1. What’s a style manual and why do I even have to use one?
Mrs. Kozma
Media Director Tri-Creek School Corporation
Media Specialist Lowell High School

2. What’s a style manual?
A style manual is a set of standards for writing and design of documents. A style manual’s main purpose is to achieve consistency. Think of a dictionary!
Depending on the class, you might be required to use MLA, Turabian, Chicago Manual of Style or APA.
For this class you are using APA.
If you took English 9 or English 10 you used MLA. It’s similar!

3. What is APA Style?
APA format is one of several different writing formats used for publications, papers, essays, and books. This particular style is established by the American Psychological Association.
It is used by professionals and students in psychology, business, education, criminology, linguistics, nursing, and social sciences.
APA style is one of the most common styles taught at and used by colleges and high schools.

4. Why do I have to use it? APA format…
provides you with a consistent format.
gives you credibility as a writer.
protects you from plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offense. Plagiarizing could result in failure or expulsion from college. Just “give credit where credit is due!”
allows readers to cross-reference your sources. Other researchers may want to locate your sources for their own research.

5. How do I use it? It’s not simple!
However, think of it as a skill for the future not a painful exercise.
You can’t get published without it or even receive a passing grade in a college course!
For our purposes we will use the Purdue OWL website for APA. Bookmark it!
We are only focusing on references today.
Bookmark the library’s webpage as well!

6. Let’s try one!
If this is the structure for a book, cite the book below. Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher. Hints: When there are two authors list them by their last names and initials. Use the ampersand instead of "and”. For "Location," you should always list the city and the state using the two letter postal abbreviation without periods (New York, NY).

7. Answer
References Friedlander, M. P., & Phillips, T. M. (2001). When objects talk: Solving a crime with science. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications Company.

8. Final Product
Your final product will be a perfectly formatted APA reference page!
Let’s do this!
May the odds be ever in your favor!