When you were at school, the cover page for an essay worksheet barely contained any items. You could write it simply by adding your name and date. However, creating the cover page of an essay at university is quite different. Here, you have to follow the essay structure and the university’s rules to take the steps for developing the cover page of your essay. Nonetheless, if you don’t know how to write a cover page for an essay it can be difficult for you to determine the appropriate structure, and adhere to the university-set guidelines. If you are struggling with similar issues, this blog can be of great help to you. Here we have compiled a complete guide on how to write a cover page for an essay. Read along to learn the tricks for developing a well-designed essay cover page.
What is a Cover Page of an Essay?
The first page that you see when you open an academic essay file is the cover page. It usually consists of the following crucial details about the essay:
- Title of the essay
- Your name
- Name of your instructor
- Academic program
- Subject code
- Name of the subject
- Date of submission
- Page number
The format you follow for developing your essay format must be in sync with the rest of the essay. Simply put, you must use the same citation style to format every section of the essay including the cover page.
When Should You Use a Cover Page?
A Cover Page For An Essay
An interesting thing about a cover page is that it is not always required in an essay. You only have to write a cover page when it is mandated in either of the two places.
- The assignment guideline
- Citation style
However, the rules that you must follow to find an answer to the question “how to write a cover page for an essay” primarily depend on the citation styles. Unfortunately, the rules are not the same for all styles of formatting. However, there are similarities between all the formatting styles. Moreover, some formatting styles do not require cover pages at all. Nevertheless, APA is the most common citation style among all. It is required for presenting an essay and all other documents as well. But, its citation rules are quite thorough.
In contrast, MLA format mandates creating a cover page only for essays and other assignments that are written by more than one author. In case, the document is built by only one author, you have the choice to use or not use the citation.
Moreover, typically, the Chicago style of Manuals does not mandate using a cover page in essays or other documents. However, your academic program may mandate using it.
Apart from these 3 popular formatting styles, you will also find essay cover pages developed in Harvard and ASA approaches. ASA uses a modified version of APA while Harvard modulates
Developing a Template for the Cover Page of an Essay
As we have mentioned earlier, there are similarities in the citation styles’ regulations that answer “how to write a cover page for an essay.” Therefore, this basic template works for the type of essay cover pages. Here are some fundamental requirements that you fulfill in an MS Word file while developing your cover page template:
- Keep a 1-inch margin on all sides of the paper
- Select an easily readable font. Times New Roman and Arial works for all citation styles
- Choose a font size of 12 points to write your cover page
- Double-space your writing
Also read: Learn How to Make a Video Essay in 6 Simple Steps
Template For Essay Cover Page
Title of the essay
Name of the student
Name of the instructor
Academic program
Course code
Name of the subject
Subject code
Date of submission
Page number
How To Write A Cover Page For An Essay Developed In MLA Style
Stick to the following guidelines to know how to write a cover page for an essay.
The guidelines for developing a paper in MLA style do not have clear information regarding the cover page although it does not deter you from creating the cover page. Hence, a professor takes the upper hand in setting the guidelines for developing the paper in MLA style. Then, how to write a cover page for an essay in MLA style? We suggest you give it the most professional look and follow your professor-stated format. The following are the best practices for writing an essay cover page in MLA format to make it appear professional:
- Start with the essay title one-third way down the front page. Italicize or bold the lettering
- Align the heading to the left
- Double-space the contents
Then, leave a half-inch margin from the left and include the following details:
- Date
- Your name
- Your instructor’s name
- Academic program
However, sometimes your professor may want you to include the text of your essay on the cover page itself. In that case, you must format the cover page of your essay in the following way:
- Write your name, your instructor’s name, the academic program, and date of submission. Align them to the left-hand side of your page.
- Below these contents, mention the title of your essay, and place it at the center of the page in the Title case
- Under the title write the essay text. However, indent the first line of every paragraph to the left.
- Build a header with your name and the page number and place it at the top right-hand corner of the page.
Writing a Cover Page for an Essay in APA Style
Below is the format to develop the cover page of an essay in APA style.
The APA citation format is primarily used in the academic and business sectors but it has some tricky aspects. To develop a cover page in APA format, maintain a short essay title, preferably less than 12 words. Then, align the title to the center of the page. Under the title, mention the name in the following format: first, middle, initial, and last names. However, never put any academic credential with your name like a Ph.D. In the subsequent line, mention the location of your university. Typically, it is your university. Below is the APA cover page format:
- Place the title of the essay at the top of the page. Align it to the center.
- Put the student’s name under the title, at the center of the page.
- The institutional affiliation (name of the college or university you are enrolled in) goes below your name. Place it at the center of the page.
- The name of the course and its code come under it.
- Under the course name include the name of the professor or instructor.
- Optionally, you can incorporate a running head aligned to the left margin (with the words “Running head:” A condensed version of the title follows it).
- Finally, incorporate a page number in the top-right corner.
Also read: Excellent Business Essay Topics and Ideas To Focus On
How to Write a Cover Page for an Essay in Chicago Style of Manuals
To build a cover page in the Chicago style of Manuals, you must undertake the following steps:
The Chicago page setup, commonly known as the Chicago style of Manuals, is one of the most popular citation styles used in the humanities department. The Chicago cover page format usually incorporates the following details aligned at the center of the page:
- Write the title of your essay in the title case.
- Place your name (name of the student) just below the title.
- Below your name, enter the name of the academic program you are enrolled in.
- The instructor’s name comes below the title of the academic program.
- Finally, place the due date below the instructor’s name.
The cover page may also incorporate a short essay title at the top of the page and a page number in the header of each of the following pages. You must stick to the specific cover page configuration requirements designed by your instructor or institution for creating a Chicago-style cover page. Chicago Turabian style is the student edition of the Chicago style of manuals. There are some prominent similarities between the two. It includes:
- Both, the Chicago style of Manuals and Chicago Turabian styles usually put the title of the paper one-third to halfway down the cover page, then, align the title to the center;
- The title is generally in title case; most of the words are capitalized;
- The author’s name is mentioned below the title and aligned to the center of the page;
- The name of the institution in which the author pursues the academic program is often placed below the author’s name on the page;
- Both styles usually do not have a page number on the cover page.
Writing a Cover Page for an Essay in ASA Style
Stick to the rules below to develop an essay in the ASA style.
The cover page developing rules for ASA is a modification of the APA guidelines. Here is a list of the few things that you do additionally apart from following APA cover page guidelines.
- Build a running head for the ASA cover page format
- Never exceed the heading above 60 characters
- Include the total word count on the cover page including the words you use in footnotes and references
- If you have written a research paper multiple times in a different institution, then you must mention your name and the name of the various academic programs vertically below each other.
- Include a page number in the cover sheet. Place it in the right-hand corner at the bottom of the page.
Also read: Best Definition Essay Topics for Students
Writing a Cover Page for an Essay in Harvard Style
Follow the steps mentioned below to create a cover page in the Harvard style.
The Harvard cover page is popularly known as the Harvard referencing style. You can develop a cover page in this style if you are a student pursuing your studies in the field of social science and humanities disciplines, including literature, history, and economics.
The Harvard cover page example typically has the following data, organized in this order:
- Title of the research paper;
- Author’s name mentioned in the format: last name, followed by the initial of the first name);
- Name of the academic program
- Date of submission;
- Name of the academic institution
- Location of the academic institution
- Name of the academic program and course code;
- Name of instructor.
Here, you place the title of the essay one-third way down the front page in bold and upper case. In the subsequent line, you write ‘by’ and follow it with your name (the name of the author). Then you include the other details in the order mentioned above. Additionally, you must add a page number and the title of the essay on the top right–hand corner of the page. Make sure that you write the title in the title case.
Examples of Cover Pages of Essays
Here are some examples of the cover pages built in the formatting styles mentioned above.
MLA Citation Style
Here is a sample essay cover page in MLA citation style.
Adams 1
John Adams
Professor John Miller
Bachelor in Social Psychology
8.8.2023
An Analysis of The Social Nervousness: Problems Associated With The Refugee
Social nervousness is an anxiety disorder. Here, the patient suffers from the fear of being judged negatively, humiliated, or embarrassed
Also read: Amazing Discursive Essay Topics For Students To Consider
APA Referencing Style
Take a look at the example of an essay cover page built in APA referencing style.
Running head: AN ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL NERVOUSNESS
An Analysis of the Social Nervousness:
Problems Associated With The Refugees
John Adams
Name of the academic institution: Newton’s International College
Academic program and Course Code: Bachelor in Social Psychology [B012]
Name of the instructor: John Miller
Chicago Paper Formatting Style
Here is a sample essay cover page developed in Chicago formatting style
An Analysis Of The Social Nervousness: Problems Associated With The Refugees
John Adams
Bachelor in Social Psychology [B012]
John Miller
08.08.2023
ASA Formatting Style
Take a look at the essay cover page developed in ASA formatting style.
An Analysis of the social nervousness: Problems Associated With The Refugees
John Adams
Date of Submission: 8.8.2023
Name of the academic institution: Newton’s International College
Academic program and Course Code: Bachelor in Social Psychology [B012]
Word Count: 450 pages
Name of the instructor: John Miller
Harvard Formatting Style
Find here an example of an essay cover page built in Harvard Citation style.
An Analysis of the Social Nervousness 1
AN ANALYSIS OF THE SOCIAL NERVOUSNESS
by Adams J. Name of the academic program: Bachelor in Social Psychology
Date of submission: 8.8.2023
Name of the academic institution: Newton’s International College
Location of the academic institution: Los Angeles, California
Name of instructor: John Miller
Tips for Writing Cove Page of an Essay
Here are some general tips that you must follow when writing a cover page for an essay.
- Never forget to format a cover page
- Seek help when in doubt
- Do not format in different citation styles
- Understand the basics
- Avoid being too wordy
- Recheck the guidelines
- Avoid capitalizing words that are not required
- Do not consider the cover page as an afterthought
Conclusion
It is a challenge to follow the university and citation style guidelines simultaneously to develop a cover page for the essay. The concern is severe for those graduating from college and have to develop essays on multiple subjects. However, there is no other choice but to follow these guidelines. If you have gone through this blog you must have a clear idea of how to write a cover page for an essay.
