introduction” heading immediately after the title of your paper, then you should absolutely include it. After all, they hold the grading pen, and their requirements always take priority over general style guidelines.
When in doubt, always follow your instructor’s directions first and APA guidelines second.
As you continue writing, remember that your introduction sets the tone for everything that follows. A strong, well-structured opening not only helps your reader understand your topic – it also demonstrates that you’re in control of your argument from the very first paragraph.
Until next time, good writing! And remember, PERRLA has your formatting covered (even the obscure stuff).