Golden Rules On How To Write An Appendix
The academic world is full of different projects, tasks, and papers that a high school or college student have to prepare during the whole process of obtaining an education. The appendix may be a part of many papers, and it has particular functions. Just as a human body has an appendix, an academic paper also has an appendix. In both cases, it is not vital, and the person and the text can function well without it, but when it comes to the content, the appendix may be very helpful. It also has certain peculiarities that you’d better be aware of not to make a mistake. If you have no experience in writing appendices, then go on reading and find the answers to all your possible questions. You will better understand what the appendix is and what information it should contain in the long run.
The appendix is not a must when it comes to preparing all college projects. Still, some papers require it for sure. Imagine that you hold a survey and now would like to focus the readers’ attention on definite data from received results. Next, you may select the essential data and place other data into the appendix, and of course, mind mentioning it in the fundamental text:
A recent survey’s entire survey proves that people aged 19-25 are becoming more engaged in political issues (See Appendix 3).
Consequently, the audience will know where to find the survey results, but if you do not say about “Appendix B” in the main text, it probably has no sense to be listed in the paper at all. There are even more nuances you should keep in mind for arranging content in accordance with the teacher’s requirements.
Steps to Craft a Proper Appendix
There are two situations that may make you wonder how to write an appendix. Either your teacher wants to see it in your project, or you decided it on your own, in the long run, who cares, as the requirements are identical. Actually, the process of creating an appendix doesn’t differ much from crafting other parts. It is essential to make a research, check the document, and make it engaging enough for all readers.
Collect Relevant Calculations
Adding raw data that you have gathered for the project, and you think it relates to the subject. Great raw data supports all your key findings and boosts the validity of the overall paper. It is crucial to add data that makes sense for the audience:
Why not mention calculations that are related to the main body and may expand data given in the body? Feel free to add statistical data as well.
Facts that you find in other resources can also be mentioned to support significant findings. Please remember to cite additional resources properly to avoid accusations of plagiarism.
Add Images, Charts, and Graphs
Visual elements will help boost the overall content quality and make it more appealing to the audience since reading only text is always too dull. There is hardly an individual who enjoys reading the text without distracting to some compelling images. You can tot gripping charts or detailed graphs that you crafted by yourself, or use pictures to hold up your findings. The most important is to mention the literature or media, which served as sources of information. Add stuff that is related to the topic and avoid confusing the audience with the graphics or tables that don’t have any sense.
Mention Instruments for Conducting Research
The appendix also should talk about the instruments that you have used for conducting the research. For example, you used a camera or any other device to collect the data. As a result, a reader will be able to understand how you used the tools to get the findings:
“The interview was taken in a person and recorded with a camera.”
Add the Transcripts
Besides images and tables, the appendix may include the transcripts of conversations or surveys that you have had, especially for the research.
Ensure that a whole interview text is added; in other words, both questions and responses from the very beginning till the end must be included. This may be photocopies written with a hand or conducted online. Think well what you can add to make the paper look more convincing. Any correspondences will be of great help, e.g., letters, email copies, notes, etc.
Format the Appendix
Taking care of appendix formatting is also crucial. Here are some tips that may be of great help for inexperienced authors:
Write the appendix title. You can put the word “Appendix” on the very top of the page. You can write it in capital letters or leave the usual format. The font and its size may be similar to the headings found in the chapter. If your paper contains a few appendices, then use either numbers or letters to name them. For instance, “Appendix C, Appendix D,” or “Appendix 4, Appendix 5”. Also, make sure that every appendix is placed on a separate page.
Keep the order. Organize all appendices paying attention to the context. In other words, if you include some calculations just at the very beginning of the text, place the source that contains these calculations into “Appendix 1”, and if you’re eager to add some interview questions in the concluding part, place the interview script at the very end.
A reference list + appendix. Usually, the appendix is placed after the reference list. But if your teacher or a professor would like to see it in another place, then follow the stated requirements. But do not forget to include this part of the text in the table of contents.
Add numeration. Each page must contain numbers either in the central page part or in the right corner at the bottom. It is necessary to make the appendix a part of the overall content and look natural in the long run.
Improve the Quality
You will not find certain requirements for the size of a useful appendix. It may be either short or long, but after all, the length matters. If a teacher sees too long an appendix, he/she won’t like it. That’s why you’d better check all included appendences and ensure that it contains only relevant information and doesn’t distract attention to unnecessary details. If there is a person who can take your appendix and proofread it, then take benefit from it. Usually, another person has an independent opinion and can look at the content with a fresh eye. He/she will tell you whether the information suits your content and what possible weak points your paper has.
Also, check the appendix for grammatical, spelling, or punctuation mistakes. Many online tools may help you improve content quality. Reading added information backward will also help you identify available errors.
Finally, when your appendix is ready, you need to back at the very beginning of the paper and make sure that it contains all references and citations. Otherwise, the reader will not be able to find a necessary appendix and get acquainted with relevant information. You must prove the appendix is crucial and very useful for the readers. Besides supporting key findings, it can provide the audience with additional information on the subject.
Use Professional Assistance
Even if the appendix is not a vital part of every academic paper, it must be organized correctly if you decide to include it into the table of contents. Knowing the main requirements and peculiarities of writing an appendix are essential and may help you avoid possible mistakes. But if you do not want to risk your reputation and waste time, then approaching a professional writing company may be an excellent option to benefit from. Experienced authors know how to arrange the content properly and come up with a top-quality project. You may ask any questions you are interested in and get a quick response without going out. Cooperation with true professionals is an excellent opportunity to do things you like and not worry about your academic paper’s quality.
The Final Thoughts
Writing a correct appendix takes time and requires skills. Maybe it isn’t the most challenging task in the academic world, but a person should perform detailed research, choose the most relevant data, and organize everything properly. Proper formatting is also essential. It’s a significant part of the entire paper body and assists in supporting the main findings. Despite different styles and formats of preparing the appendix, the basic requirements are common. You are advised to follow them strictly to develop appendices of high quality or entrust this task to professionals.