Like the appendix in the human body, the appendix in writing provides additional information that is needed, but does not need to be included in the body of the main article. The appendix may contain references for readers, summaries of raw data or additional details about the methods used. You may be asked to write an appendix for a school assignment or you may decide to write it for a personal project. You should start by gathering appendix material and organizing it using the proper format. Then, you should polish the appendix to make it easy to read, useful, and interesting.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Gathering Materials for the Appendix
Step 1. Include raw data
The appendix should be a place to write down the raw data you collected during your research. Include raw data that you think is relevant to the article you are writing, especially if the data supports the results of your research. Only include raw data from the information you mention in the article as you must ensure its relevance to the reader.
- Raw data can be in the form of calculation examples or special data which is a further explanation of the data or information that you write in the body of the article.
- You can also include additional facts from other sources that can support your research results. Make sure you quote correctly the information you get from other sources.
Step 2. Insert supporting graphics, diagrams, or images
Use the appendix to include supporting visual documents such as graphs, diagrams, drawings, maps, paintings or photographs. Only include images that are relevant to the research findings you wrote in the body of the article.
You can use graphs or charts that you create yourself. Make sure you correctly quote other people's visual objects in the appendix
Step 3. Write down your research instrument in the appendix
Make sure you describe the research instrument you are using. The instrument can be a camera, recorder, or other device that you use to collect data. This information can help readers understand how you use a particular instrument to conduct research.
For example, you might write in the appendix: “All interviews and surveys were conducted live and recorded using a tape recorder.”
Step 4. Enter a transcript of the interview or survey
Use the appendix to include transcripts of interviews or surveys you did in your research. Write the entire interview transcript, including the interview questions and answers. You can also attach a photocopy of the written survey or a copy of the online survey.
You should include your correspondence with the research subject, such as copies of e-mails, letters, or notes written by your research subjects
Part 2 of 3: Organizing the Appendix
Step 1. Give it a title
The appendix should be clearly titled at the top of the page. Use all capital letters, such as “APPENDIX” or an initial capital letter, such as “Appendix.” You can use the same type and font size as the subtitles in your articles.
- If you have more than one appendix, arrange them by letter or number and keep them consistent. For example, if you use letters, make sure the appendix is titled “Appendix A,” “Appendix B,” etc. If you use a number, make sure the appendix is titled “Appendix 1,” “Appendix 2,” etc.
- If you have more than one appendix, make sure each appendix starts on a new page. Thus, the reader is not confused where the beginning and end of each appendix.
Step 2. Arrange the contents of the appendix
Arrange the contents of the appendix in the order in which they appear in the body of the article. This method will make your appendix easier to read and understand.
For example, if the raw data is mentioned in the first line of the article body, put the raw data in the first appendix. Or, if you mention interview questions at the end of the body of the article, make sure the interview questions are placed in the last appendix
Step 3. Place the appendix after the Bibliography
The appendix should be placed after the Bibliography. If your professor or professor asks that the appendix be placed in a different place, for example before the Bibliography, follow their directions.
Add your appendix to the Table of Contents, if any. You can list them by title, for example, “Appendix”, or “Appendix A” if you have more than one appendix
Step 4. Number the pages
Make sure your appendix has page numbers at the bottom-right or bottom-center of the page. Use the same page number format as the article body. Forward page numbers from the body of the article to make it appear that the appendix is part of the entire article.
For example, if the article ends on page 17, continue this number to the first page of the appendix
Part 3 of 3: Polishing the Appendix
Step 1. Revise the appendix to make it clear and unified
There is no standard length or word count limit for appendices. However, the appendix should not be too long. Reread your appendix and make sure all the information in it is relevant to the article. Remove information that is not related to the body of the article or does not make your writing clear. An appendix that is too long will look unprofessional and overwhelm your writing.
It can be helpful to ask someone else, such as a colleague or mentor, to read your appendix. Ask them to evaluate whether the information you include in the appendix is relevant to your article and remove any information they deem unnecessary
Step 2. Check for spelling and sentence structure errors
Make sure your appendix is free of spelling, sentence structure, or punctuation errors. Use the spell check feature on your computer and try checking it manually.
Read the entire appendix to make sure there are no misspellings. You want to appear as professional as possible
Step 3. Mention the appendix you have made in the body of the article
After you have finished creating the appendix, you should return to the body of the article and make sure that you are citing the information in the appendix using the proper title. In this way, readers will know that the appendix provides additional information relevant to the text they are reading and helps them find that additional information.
