How to Type a Research Paper in InDesign
Adobe InDesign is software program used primarily by publishers and editors to create page layouts with graphics and text. InDesign allows you to set multiple text options, many more than a simple word processing software. With InDesign, you set multiple text frames, graphics, shapes and lines in any part of the document, which lets the creator have more freedom over formatting. If you want to create a professional research paper in the style of a journal or simply take advantage of the open text frames in InDesign, then you can always type the text first in a word processing software with spell check and word count, then copy and paste the text into your new InDesign document.
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Instructions
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Open InDesign. Click "File," then click "New" to open the new document settings. Click "Standard Letter" in the page dimensions drop down menu box. Choose "Portrait" or "Landscape" depending on how you want to print the research paper. Click number of pages to set a size. If you know your paper must be 2,000 words or more, then enter four for number of pages. If you need to add more, InDesign allows you to change the number of pages later.
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Click "Margins" and "Columns." Ideally you want a one-inch margin on all sides for most papers, but your professor or advisor may specify the exact size. Choose to add columns. If you want to add two columns or more, pick "Landscape" orientation to allow for more clarity and space on one page.
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Click "Master Text Frame." Set the size of your text frame within the margin parameters. Every page now contains a master text frame which saves time as you do not have to create a text frame for each page. Once you finish selecting the document options, click "OK."
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Click "File," then click "Save." Type in a name for your research paper and select a folder in which you want to save the document. Periodically press "CTRL+S" together to save your document. While you always trust programs to save a recovery file, InDesign unexpectedly quitting leads you to start over again. In such cases, saving first ensures that you have a recovery file and can safely return to your document in case of a sudden shutdown.
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Click on the "T" tool or type tool from the toolbox to the left of the workspace. Click the color box below the tools to set the color to black or "000000." Click "OK" when finished.
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Find the "Text Options" box at the top of the workspace. The text tool options include font family, size, bold, italic, alignment and leading. For now, click in the font family box and click on a text name you want, usually Times New Roman for professional papers and articles. Click in the box beside the font family to set a default size. Click in the box to right of the size to choose a leading. This is the spacing between lines. MLA style for research papers requires double spacing. InDesign measures spacing in points. Choose a 28-point leading to meet this requirement.
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Hover your mouse over the top left corner of the document and click to place a cursor. Type your first and last name, then hit "Enter," then type the name of your professor, hit "Enter," then type the course number for your class. Press "Enter" again and type in the date. Press "Enter" again and then click center alignment from the top of InDesign in the text options box. Type in the title of your research paper. Hit the "Enter" key and click left alignment from the text options at the top.
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Type the introduction of the research paper, which includes a thesis statement. A thesis statement describes your research paper in one sentence. Hit "Enter" when you want to start a new paragraph for your research paper. Continue writing your research paper, including the supporting paragraphs. Remember to cite examples and quotes in parentheses. Consult the MLA handbook on citing sources when in doubt. Each body paragraph stats with a topic sentence related to the focus of your research.
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Type in the text of your conclusion, answering any questions about your research and posing new ideas. Your text continues to the next page within the master text frame that you set at the beginning. Hit the "Enter" key until your cursor moves to the next page. Click the center alignment at the top of InDesign in text options. Type in "Works Cited," then hit enter. Change the alignment back to left and enter in your source information according to MLA style, starting with the first in alphabetical order. If you need to add more pages, then click "File," "Document Setup" and add more pages to the document. When finished, save and print.
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