If you want to become a great writer, it is good that you get acquainted with the various sections of a book and know which one to include in a book. One of the sections is the appendix, which is found at the final end of the book.
In today’s article, we will be looking at how to write an appendix of a book. To begin with, we would need to know the definition of an appendix;
what is an appendix?
An appendix is simply a section in the back of a nonfiction book, with supplementary or additional information not offered in the main text. The information in an appendix isn’t pretty crucial to understanding the broader range of the book. However, it is said to give interested readers a deeper look at a specific topic.
I believe that you know that the back of a book includes an epilogue and a postscript or afterword, and you should very well know that it has to include an appendix page—strictly for nonfiction books.
In addition, not all books have an appendix page, just the same way; not all of the books we read have an epilogue or a postscript. Some books, in particular, do not need an appendix in any way, and if a book does have one, then it’s undoubtedly there for some good reason.
Some Examples of Books that need Appendix
As said previously, not all proposals, reports, or books need an appendix. When it comes to an appendix, it is said to give some depth to the topic, supply some resources for further reading or contact lists, or provide documentation to make a case for some grant or bid proposal.
Read also, What Is a Book Preface and How to Write an Amazing Preface
That said, when it comes to an appendix, it shouldn’t be treated by you as an opportunity to make your write-up sensible by all means or placed as an opportunity for padding.
Appendix information does include figures, tables, charts, memos, letters, drawings, photos, etc. In the case of research papers, the supporting materials may include questionnaires, schematics, surveys, and the like that were all used to add the results to the document.
How to Write an Appendix?
When it comes to an appendix, there are no rules for formatting an appendix or appendices; the kind of size and style should match the rest of the book.
Most professional authors use the manual or Chicago style, which designates that appendices can be put either in the back matter preceding any endnotes or at the end of single chapters, especially if the information they contain is vital to grasping the concepts in that particular chapter.
However, suppose you do have more than one appendix. In that case, you’ll need to label them alphabetically, that is, appendix A, B, etc. and if you’re using the Chicago style, then you can also label them in numerals, that’s Appendix 1, Appendix 2, and the likes, and you should also give them titles to make their points pretty clear in the long run.
Does an Appendix Go after Reference?
Yes, appendices usually go after the references; this is the best way to write an appendix.
The primary difference between an Appendix or an Annex?
When it comes to researching and reporting, many researchers are pretty familiar with an appendix rather than an annex. Like the annex, the appendix is a supplement or addition to a research paper—so they’re pretty much doing the same thing. Still, the slight difference of the appendix is this; it isn’t part of the BODY OF PAPER.
Read also, How to Write a Book Epilogue in 7 Intriguing Steps
When it comes to the appendix, it’s said only to contain the information which helps readers understand the thesis, or it’s said to offer necessary background on the research process.
But, this information is too long or pretty much detailed to fit into the main text. Not leaving the fact that such information does include a complex set of tables or graphics; for example, it could very well take the form of lists of raw information or data, such as figures of something or population statistics.
Simply put, an appendix is almost related to an annex. However, if the case, we can make some differentiation between the two.
What Kinds of Books uses an Appendix or Appendixes?
Well, we do know pretty much by now that an appendix is used to soften up research for the rookies who tend to take one or two pieces of information from a research paper or given report. Not forgetting how much it adds credibility and tends to lead to further references. Appendices are used more often in nonfiction books and NEVER in fiction books; you might want to ask why? Well, the reason is the state of information provided.
A nonfiction book spells out the state of facts on a given subject or matter. A fictional book is all about the written fantasies or imaginational constructs of the writer or author. These two are highly different and representative in their niche or specialty.
Kinds of books with appendices are; memoirs, biographies, autobiographies, research-based books, and cultural critiques are just a few of them.
Is an Appendix Book Page necessary?
There are so many reasons in which a writer may want to put a book appendix, and they are;
1. Citing sources or Data.
Now, suppose your book is heavily research-based. In that case, the author may tend to choose this back portion to list the sources they drew from to write the book—this is specifically for the experts who need such knowledge or rookies who need to get a grasp on all of the things you’re talking about in the given piece.
For instance, if an author is writing about the life of Albert Einstein, then it is pretty polite to lists all of the books and sources you’d used over time in the writing process.
So, including an appendix can help build some level of trust and credibility on the facts you’re trying to dish out to the public or a few circles of experts.
Read also, How to Write a Book Foreword for a Book In 5 Easy Steps
If an author lists out the materials they’d used in their research, it’s very much proof that they know what they’re saying as written in the book, if not, most experts would see it as crap, and straight it goes to the dustbin—which can be awful.
If the book is a science journal, the appendix can include charts, graphics, statistics, etc.
2. As an avenue to supply original materials
In memoirs or biographies, the authors can put in place original materials such as personal documents, letters, lists, emails, etc., to add to the fullness of what they’re trying to pass across or say.
3. As Additional Information on a Given Topic
When it comes to the book appendix, it’s the perfect place for more details of the book, which perhaps the writer had left out or didn’t have much time to add in the write-up.
The appendix indeed adds additional resources, such as research, articles, other written books for the reader to explore when they so wish.
Formatting an Appendix
The way to format your appendix depends on the style you use or you’ve chosen to format a given work. Moreover, each item is referred to in your text, i.e., figure, chart, or all other information. It should be included as an appendix.
Nonetheless, suppose they are numerous data sets under one given group. In that case, you’ll need to keep them together in their appendix and suitably label each piece.
If you do have more than one appendix, then it would be pretty cool to label the appendices, Appendix, A, B, and the likes, so that it can be easily cited in the body of the report, and make sure you begin each of them in a new page.
For your readers, make sure you put your appendices in the order that you refer to them in the paper, and don’t you ever forget to note them in the table of contents if your work has one.
Most research papers, including academic and medical studies, usually follow Manual or Chicago style instructions for formatting appendices; we also have a good number of researchers using the Chicago manual style. For each of these style types, you need to format the appendix as follows;
1. Chicago style
Chicago, or the manual style permits for several appendices that is Appendix 1, 2, 3, and so forth, but never Appendix A, B, C. And as far as the location permits, they do show before any endnote sections so that any data in the appendices which needs a note can refer to the note section.
Read also, How to Write an Intriguing Book Prologue in 5 Simple Steps
If there are various tables in the appendices, it might be best to place the notes with the tables.
2. APA
This style centers the title and uses upper to lowercase letters. The text of the appendix should be flush left, and you must indent your paragraphs.
Putting Images in Appendix
For some reports and papers, you may choose to add a graph, chart, table, or image within the body of the draft. Or you may choose to include an appendix at the end of your paper. All of these do help in the pictorial representation of information or data that you may so wish to pass across to your eager readers.
Conclusion
This post would be wrapped up by the discussion of referencing an appendix, which is one of the bases of this post from the start. Right in the main text, it is preferable to refer to the appendices by their labels and not the page numbers. And you can do this in parenthesis, that is, Appendix A, or in footnotes—I hope that I don’t sound redundant to some Benny readers. Still, it’s most necessary to grasp the point after all.
