APA Citation Style
Overview This presentation will cover the following: What APA is Why you should reference What you should reference Where you should reference How you should reference Examples
What is the APA Format? A citation style using an alphabetic listing in the reference list and the author-date system in-text. Accepted and adapted by academics for academic and professional writing- used in the sciences, social sciences, and in many health disciplines. In existence for over 80 years. The 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) has been in use since July 2009.
Why reference? To acknowledge the work, ideas, or innovations of the originators. To provide further information so the reader can cross-reference your source material and follow up on additional information. To establish your credibility as a writer. To present information in a consistent format. To help you avoid plagiarism.
Acknowledge others work It is important to give credit to the ideas, concepts, research, innovation, or studies that came before your work. New ideas evolve from existing ideas. Show that path.
Provide further information for the reader Readers use reference lists to further their study. Accuracy is important. The reference list serves as a guide for the reader to locate specific resources.
Establish your credibility When a referencing style is used correctly, you are establishing your credibility and showing that you are accountable for accurately using the source material you accessed.
Present information in a consistent format Readers can understand your argument and the research that precedes your work. Trained readers can decipher your reference citation if it follows a specific format. Follow the format for the medium you are using (i.e. print vs electronic).
Avoid plagiarism Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another author s words or ideas Plagiarism is a very serious offence in academic, professional, and research environments. Properly tracking and recording your sources will help you avoid plagiarism.
What do I reference? All information that you used in the research and preparation of your paper must be referenced. Common knowledge (i.e. Cows give milk) does not need to be referenced. Your opinion does not need to be referenced. If you are not sure whether you should reference, ask yourself, How do I know this information?
Where do I reference? In two places: The reference list (titled References) is a detailed alphabetic listing of all the sources you used to research and prepare your report, essay, or argument. In text citations are needed when you include information that is not your idea. Basic identifying information such as the author s last name, year of publication, and often the page number must be included within the text of your paper.
References Include all materials used to develop your research paper. Anything cited in the body of your text must appear on your reference list and vice versa. The author name and year must be identical in both the in text citation and References entry. Personal communications i.e. personal interviews, private letters, and telephone conversations are only cited in text (A.B. Smith, personal communication, October 1, 2008) and not in the References because the information is not retrievable.
References Separate page with continuous pagination. Alphabetic listing, regardless of format; if there is no author, begin with the title. Double space & indent second and subsequent lines. Single space after commas, colons, semicolons, periods that separate parts of a reference citation, and periods after the initials in person s names Basic format of a Reference entry for a print book: Author s last name, A.A. (year). Title of work (edition, if applicable). Location: Publisher.
An article or chapter in an edited print book An article or chapter is part of a larger edited publication. The article/chapter is written first, and the title of the book is written second. Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of chapter or article. In A. Editor & B. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. xxx-xxx). Location: Publisher.
Periodical/ Journal Reference (print version) Periodicals are items published on a regular basis and include journals, magazines, newsletters, and newspapers. Author(s). (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume, (issue), page-page. Mellors, B.A. (2000). Choice and the relative pleasure of consequences. Psychological Bulletin, 126, 910-924.
Referencing articles from a library database When citing journal articles, the 6th edition of the APA manual states that instead of referencing the database URL (i.e. Proquest.com), the journal URL/homepage is now referenced. Author(s). (year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume (issue), page-page. Retrieved from http://www.xxxx Patterson, Q.S. (1999). Psychology and the student. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 23, 225227. Retrieved from http://www.springer. com/medicine/journal/10865
Electronic Sources Digital Object Identifier (DOI) The 6th edition of the APA manual has introduced the use of the DOI, a number assigned to online journal articles and other electronic sources. Unlike other links which can break down or move around, the use of the DOI has been adopted by APA because it does not change; the source can then be found more easily. The DOI is typically found on the first page of the electronic journal article, near the copyright notice or on the database landing page for the article; however, not all online or paper journal articles have a DOI.
Reference with a DOI Sagarin, B.J., & Lawler-Sagarin, K.A. (2005). Critically evaluating competing theories: An exercise based on the Kitty Genovese murder. Teaching of Psychology, 32(3), 167-169. doi: 10.1270/s5328023top3203_8 If there is a DOI, APA does not require a URL or retrieval date. If no DOI is assigned and you retrieved the information online, include the home page URL for the journal or magazine, as outlined earlier.
Electronic Sources-Websites The standard format for a document from a website is as follows: Author, A.A. (Year of publication). Title of work. Retrieved month day, year, from http://www.xxxx Online documents frequently have a corporate or government author; if so, use the corporation or government in the author position for the citation. If there is no author, begin the reference entry with the title of the document: Title of document. (Year of publication). Retrieved Month day, year, from http://www.xxxx
Other Electronic Sources For electronic sources such as online encyclopedias, online dictionaries or Wikis, where the content is constantly being updated, include the retrieval date in your reference. Psychometric assessment (2006). Retrieved January 29, 2007, from the Psychology Wiki: http:wikia.com/wiki/psychometric_ assessment
Images Images that you obtain online and use in a paper or presentation should be referenced. Provide as much of the information as possible in the following format: Author, Initial. (Year of publication). Title of Image, [Type of image]. Retrieved from database or website url
What if there is no date? Not all information on the Web is dated. Use undated sources with caution. When possible, locate the date the page or site was last updated. If no date can be found, use (n.d.) Author, A.B. (n.d.). Title of work. Retrieved month, day, year, from http://www.xxxx
In text citations allow readers to find the source of information on the References page Placed in parentheses when you quote, paraphrase, or provide a summary of information from a source and when you include statistics or images. Quote: information is copied directly from a source as it appeared in the source. DIRECT quotes should be used sparingly. (author s last name, year, page citation) Paraphrase: ideas from the source are written in your own words and integrated for better readability. (author s last name, year, page recommended) Summary: ideas from a longer passage in the source are condensed into your own words. (author s last name, year, page recommended)
In-text citations: Quotations Short quotations should flow in your text. All material that is copied verbatim (word for word) must be enclosed in double quotation marks and cited. i.e. The findings showed that the success of the study was directly linked to the seniority of its participants (Hodgins, 2009, p. 45).
Integrating Quotations *(this also applies to paraphrased and summarized information) Use a variety of ways to signal you are using someone else s work. This improves flow. Hodgins (2009) found (p. 22). In his study of high school teachers, Hodgins (2009) reported (p. 22). Hodgins (2009) concluded (p. 22). * If your next quote/paraphrase is from the same source, you only need to include the page number.
Integrating Quotations Choose an appropriate verb to match your intent and the writer s position: i.e. Smith (2007) states/asserts/proves/adds/ hypothesizes/notes/explains/disproves/ concludes. Can you think of others? Don t begin or end a paragraph with a quote. Always introduce a quote and explain the relevance to your thesis/paper.
Long Direct Quotations A block quotation contains 40 or more words (at least 3 lines of text). Use sparingly, if at all. Introduce the quote in the preceding passage and then use a hanging indent for the direct quote. Double space. Quotation marks are not used. May (2004) reminds the reader: To write a good paragraph composition, you will need to plan carefully. You will need to include some convincing ideas and a logical construction. Writing paragraph compositions will help prepare you for longer forms of academic writing such as the essay and term paper. (p. 4)
Multiple sources Multiple sources supporting one point: (Author, date; author, date; author, date). List alphabetically by the authors last names. Researchers have determined that seniors live longer when they are physically active (Adams, 2004; Smith, 2005; Yan, 2001).
Secondary Sources Grayson (as cited in Murzynski & Degelman, 1996) identified four components of body language that were related to judgments of vulnerability. In this case, the author did not read the original source (Grayson), but did read Murzynski & Degelman. The accuracy of the information is the responsibility of the cited source. Which source will appear in your Reference list? When possible, use primary sources.
Titles Titles of books and periodicals are always identified by presenting them in italics within the text of your paper and on the References page. Alice Munro s Runaway, was a best seller in 2005. American Psychologist is a scholarly journal. The Toronto Star is a popular newspaper.
Headings in APA Headings help the reader understand the paper s organization and the importance of each part. There are 5 heading levels; how many levels of headings you use will depend on the length and complexity of your paper and the level of subordination required. All topics of equal importance have the same level of heading throughout. References is considered a level 1 heading, so it must be bolded and centered.
Headings th (p.p. 62-63 of the APA 6 edition) Level of Heading 1 Format Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading 2 Flush Left, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading 3 Indented, boldface, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period. 4 Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period. 5 Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period.
Additional notes about APA Note: This workshop is based on information contained in the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 2010. The 5th edition may still be used by some professors, so ask your professor which guidelines you should use. Double-space between all lines of text, on the title page, and for headings, quotations and references. Double space after punctuation at the end of a sentence. Always check with your professor regarding any special instructions for citing your sources and/or formatting your paper. APA has guidelines for formatting a cover page, (see the next slide); your professor might request something different.
Sample APA Cover Page Running head: IMPORTANCE OF CITING SOURCES PROPERLY If your professor asks for a Running Head, a concise version of the title, it will appear on each page. 1 All pages are numbered in order. The Importance of Citing Sources Properly when Writing a Research Paper Leslie Linstrum Durham College The title is typed in uppercase and lowercase letters, centered, double-spaced, and positioned in the upper half of the page. The author s name appears under the title and the institution the author is affiliated with appears under the author s name.
Resources to help with APA Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 6th ed. (in the campus bookstore and at the library) APA Guide available online and from the DC/UOIT library APA library guide Peer writing tutors at the Student Academic Learning Services (SALS) Centre Writing Specialist at the SALS Centre in SSB Room
Questions from the audience Please feel free to contact us with any questions you have regarding this presentation You can reach us By phone: 905.721.2000 extension 2491 By email: Leslie.Linstrum@durhamcollege.ca
Feedback Please help us gather some feedback to improve the service we provide in Student Academic Learning Services If you are viewing this presentation online, please email us any suggestions you have to improve the experience email: Leslie.Linstrum@durhamcollege.ca