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How to Use an Appendix

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Annaliese Dunne and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Annaliese Dunne is a Middle School English Teacher. With over 10 years of teaching experience, her areas of expertise include writing and grammar instruction, as well as teaching reading comprehension. She is also an experienced freelance writer. She received her Bachelor's degree in English. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 91,388 times.

You’ve probably seen an appendix (or appendices) at the end of an academic paper. However, you might be unsure of how to include them in your own work. When you’re writing an academic paper, you can use an appendix to add important information that doesn’t fit into your paper. You might include your research materials, raw data, or detailed information that’s good to know but not necessary for readers to understand.

Things You Should Know

• Format your appendix in traditional paragraph style, and put each appendix on a separate page.
• Label all your figures, tables, and visuals with the letter of the corresponding appendix, and number the elements within each appendix to make it clear what you’re referring to.
• Refer to each appendix in the text of your paper, and put your appendices in the order that they’re mentioned.

Deciding When to Use an Appendix

• Surveys or questionnaires you used in your research
• Copies of letters or emails
• Transcripts from interviews

• Important words that need to be defined
• Further description of the testing methods or process for choosing a particular testing method
• A detailed description of the materials or testing equipment you used
• Interesting details that might interest the reader but aren’t necessary to understand your conclusions
• Additional background about your topic

• For instance, you might include your raw data in 1 appendix and your mathematical proofs in a separate appendix.

• For example, let’s say you conducted an environmental study. You might include a map of the area you studied.
• Similarly, you might include a photo of your lab setup for a chemistry experiment.

Formatting Appendices

• For instance, let’s say you want to create appendices for a questionnaire, emails you exchanged with an expert on your topic, and raw data from an experiment you did. You’d need 3 separate appendices.

• For instance, Appendix A might be on pg. 23, Appendix B may be on pg. 25, and Appendix C could be on pg. 26.
• If you have 3 or fewer short appendices, you may decide to include them on the same page. However, it’s easier for readers to scan them if they’re on separate pages.

• You don’t need to describe what’s included in the appendix in the title.

Variation: You can use numbers if you prefer. You might choose to label multiple appendices “Appendix 1,” “Appendix 2,” Appendix 3,” and so on. [8] X Research source

• For instance, you might have an “Appendix A,” Appendix B,” and Appendix C” at the end of your paper. Similarly, you could write, “Appendix 1,” Appendix 2,” and “Appendix 3.”

• For instance, you might start over with “Appendix Table 1” or “Appendix Figure A.”
• If a particular table or graph is necessary for your reader to understand your conclusions, include in your paper rather than an appendix.

Inserting Appendices into Your Paper

• For instance, when discussing survey results, you might include this text: “See Appendix A for a copy of the survey.”

• For example, let’s say you have an appendix for a survey, an appendix for your raw data, and an appendix for an interview transcript. If you reference the interview first, followed by the survey and data, you’d put the appendices in that order.

• Check the instructions from your instructor or the journal where you’re submitting to see if they have specific rules about where the appendices should be placed.

• For instance, if your paper ended on page 22, your first appendix would be page 23.

• You don't need a table of contents to have appendices.

Expert Q&A

• You can typically use an appendix for information or materials that mess up your paper structure. For instance, putting a copy of a survey in your paper would likely throw off the format of the paper. [16] X Research source
• If information is essential for your reader to know, include it in the body of your paper instead of an appendix. [17] X Research source
• Don’t include your appendices in your word count.

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about writing, check out our in-depth interview with Annaliese Dunne .

• ↑ https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/392156/WE_Appendices.pdf
• ↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/appendices
• ↑ https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185936
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/footnotes_appendices.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_the_social_sciences/writing_in_psychology_experimental_report_writing/tables_appendices_footnotes_and_endnotes.html
• ↑ https://www.unlv.edu/sites/default/files/page_files/3/13_AppendixFormat.pdf

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Citations - APA: Formatting - Essay, Reference List, Appendix, & Sample Paper

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If you are adding an appendix to your paper there are a few rules to follow that comply with APA guidelines:

• The Appendix appears  after  the References list
• If you have more than one appendix you would name the first appendix Appendix A, the second Appendix B, etc.
• The appendices should appear in the order that the information is mentioned in your essay
• Each appendix begins on a new page
• APA Sample Paper - with Appendix (Purdue OWL example)

Quick Rules for an APA Reference List

Your research paper ends with a list of all the sources cited in the text of the paper. Here are nine quick rules for this Reference list.

• Start a new page for your Reference list. Centre the title, References, at the top of the page.
• Double-space the list.
• Start the first line of each reference at the left margin; indent each subsequent line five spaces (a hanging indent).
• Put your list in alphabetical order. Alphabetize the list by the first word in the reference. In most cases, the first word will be the author’s last name. Where the author is unknown, alphabetize by the first word in the title, ignoring the words a, an, the.
• For each author, give the last name followed by a comma and the first (and middle, if listed) initials followed by periods.
• Italicize the titles of works: books, audiovisual material, internet documents and newspapers, and the title and volume number of journals and magazines.
• Do not italicize titles of parts of works, such as: articles from newspapers, magazines, or journals / essays, poems, short stories or chapter titles from a book / chapters or sections of an Internet document.
• In titles of non-periodicals (books, videotapes, websites, reports, poems, essays, chapters, etc), capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a title and subtitle, and all proper nouns (names of people, places, organizations, nationalities).
• If more than one place of publication is listed give the publisher's home office. If the home office is not given or known then choose the first location listed.
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• Last Updated: Oct 31, 2024 1:37 PM
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• Research Paper Appendix | Example & Templates

Research Paper Appendix | Example & Templates

Published on 15 August 2022 by Kirsten Dingemanse and Tegan George. Revised on 25 October 2022.

An appendix is a supplementary document that facilitates your reader’s understanding of your research but is not essential to your core argument. Appendices are a useful tool for providing additional information or clarification in a research paper , dissertation , or thesis without making your final product too long.

Appendices help you provide more background information and nuance about your topic without disrupting your text with too many tables and figures or other distracting elements.

We’ve prepared some examples and templates for you, for inclusions such as research protocols, survey questions, and interview transcripts. All are worthy additions to an appendix. You can download these in the format of your choice below.

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Table of contents

What is an appendix in a research paper, what to include in an appendix, how to format an appendix, how to refer to an appendix, where to put your appendices, other components to consider, appendix checklist.

In the main body of your research paper, it’s important to provide clear and concise information that supports your argument and conclusions . However, after doing all that research, you’ll often find that you have a lot of other interesting information that you want to share with your reader.

While including it all in the body would make your paper too long and unwieldy, this is exactly what an appendix is for.

As a rule of thumb, any detailed information that is not immediately needed to make your point can go in an appendix. This helps to keep your main text focused but still allows you to include the information you want to include somewhere in your paper.

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An appendix can be used for different types of information, such as:

• Supplementary results : Research findings  are often presented in different ways, but they don’t all need to go in your paper. The results most relevant to your research question should always appear in the main text, while less significant results (such as detailed descriptions of your sample or supplemental analyses that do not help answer your main question), can be put in an appendix.
• Statistical analyses : If you conducted statistical tests using software like Stata or R, you may also want to include the outputs of your analysis in an appendix.
• Further information on surveys or interviews : Written materials or transcripts related to things such as surveys and interviews can also be placed in an appendix.

You can opt to have one long appendix, but separating components (like interview transcripts, supplementary results, or surveys) into different appendices makes the information simpler to navigate.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Always start each appendix on a new page.
• Assign it both a number (or letter) and a clear title, such as ‘Appendix A. Interview transcripts’. This makes it easier for your reader to find the appendix, as well as for you to refer back to it in your main text.
• Number and title the individual elements within each appendix (e.g., ‘Transcripts’) to make it clear what you are referring to. Restart the numbering in each appendix at 1.

It is important that you refer to each of your appendices at least once in the main body of your paper. This can be done by mentioning the appendix and its number or letter, either in parentheses or within the main part of a sentence. It is also possible to refer to a particular component of an appendix.

Appendix B presents the correspondence exchanged with the fitness boutique. Example 2. Referring to an appendix component These results (see Appendix 2, Table 1) show that …

It is common to capitalise ‘Appendix’ when referring to a specific appendix, but it is not mandatory. The key is just to make sure that you are consistent throughout your entire paper, similarly to consistency in capitalising headings and titles in academic writing.

However, note that lowercase should always be used if you are referring to appendices in general. For instance, ‘The appendices to this paper include additional information about both the survey and the interviews.’

The simplest option is to add your appendices after the main body of your text, after you finish citing your sources in the citation style of your choice . If this is what you choose to do, simply continue with the next page number. Another option is to put the appendices in a separate document that is delivered with your dissertation.

Remember that any appendices should be listed in your paper’s table of contents .

There are a few other supplementary components related to appendices that you may want to consider. These include:

• List of abbreviations : If you use a lot of abbreviations or field-specific symbols in your dissertation, it can be helpful to create a list of abbreviations .
• Glossary : If you utilise many specialised or technical terms, it can also be helpful to create a glossary .
• Tables, figures and other graphics : You may find you have too many tables, figures, and other graphics (such as charts and illustrations) to include in the main body of your dissertation. If this is the case, consider adding a figure and table list .

Checklist: Appendix

All appendices contain information that is relevant, but not essential, to the main text.

Each appendix starts on a new page.

I have given each appendix a number and clear title.

I have assigned any specific sub-components (e.g., tables and figures) their own numbers and titles.

My appendices are easy to follow and clearly formatted.

I have referred to each appendix at least once in the main text.

Your appendices look great! Use the other checklists to further improve your thesis.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

Dingemanse, K. & George, T. (2022, October 25). Research Paper Appendix | Example & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved 11 November 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/appendix/

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How to Write Appendices? Get an Overview

Table of Contents

A lot of things go into making when you write a research paper. One such part is the appendices that hold the in depth value of your work. In other words, every detail related to your paper holds in this section. But why is it so? Well, just like you cannot put all of your clothes in the wardrobe and shift the extra but important ones in a separate trunk, not all information gets placed in the main section of your paper.

If you do so, your paper will look too lengthy, and may get irrelevant at times. Moreover, to keep the body section organised, it’s necessary that you keep the explanation limited. But what you can do is refer the additional data to the appendices and readers will get to know it from there.

Now, the process of essay writing this section is no hard task. But you have to learn certain guidelines and it can be easy in no time!

Hence, save every piece of information mentioned here and apply them in your paper –

The Meaning of Appendices

Before learning anything, one always looks for the meaning or the definition. Hence here is how you can define appendices 

An appendix or appendices is an additional document that aids in the reader’s comprehension of your research but is not that crucial to your main point. In order to add more details or explanation without lengthening your research paper, dissertation, or thesis, appendices are a helpful tool.

In fact, the purpose of appendices in research or any paper is to prevent overcrowding your text with tables, figures, or other distracting components. Instead, it lets you add more context and subtlety to your thesis or dissertation topic and keep the extra content in the back of the paper which is the appendix.

Note – Before you start exploring into more details, here is a tip for you – there is nothing like Appendix vs. Appendices. They are just the singular and plural versions.

Types of Information in Appendices

There is a common curiosity among budding scholars that what is an appendix or appendices?

Well, even if it’s mentioned that all the extra information is stored here, there are certain types of that data. For example, the data in a research paper’s appendix section can be presented in several ways, which are graphs, tables, pictures, definitions etc.

Similarly, there are more such types of information that you can place in your appendices. Have a look below –

Surveys commonly appear in appendices and are employed in research techniques . You should provide surveys exactly as they were given to the respondents, together with their verbatim replies, to ensure that readers have a comprehensive grasp of the findings.

Interviews, whether they are recorded or transcribed, are frequently added as appendices. Include the entire set of questions and the related responses to ensure openness.

• Correspondence

As an appendix to their publications, researchers frequently include correspondence with collaborators that relates to the study’s topic. Text messages, emails, voice message transcriptions, letters, and other forms of communication are examples of this.

• Tools for Research

To provide readers a glimpse into the research process, cameras, audio recorders, specialised software, and other equipment should be recognised in an appendix.

• Items Other Than Text

Appendices should be used for non-textual materials like tables, graphs, illustrations, figures, charts, or an excessive number of images.

• Statistical Data

Even if only a fraction of the statistical data was used, excessive statistical data should be supplied to the study as an appendix. In fact, complete data must be provided as well.

Apart from the variations of data mentioned above, you can include a list glossary, date wise case history, picture, web links, different graphs on the same topic, list of books etc. in your appendices.

However, note that each of these types of data must link with the main context. If there is no reference, readers or examiners might consider that you have skipped a part of the topic.

Steps to Write Appendices in a Research Paper

Now that you gathered a basic idea of what goes in an appendix, it’s time you write one. Hence, follow the detailed steps below and you can apply them for appendices in report or nay other work.

Check here –

Gathering Information for the Appendix

Assemble raw data

A study paper’s appendix should always contain the raw data, which is an absolute requirement.

It is crucial to ensure that the sources from which the raw data was derived are accurately credited.

Calculations that were used in the study paper’s main body could be an example of raw data.

Even more information that deepens the paper’s topic and supports any conclusions that have been discussed in the body of the document may be included in the appendix.

Add pictures, graphs, and charts

Typically, an appendix will contain additional supporting data like graphs, maps, images, and other appealing visuals that the reader could find interesting.

To avoid unintentionally plagiarizing, cite any images or other content that is not your own properly.

Record the instruments that were utilised

It’s crucial to keep the reader informed about the research methods and tools employed in your report.

These tools could be any equipment that was used to gather information for the study, such as cameras, mobile phone recordings, or other tools.

Most of the time, the reader will be curious to discover what tools were utilised to gather the information for the work.

Include more accurate information

The appendix should also include a variety of interviews, surveys, or transcripts that may have taken place during the research that was conducted for the article, in addition to graphs, tools, and raw materials used in the study.

The transcripts should include the entirety of the interview and contain all of the questions and answers; copies of any online or even hand-completed surveys; and any other correspondence that was mentioned in the research paper’s main body (such as emails, recordings, etc.).

Arrangement of the Appendix

Add a suitable heading

Always use capital letters or sentence cases when referencing an appendix at the top of the page. It can be the same size as the chapter titles used in the research paper’s main body.

In some circumstances, a research article may require more than one appendix. If so, it’s crucial to arrange them numerically or alphabetically, for instance in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2, to ensure consistency.

To avoid confusing the reader of the report, each appendix must begin on a different page.

Put the content in a logical sequence

The ideal way to arrange the information in an appendix is depending on where and when it appears in the main body of the research report.

An appendix needs to be very accessible and user-friendly. For instance, if an interview is mentioned in a research paper’s conclusion, the link to the interview must be included at the end of the appendix.

Following the reference list, add the appendix.

A research paper’s appendix should always come after the list of references. Naturally, everything depends on how the subject matter expert wishes it to be.

It is essential to always check that an appendix complies with the guidelines established by the professor who assigned the research project.

Add page numbers

The centre of the page or the bottom right-hand corner of the page should contain any numbers that are included in the research paper’s appendix.

To make sure that the reader can easily browse through the research report, the same format should be used throughout.

Brush up & Revise the Appendix

Edit the appendix for errors

An appendix typically does not have a set word count, however it is best practice to keep it as brief as possible to cut out any pointless or protracted content.

Once the appendix has been completed, it is crucial to read it again to confirm that all of the information is pertinent to the text in the research paper’s main body.

After this is complete, any additional information in the appendix that does not directly relate to the paper’s main body should be eliminated. Moreover, you must clean up any fluffs as it could complicate and undermine the paper’s overall goal.

If there is anything in the appendix you think a reader cannot comprehend, try having a third second-person to read it.

Learn How to Write an Appendix from These Unique Samples

Appendix is often the most overlooked section in academic writing. However, knowing how to write one is significant as it helps in incorporating too cumbersome information in the paper. Go through our below-enlisted samples to develop profound understanding of how to write an appendix flawlessly & improve the clarity and credibility of your research.

Check This Appendices Example

Formatting Rule for Appendices

General rules that goes into every style –

• There must be a letter, title, or number on each appendix;
• The research paper’s contents page must include a list of these numbers and titles;
• At the proper place in the research paper’s content, each appendix must be referred to by a number or letter.

Rule for APA Format

In colleges and universities, APA style appendices are most common. In fact, academic papers in the social sciences—such as psychology, education, sociology, criminology, and others—generally need to follow it.

Hence, when a paper must be written in APA format, these are the main components academics you must check for:

• The header “Appendix” should be arranged as A, B, C, etc.
• Under the headline, type the title of the appendix in the centre
• Observe the paper’s stated order for the information
• Put page numbers in
• Regardless of its size, each appendix should begin on a different page
• Double-space your text
• The first paragraph should not be indented; the subsequent paragraphs should be.
• Insert footnotes
• After the reference list, place the appendix
• To cite an appendix in the main body of your thesis, put “see Appendix A” after the text.

Rule for MLA Format

When conducting research in the humanities, such as philosophy , languages, and the arts, the MLA format is advised for appendices . Although there are a few variances, this format and the APA format are fairly similar. The main characteristic is that the list of references should come before the MLA appendix.

Following are some guidelines for using MLA format:

• After the main body of the paper and before the reference list, place the appendix
• When constructing headings for multiple appendices, use A, B, and C
• Title in the centre
• Make an appendix with the facts listed in the research work’s sequence
• Each appendix should have page numbers added
• Regardless of size, each appendix should be on its own page
• Add double-space within the list
• When including titles of websites, comprehensive articles, books, and recordings in your appendices, italicise them
• Reference titles for brief essays, poems, tabloid articles, scholarly entries, portions of PDF files, etc. should not be italicised because they simply refer to a portion of the source

Rules for Chicago Format

If you’re writing an academic paper on history, take into account this format. Additionally, academic publications and periodicals must have it.

It is not harder to write research papers in Chicago style than in APA style.

These two formats are nearly interchangeable. However, there is a tiny distinction. Take a look at these instructions for creating an appendix in Chicago style:

• To refer to more than one appendix, create the title “Appendices”
• Use Times New Roman in a 12-point size for your content
• Every page should include a page number in the upper right corner, labelled “Page 1, 2, 3,” etc.
• On the front cover, do not include the page number
• The bibliography, which should have footnotes and be on a separate page and serve to conclude your research effort, should appear before the appendices.

Apart from that you can take the opportunity to browse the samples that have been structured in accordance with Chicago style guidelines. You’ll discover a lot of helpful information when working on appendices that you can use in your papers.

How to Address Appendices within the Research Paper?

If you want to know how to cite appendices in your paper, this is the place to find your answer.

There are undoubtedly many helpful tips about how to cite appendices to be found. Every appendix must be mentioned in a document at least once. The letter or number of the appendix should be mentioned either directly in the phrase or in brackets. You may also make reference to a particular section of an appendix.

Here is are examples of doing that –

• For referring to the whole appendix –

As shown in Appendix A, the participants’ social media preference information indicates that…

In the table (see Appendix B), you’ll observe…

• For referring to a component of the appendix –

This figure (see Appendix 4, Table 1) indicates that…

Photo 3 in Appendix 2 presents…

Ending with…

Just like any other section of the research paper, the section of appendix is indispensable. However, most are in the idea that it’s the synonym of a bibliography or a referencing paper! Well, when you follow the above guidelines, you will realise that it’s larger than that.

In fact, it has all the information that you need in your paper, but you couldn’t mention them all. That’s you need an additional paper that comes next to reference, and becomes a guide for the reader.

So, starting today, apply the suggestions above and make your research paper one level up with a good appendix paper!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of an appendix.

Ans: Any figures, tables, maps, images, raw data, computer programmers, musical examples, interview questions, sample surveys etc. that are too long to add in the main body can be put in the appendix.

How do you write an appendix for an essay?

Ans: When writing an essay, set the appendix as supplementary information right after the references page. You can include here additional information about the data or terms etc. elaborately.

How do you write an appendix for a university?

Ans: Below is the preferred step to write an appendix for a university –

• Each appendix should have its own point.
• Write a title for each appendix.
• For multiple list of appendices, follow the ABC format
• For reference within the body, include phrases like (see appendix a) after the text.
• Present the title in the centre alignment
• Each list of appendices should have their own page, regardless of the size.

How do you write an appendix for an article?

Ans: The process of writing an appendix for an article is similar to the essay format. However, depending on the length and number of information in the article, you can add segments like “Appendix A” or “Appendix 1”.

What is written in the appendix?

Ans: In academic writing, an appendix is a section at the end that contains more information about the subject that can be useful to the reader. They frequently include graphs, maps, pictures, or unprocessed statistical data.

What is an appendix in project writing?

Ans: When you are preparing a project report, your appendices will include figures, tables, maps, images, raw data, computer programmes, musical examples, interview questions, sample surveys etc. You have to arrange them in alphabetical order in a separate list as well.

How does an appendix look?

Ans: An appendix looks like a long list of information related to the different segments of a research paper, book etc. In this blog you can explore a few examples that will give you a visual experience.

How do you format an appendix in a report?

Ans: The ideal format of an appendix in a report should be created on its own individual page labelled “Appendix”. Next, it should be followed by a title that describes the subject of the appendix. Apart from that, bold the title at the top of the page and write it in the title case.

What is an appendix page?

Ans: The page of an appendix is basically the section at the end of an academic text where you include all the extra information that doesn’t fit into the main body of the paper.

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What is an appendix, what can you include in an appendix.

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The content of an appendix

Visual documents, instruments used, transcripts of interviews and surveys, the format of an appendix, title of the appendix, content order, placement and page numbers, make your appendix perfect.

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How to Write an Appendix: Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

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While composing your work, you may stumble upon a question on how to write an appendix.

An appendix is a supplemental section of a research paper that provides additional information, data, or materials to support the main content. The appendix is usually placed at the end of the document and is numbered with letters or numbers, such as "Appendix A," "Appendix B," etc. The purpose of an appendix is to provide readers with supplementary details that are not included in the main text but are relevant to the topic.

Once you decide on writing appendices, you should collect additional information and format your text as required. Here, we will talk about how you can work with appendices. We will also show some nuances of their preparation process using a real example. Is the deadline around the corner? Consider using professional research paper help from expert scholars.

What Is an Appendix: Definition

Experienced researchers know what an appendix in a paper is. But aspiring authors often have problems with this section of the work. First of all, you should understand that appendices are an additional section of a dissertation or any other scientific paper that includes additional information. Main points are not placed in an appendix meanwhile at the end of your work it can expand on some context or clarify author’s position on a particular issue. Also, an appendix is ​​often placed after the citation page of a work. It is indicated with the help of references in a main text.

What Is the Purpose of an Appendix

Quite often, authors don’t understand the purpose of an appendix. This usually looks like a table and is not included in a main text. Remember that content of your dissertation should be concise and clear. It is also undesirable if you deviate from your theme so as not to confuse readers. Therefore, you can provide a reference, which will lead a reader to an appendix of a thesis. Typically, the purpose of an appendix is to extra information that is usually not included in the text's body. It expresses author's point of view, and provides additional information. It may not address the immediate topic of your dissertation or expand on current research. As a reminder, your work should be clear even without studying an appendix. So make sure you don't put important details there.

What Can You Include in an Appendix

An appendix in a paper is a supplement to a main text, not a replacement. You can put different elements there. It is better if you separate appendices, highlighting one element in each of them. Don’t forget about separate references in your text. Otherwise it will be difficult for a reader to understand your information better. Thus, the following information can be added:

• diagrams with illustrative figures;
• abbreviations ;
• interviews;
• statistics, and much more.

There are no restrictions on content added to your dissertation's appendices. Theoretically, you can attach absolutely any information that is relevant to your topic. Thus, possibilities for evidence base are almost unlimited. All you need to do is add tables or any other information.

How to Write an Appendix: Full Guide

If you already have experience working on dissertations and other scientific texts, you will not wonder how to make an appendix. However, it is still important that you get some advice on how to properly structure an appendices section. This will help add information that may be redundant in the main part of your paper. We offer 4 simple steps to create an informative and readable appendix block.

Step 1. Make an Appendix: Include Your Data

When creating an appendix, include extra data in their raw form. That is, you might not have used some details in your main paper. But you want a reader to know more information. For example, it can be calculations, some results of which are mentioned in your main text. Or maybe, you can add some statistics that clearly demonstrate your research paper conclusion . You can also include facts from other scientific sources that support your position. One thing is important — information should complement your text but not contradict it.

Step 2. Include Visual Supporting Documents in an Appendix 

When you are writing an appendix, you can’t avoid visual additions that clearly demonstrate an information and save an author from lengthy descriptions in the text. Should you need to support your conclusions drawn in the scientific text, these can be used:

Don’t forget: you should quote and indicate the authorship of graphics used in your work. If you took it from any third-party sources, of course. Thus, a reader will be able to find additional data that explains the content of your text. It is good if you personally put results of your research in a graphic form. To do this, you can use Office programs, graphic editors and other programs available to PC users.

Step 3. Describe the Instruments of Your Research in Your Appendices

It is good if your appendix in the research paper has a section for indicating tools that were used during the preparation of your dissertation writing . This way, your reader will understand how you collected information and do it themselves. For example, it could be a dictaphone or tape recorder on which an interview with your expert was recorded. Or you might have used a video camera for recording facts and interviews. In such case, it is advisable to indicate these instruments in your appendix. Specialized equipment for measuring, calculating and making graphics should also be added at the beginning of the appendix. This way, you will demonstrate your skills and knowledge. Research units don’t require extra tools, so make sure they are listed. You can do it even in a short format.

Step 4. Include an Interview and Transcripts in an Appendix

When conducting interviews and surveys for collecting information, make an appendix with photocopies of handwritten materials or electronic copies of digital surveys. Their order is not important. The main thing is that your research text contains references. This will allow you to quickly study the sources. You should not only show that the source contains important data but also explain it. So, even additional content, including questions and answers, needs to be listed. But if you originally had a readable format, you don’t need to do this. In addition to interviews, also add screenshots or photos of correspondences used for surveys. For example, you can refer to a significant researcher with whom you exchanged letters. Or maybe you studied subject, together with this researcher, and they gave some comments on a particular issue. Do not know how to write a discussion section of a research paper ? Do not worry, we have the whole article dedicated to this topic.

Formatting an Appendix: Main Rules

Formatting of appendices is required in any case. First of all, provide correct citations. APA, MLA, and Chicago are the most commonly used standards. Although, you should clarify what formatting requirements your institution has. Correct formatting includes:

• Appendix title. Write it at the top of the content page, indicate its title, using letters or numbers for ordering.
• Sorted by mention. Don’t add appendices randomly, it is better to do it in chronological order. That is, as information from it is given in main text.
• Location after bibliography. This is a general requirement that cannot always be met. For example, if your professor wants the appendices to be put before the bibliography, this will have to be done.
• Page numbers. All dissertation pages should be numbered, even if they are blank. This will make the appendix block the part of main text.

Also, review your appendix before approval. Make sure that its content is clear, error-free, and correctly quoted.

Appendix Example

To do the job successfully, it is recommended to have an example of an appendix at hand. Without it, there are usually problems with a choice of font and mentions that appear in main text. We will show you what the appendix itself looks like at the end of the dissertation using a short interview as an example.

We have one more blog in case you wonder what is an abstract in a paper  or need some examples and writing tips.

How to Make an Appendix: Final Thoughts

Thus, we talked about how to write an appendix. It allows you to include additional details, while avoiding writing them in the body of your text. To do this, one can use graphics, transcriptions of conversations, tables and statistics — anything that complements your research. Be sure to clarify formatting requirements of your university. Arrange appendices in an order in which they appear in your text. Try to use your own materials and not take other people's work. In case of unique findings, they can be used in your work.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Appendix Writing

1. how do you add an appendix to an essay.

The inclusion of appendix to an essay is the same as to any other paper. You need to provide references in your text of an essay itself, as well as submit attachments after a bibliography. Don't forget to specify name of an appendix for easy navigation.

2. Do I add references to the appendix?

Yes, this is not only recommended but must be done. In this case the appendix will allow your reader to check the reliability of sources you used. Moreover, if you took any information from third-party sources, this protect you from plagiarism charges.

4. How do you create an appendix in Word?

It is not difficult to prepare an appendix in Word, because this Office program contains all the necessary tools. To get started, choose the same font, font size and indentation that were used in the main text, so as not to visually break away from it. We also recommend that you apply title formatting with built-in Word tools. Place the appendix titles at the top in the center of a page. In this case it will be much easier to navigate the paper.

3. What is an appendix in a report example?

You can include a wide range of information into an appendix in a report. It is better to opt for descriptive formats, though. For example, it can be graphical or mathematical research results, statistics of a certain phenomenon, and questionnaires filled in by other people.

Joe Eckel is an expert on Dissertations writing. He makes sure that each student gets precious insights on composing A-grade academic writing.

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• How To Write A Research Paper Appendix: A Step-by-Step Guide

Think of appendices like bonus levels on your favorite video game. They are not a major part of the game, but they boost your points and they make the game worthwhile. 

Appendix are important facts, calculations, or data that don’t fit into the main body of your research paper. Having an appendix gives your research paper more details, making it easier for your readers to understand your main ideas.

Let’s dive into how to create an appendix and its best practices.

Understanding the Purpose of an Appendix

If you’re looking to add some extra depth to your research, appendices are a great way to do it.  They allow you to include extremely useful information that doesn’t fit neatly into the main body of your research paper, such as huge raw data, multiple charts, or very long explanations.

Think of your appendix as a treasure chest with different compartments. You can include different information including, extra data, surveys, graphs, or even detailed explanations of your methods. You can fit anything too big or detailed for the main paper in the appendix.

Planning Your Appendix

Before you dive into making your appendix, it’s a good idea to plan things out; think of it as drawing a map before going on an adventure. 

You want your appendix to be organized and provide more context to your research. Not planning it will make the process time-consuming and make the appendix confusing to people reading your research paper.

How to Decide What to Include in Your Research Paper

You have to sort through the content that you will include in your appendix. Think of what your readers need to know to understand your key points. Anything that’s overly detailed, off-topic, or clutters up your paper is a good candidate for your appendix.

Tips for Organizing Your Appendix

Once you’ve figured out what to put in your appendix, it’s time to organize it. Your appendix is a place to add extra information, but it shouldn’t be cluttered or confusing to your readers. Instead, it should make your research paper easier to understand.

Use clear headings, labels, and even page numbers to help your readers find the information they need in the appendix. This way, it’s not a jumbled mess, but a well-organized part of your research paper

Formatting Guidelines

Yes, your appendix must be formatted. Most of the time, you’ll want to keep the font and margin sizes consistent with your main paper. 

However, some universities and journals may have specific guidelines for appendix formatting. Verify if your institution has special guidelines, if they do, follow them, if they don’t use the same format as your main text.

Here’s a typical breakdown of how to format your appendix:

(1) Labeling and Titling 

If you have different types of information in your appendix, use letters to label them, such as “Appendix A” and “Appendix B”. Then, give each appendix a title that explains the information inside it. 

For example, if the first section of your appendix contains raw survey data, you could call it “Appendix A (Survey Data of People Living with Diabetes Under 18 in Texas)”. If the second section of your appendix contains charts, you could call it “Appendix B (The Effect of Sugar Tax in Curbing Diabetes in Children and Young Adults)”.

(2) Numbering Tables, Figures, and More 

If you have tables, figures, or other things in your appendix, number them like a list. For example, “Table A1,” “Figure A1,” and more. This numbering helps your readers know what they’re looking at, sort of like chapters in a book.

Creating Tables and Figures

Using tables and figures helps you organize your data neatly in your appendix. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating tables and figures in your appendix:

Choose the Right Format for Your Appendix Data

Before creating tables or figures, you need to pick the right format to display the information. Think about what makes your data most clear and understandable. 

For example, a table is better for detailed numbers, while a graph is great for showing trends. The right format makes your information easy to grasp and makes your paper look organized.

How to Create Tables in Your Appendix

You can use a spreadsheet program (like Excel or Google Sheets) to create tables to arrange information neatly. Make sure to give your table a clear title so readers know what it’s about.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating tables with a spreadsheet program:

• Open Google Sheets/Excel : Access Google Sheets or Excel through the web or download the app
• Open a New Spreadsheet or Existing File : Create a new spreadsheet or open an existing one where you want to insert a table.
• Select Data : Click and drag to select the data you want to include in the table.
• Insert Table : Once your data is selected, go to the “Insert” menu, then select “Table.
• Create Table : A dialog box will appear, confirming the selected data range. Make sure the “Use the first row as headers” option is checked if your data has headers. Click “Insert .”
• Customize Your Table : After inserting the table, you can customize it by adjusting the style, format, and other table properties using the “Table” menu in Google Sheets or Excel.

You can use software like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or graphic design tools to create them. If you have a chart or graph, make sure it’s easy to understand and add a title or labels to explain it. 

You can use the editing tools for images to change the size and other aspects of the image.

Stop Struggling with Research Proposals! Get Organized and Impress Reviewers with our Template

Including Raw Data

The major reasons for including raw data in your appendix are transparency and credibility. Raw data is like your research recipe; it shows exactly what you worked with to arrive at your conclusions.

Raw data also provides enough information to guide researchers in replicating your study or getting a deeper understanding of your research.

Formatting and Presenting Raw Data 

Formatting your raw data makes it easy for anyone to understand. You can use tables, charts, or even lists to display your data. For example, if you did a survey, you could put the survey responses in a table with clear headings.

When presenting your raw data, clear organization is your best friend. Use headings, labels, and consistent formatting to help your readers find and understand the data. This keeps your appendix from becoming a confusing puzzle.

Citing Your Appendix

Referencing your appendix in the main text gives readers a full picture of your research while they’re reading- They don’t have to wait until the end to figure out important details of your research.

Unlike actual references and citations, citing your appendix is a very straightforward process. You can simply say, “See Appendix A for more details.”

In-Text Citations for Appendix Content

If you would like to cite information in your appendix, you usually mention the author, year, and what exactly you’re citing. This allows you to give credit to the original creator of the content, so your readers know where it came from.

For instance, if you included a chart from a book in your appendix, you’d say something like (Author, Year, p. X). Keep in mind that there are different citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, and others), so your appendix may look a little different.

Proofreading and Editing

Proofreading and editing your appendix is just as important as proofreading and editing the main body of your paper. A poorly written or formatted appendix can leave a negative impression on your reader and detract from the overall quality of your work. 

Make sure that your appendix is consistent with the main text of your paper in terms of style and tone unless otherwise stated by your institution. Use the same font, font size, and line spacing in the appendix as you do in the main body of your paper. 

Your appendix should also be free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting.

Tips for Checking for Errors in Formatting, Labeling, and Content

Here are some tips for checking for errors in formatting, labeling, and content in your appendix:

• Formatting : Make sure that all of the elements in your appendix are formatted correctly, including tables, figures, and equations. Check the margins, line spacing, and font size to make sure that they are consistent with the rest of your paper.
• Labeling : All of the tables, figures, and equations in your appendix should be labeled clearly and consistently. Use a consistent numbering system and make sure that the labels match the references in the main body of your paper.
• Content : Proofread your appendix carefully to catch any errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and content. You can use grammar editing tools such as Grammarly to help you automatically detect errors in your context.

Appendix Checklist

Having an appendix checklist guarantees a well-organized appendix and helps you spot and correct any overlooked mistakes.

Here’s a checklist of key points to review before finalizing your appendix:

• Is all of the information in the appendix relevant and necessary?
• Is the appendix well-organized and easy to understand?
• Are all the tables, numbers, and equations clearly labeled?
• Is the appendix formatted correctly and consistently with the main body of the paper?
• Is the appendix free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and content?

Sample Appendix

We have discussed what you should include in your appendix and how to organize it. Let’s take a look at what a well-formatted appendix looks like:

Appendix A. (Raw Data of Class Scores)

The following table shows the raw data collected for the study.

How the Sample Appendix Adheres to Best Practices

• The appendix is labeled clearly and concisely as “Appendix A. (Raw Data of Class Score).”
• The appendix begins on a new page.
• The appendix is formatted consistently with the rest of the paper, using the same font, font size, and line spacing.
• The table in the appendix is labeled clearly and concisely as “Table A1.”
• The table is formatted correctly, with consistent column widths and alignment.
• The table includes all of the necessary information, including the participant number, age, gender, and score.
• The appendix is free of grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Having an appendix easily makes your research paper impressive to reviewers, and increases your likelihood of achieving high grades or journal publication.  It also makes it easier for other researchers to replicate your research, allowing you to make a significant contribution to your research field.

Ensure to use the best practices in this guide to create a well-structured and relevant appendix. Also, use the checklist provided in this article to help you carefully review your appendix before submitting it.

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