When you are writing an essay—especially if it is research- or academic-based—you will likely end up with a wealth of data, charts, or extra information to support your work, but which cannot be easily integrated and threaded into the body. Enter the appendix.
An appendix is a section at the end of an essay where you include supplementary material that is either too complicated or too cumbersome to put in the main bibliography if you goal is to know whom you are writing for. This manual will educate you on how to write an appendix, what you can include, and style and formatting considerations which will facilitate clarity, professionalism, and efficiency for your reader.
What Is an Appendix?
An appendix (the plural of appendix is appendices) is a section at the end of your essay which will contain material that is useful but would disrupt the flow if inserted into the body. Good examples of appendix material might also include:
- Raw data
- Interview transcripts
- Survey responses
- Tables and & charts
- Images or maps
- Full-text of questionnaires
- Lists, glossaries, or reference documents
This section gives room in the body of your essay by maintaining however full transparency of your research process and/or references.
Why Is an Appendix Important?
An appendix is more than just some extra pages!
- It serves an important purpose by: Supporting your arguments: It allows the reader to assess the raw data or instruments that you relied on to make your conclusions.
- Maintaining clarity in the main body: It keeps readers focused on the specific argument – your readers don’t have to wade through all sorts of detail, just what they need to know!
- Demonstrating academic rigor: It shows you researched thoroughly and have evidence for your claims.
When Should You Use an Appendix?
You should use an appendix only when needed. Here are a couple of examples that will justify including one:
- Your essay presents information from data or interviews too long to include in their entirety.
- You refer to a table or figure that is too complex for readers to keep visible without distracting from the main argument or discussion.
- You want to provide documentation to support your argument, such as copies of an official letters, charts, or additional reading.
What to Include in an Appendix
Here is a list of the types of material you can include:
- Raw data (if you carried out a survey or experiment include all responses);
- Interview transcripts (full or partial transcripts of interviews);
- Questionnaires or surveys (the forms or questions that were utilized in your research);
- Charts, graphs, and tables (especially if they are not embedded directly in your text);
- Images, maps, or diagrams (these aid in visualizing the material explained);
- Supplementary explanations (long, detailed definitions, lists, or explanations can be added here if they do not fit your text).
Only include material that directly relates to your topic. Do not include irrelevant information just to increase the length of your essay.
How to Format an Appendix
Formatting matters! Follow these basic rules:
1. Label Each Appendix Clearly
If your essay has more than one appendix, number them (Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, etc.) and use these same numbers when referencing within your essay (e.g., “See Appendix A for survey results).
2. Title Each Appendix
Each appendix should have a clear title. Example:
- Appendix A: Survey Results
- Appendix B: Interview Transcript
3. Follow the Order of Appearance
Follow the same order in which you reference your appendices. The first one referred to would be Appendix A, and the next would be Appendix B, etc.
4. Start Each Appendix on a New Page
Each appendix should start on a new page and separate from your essay.
5. Use the Same Formatting Style
Follow your academic style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) for font, spacing, and margins.
How to Refer to the Appendix in Your Essay
In your main body, you can mention the appendix briefly without interfering with the flow of text. For example:
- “For a complete list of the survey questions please see Appendix A.”
- “The interview transcript (Appendix B) supports this finding.”
You don’t need to repeat the data or explain it; just direct the reader to the appendix.
Tips for Writing a Good Appendix
- Be concise: Be relevant. Don’t overstuff your appendix.
- Be organized: Use headings and bulleted points to make your appendix easier to read.
- Be accurate: Make sure your information is correct and that it matches what you are referencing in your essay.
- Proofread: Just like your essay, your appendix should be error free.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an appendix is a useful resource for you because it allows you to provide substantive additional information to enhance your essay without disrupting the flow of the essay. If other appendices are provided with clear labels and good referencing in your essay, the readers can easily find and interpret the supplementary information. Again, when using an appendix you should only append relevant information and items that supplement your essay and support your argument. Such information can include expanded definitions, raw data, or examples. And finally, where possible you should keep a consistent format with your main essay so that your entire document looks professional and cohesive. With these factors in mind, your appendix will not only solidify the credibility of your essay, but also provide more detailed information for interested readers about your survey, or interview, or other sources you used.
Frequently asked question
1. What Is an Appendix and When Should I Include One?
An appendix is a final section in your essay with extra material—such as unedited data, large tables, questionnaires, or longer quotes—that supports your argument but is too bulky or tangential to fit easily in the main text. If these type of materials assist with argument comprehension, provide evidence, and do not distract, then they belong in an appendix.
2. What Types of Content Belong in an Appendix?
Often items that go in an appendix include:
- Unedited Data or Statistics: Significant data sets, survey outcomes, completed surveys, or long tables of calculations.
- Questionnaires or Interview Transcripts: Full survey forms discussed in your analysis, or transcripts of interviews.
- Maps, Diagrams, or Visuals: Supplementary visuals that might be informative but are not important to the main text.
- Long Quotes: Anything larger than typical quotation length you are using from your sources.
- Glossary or List of Abbreviations: Definitions for the specialized words or acronyms you used in your essay.
3. How Do I Reference the Appendix in My Essay?
Any time you refer to something that is in the appendix, refer to that material in a straightforward manner in the body of the essay. For example:
“See Appendix A for a survey questionnaire.” The label should be Appendix (e.g., Appendix A, Appendix B) in the order they come and should match the appendix headings exactly. This will help your reader find any supplementary material quickly.
4. What Formatting Guidelines Should I Follow?
- Separate Section: Place the appendix after your conclusion, and before your reference list or bibliography.
- Heading: Use “Appendix A,” “Appendix B,”, etc., as headings. If you only have one appendix, just call it “Appendix.”\
- Consistent Style: You should use the same font, margins, and spacing as the rest of your essay.\
- Numbering: You should continue the page numbering of the main text (for example, if your essay finishes on page 20, the appendix finishes on page 21).
- Order of Multiple Appendices: Appendices should follow the order in which they were cited – Appendix A first, then B, and so on.
5. How Do I Ensure My Appendix Adds Value Without Distracting?
- Relevance: Include only material that is directly referenced or required for your argument.
- Labelling: Label charts, tables, or figures clearly with a brief caption or title.
- Conciseness: If a data set can be summarized in the main text (with some key figures, and perhaps a chart), but you want to provide the detailed breakdown, just keep the breakdown and put it in the appendix.
- Split: If you have multiple items (e.g., a questionnaire and data set), break them into separate appendices. Each appendix should begin on a fresh page, with a heading, for example “Appendix A”.
- Cited: Every item in the appendix should be cited at least once in the essay so you don’t include material that was not used or is extraneous.