Sample Academic Essay in APA Style (6th edition)
The sample below is composed for the purpose of illustration, using the 6th edition of APA Style
These days, almost everybody who goes to the hospital for checkup is told to do exercise. Most
doctors advise that we do vigorous physical exercise for at least sixty minutes in a week. This
shows how good exercise is to our bodies. No one can rule out the importance of physical exercise
in our lives. It is therefore important for us to exercise our bodies. Indeed, there are many benefits
of physical exercise to our bodies. Some of the benefits of physical exercise are it makes the body
strong, improves blood circulation and helps prevent heart related diseases.
Physical exercise, according to the experts and from our own observation, makes the body fit
(Addo, 2004; Gidiglo, 2012; Kaplan, 2001; Van, 2015). This is one of the benefits we derive from
physical exercise. Now, Let us analyze how it makes the body strong. This comes about through
three ways. The first one is that, when one exercises one’s body, the muscles are strengthened. In
a study conducted in 2012, Jun et al. (2013) observe that the muscle becomes though, muscular
and stiff as a result of physical exercise. Another way that physical exercise makes the body strong
is that the bones also become strong. Osei (2016) points out that pressure exerted on the bones
through physical exercise hardens up the bones. The joints too become strong through physical
exercise. Regular exercise demands that the joints are frequently used. This makes the joints
flexible and strong.
The heart is the “pumping station” of blood in our bodies. The work of the heart is greatly enhanced
through physical exercise. Regular exercise, according to Connor and Okoe (2009, p. 54) “enables
the heart to beat rapidly, thereby pumping blood continuously to all parts of the body.” As one
exercises one’s body, the rapid beating of the heart enables the heart to be active and busy doing
the “duty” required of it. This enables all parts of the body to get blood. We can therefore conclude
that one important of physical exercise is that it enhances blood circulation in the body.
Moreover, one secret people are not aware of is that regular exercise prevents cardio-vascular
diseases such as hypertension, stroke and heart attack. These days, it is common to see a lot of
people who are obese as a result of lack of exercise. Baba (2007) states that such people are likely
to “suffer from cardio-vascular diseases” (p. 7). Some of these obese men look like “pregnant
cow.” An innocent boy who does not know that men do not give birth, one day asked his mother
“maa, will that “pregnant man “ behind our house give birth ?” The boy’s mother smiled and
replied “my boy, men do not get pregnant and a man does not give birth (personal conversation).
But the boy was not far from right to call the man “pregnant man.” In deed such men can be
described as pregnant men. It is perceived that many of such men suffer from heart attack; which
is a “short cut” to the cemetery.
It is generally accepted that physical exercise makes the individual physically fit, physiologically
up and doing and to a large extent helps an individual maintain a healthy heart. This is enough to
let individuals take physical exercise seriously. The World Health Organization (2015) maintains
that the benefits of physical exercise are numerous. There is no argument over the benefits that we
derive from physical exercise.
References
Addo, B. (2014). Exercise and the body. Journal of Physical Education and Health, 8(4), 77-88.
Baba, K. (2007). Physiology, anatomy and fitness. Winneba: University of Education, Winneba
Press.
Connor, V., & Okoe, L. (2009). How to improve the health of your heart. International Journal
of Anatomy and Fitness, 9(6), 23-44. doi:108765/0932-133.786.66
Gidiglo, T. J. (2012). A report on the outcome of three weeks jogging exercise for school children.
In J. Mahama (Ed.), Physical education in our schools (pp. 43-58). Accra: Sedco.
Jun, V., Mamavi, G., Okornor, B., Ofei, K., Azumah, L., & Appiah, F. (2013). Muscle density
after nine months training in military fitness. 2013 Annual Report of the Military Academy of
Ghana. Retrieved from http://militayy.annual.gh/nkhhs.jhh
Kaplan, R. (2001). Experimental report on a comparison of office workers and labourers.
Experimental Studies in the Health Sciences, 3, 44-55. Retrieved from http://
exp.lne.health.gh/ide.php/fdo
Osei, H. (2016, August 10). After climbing the mountains for six months. Daily Graphic.
Retrieved from http://www.dailygraphiconlie.com
Van, M. (2015). The Applied Physical Sciences. Ho: Ajido Printing Press.
World Health Organization. (2015, March 15). Quarterly Report. Retrieved from
http://worldhealth .org
