Sociology Essay Format: ASA vs APA Guide

What Is Sociology Essay Format?

Sociology essay format is a set of formatting rules for academic sociology papers. These rules cover everything from margins and font size to how you cite sources and organize your reference list.

Why does formatting matter? First, it shows you can follow professional academic standards. Second, proper formatting makes your paper easier to read. Third, correct citation format protects you from plagiarism accusations by clearly showing which ideas are yours and which come from sources.

Two main formatting styles are used in sociology: ASA (American Sociological Association) and APA (American Psychological Association). ASA is the official format for sociology journals and most sociology courses. APA is sometimes used because many professors learned it in graduate school or teach multiple social science courses.

How Do I Format a Sociology Essay in ASA Style?

ASA Format Basics

ASA format has specific requirements for every part of your paper:

Notice the margins: ASA requires 1.25 inches on all sides, which is wider than the standard 1-inch margins you might be used to. This is one of the most common mistakes students make.

ASA In-Text Citations

ASA uses a simple format: (Author Year:Page)

Examples:

• Single author: (Smith 2023:45)
• Two authors: (Smith and Jones 2023:45)
• Three or more authors: (Smith et al. 2023:45)
• No page number: (Smith 2023)

You can also use signal phrases: Smith (2023:45) argues that social media has transformed how young people form identities.

ASA Reference List

Your reference list comes at the end of your paper on a separate page. The title "References" should be centered at the top. List all sources alphabetically by the author's last name, using a hanging indent (first line at the margin, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inch). Everything should be double-spaced.

How Do I Format a Sociology Essay in APA Style?

APA Format Basics

APA format is similar to ASA but has some important differences:

The main difference: APA uses standard 1-inch margins (not 1.25 inches like ASA). APA also requires a running head on the title page, which ASA doesn't use.

APA In-Text Citations

APA format for citations: (Author, Year, p. Page)

Examples:

• Single author: (Smith, 2023, p. 45)
• Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2023, p. 45)
• Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2023, p. 45)

Notice the key differences from ASA: APA uses commas to separate elements, uses "&" instead of "and," and writes "p." before the page number instead of using a colon.

APA Reference List

APA reference lists follow different formatting rules from ASA. The title "References" should be centered and bold. Like ASA, entries are alphabetical with hanging indents and double-spacing.

Notice how different this looks from ASA. In APA, the year goes in parentheses after the author's name, and only the first word of the title is capitalized (except for proper nouns and words after colons).

What Are the Key Differences Between ASA and APA?

Not sure which format to use? Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Which Should You Use?

Follow this decision tree:

1. Check your syllabus: Does your professor specify a format? If yes, use that format.
2. If it's a sociology course with no specification: Use ASA. It's the standard for sociology.
3. If your professor says "use APA": Use APA, even in a sociology course.
4. When in doubt: Ask your professor. Never assume.

Step-by-Step: Formatting Your Sociology Paper

Before You Write

1. Set up your document:

Open Microsoft Word or Google Docs and configure these settings:

• Margins: 1.25" for ASA or 1" for APA (Layout ? Margins ? Custom)
• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
• Spacing: Double (Line spacing ? 2.0)
• Alignment: Left-aligned

2. Create your title page:

As You Write

3. Use proper formatting:

• Use one space after periods
• Don't add extra blank lines between paragraphs
• Press Tab once at the start of each paragraph (creates 0.5" indent)
• Use ASA or APA citation format consistently

After You Write

4. Create your reference list:

Go through your paper and list every source you cited. Arrange them alphabetically by author's last name. Format each entry according to ASA or APA guidelines (see examples above). Apply a hanging indent to each entry.

Double-check that every in-text citation has a matching reference list entry.

5. Final formatting check:

• Page numbers appear on every page (except ASA title page)
• Spacing is consistent throughout
• All citations match your reference list
• Margins are correct (1.25" for ASA, 1" for APA)

Common Sociology Formatting Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake #1: Mixing ASA and APA

You can't combine elements from both styles.

Fix: Pick one format and use it throughout your entire paper.

Mistake #2: Incorrect Reference List Format

Where the year goes matters.

Fix: In ASA, the year comes immediately after the author's name. In APA, it goes in parentheses.

Mistake #3: Missing Hanging Indents

Fix: Select references then Paragraph then Special then Hanging and then 0.5"

Mistake #4: Single-Spacing Parts of the Paper

Fix: Select all text then Line spacing and then 2.0

Mistake #5: Incorrect Margins

Fix: Go to Layout then Margins then Custom Margins. Set to 1.25" for ASA or 1" for APA.

Mistake #6: No Page Numbers

Fix: Go to Insert, then Page Numbe,r then Top of Pag,e and then Plain Number 3

Once you understand the formatting rules, applying them becomes quick and easy. Check your work carefully before submitting, and you'll never lose points for formatting errors again.

Sociology Formatting Tools and Resources

You don't have to format everything manually. These tools can help:

Citation Generators

Official Style Guides

• ASA Style Guide (7th edition, 2022): Available through university library databases
• APA Publication Manual (7th edition, 2020): Available in bookstores and libraries
• Purdue OWL: Free online resource with ASA and APA sections

Conclusion

You now have everything you need to format your sociology essay correctly. Whether your professor requires ASA or APA, you know the specific rules, you've seen examples, and you understand the most common mistakes to avoid. Set up your document properly before you start writing, and do a final formatting check before you submit. Follow these steps and you'll never lose points for formatting errors again.