Introduction to the APA Style of Bibliography Ginger Lejeune

The APA Style Requires a Specific Order of the Manuscript Pages Title page (numbered 1) Abstract (numbered 2) Text (start on separate page) References (start on separate page) Tables (start each on separate page) Figures (start each on separate page; include caption on page with figure) Appendices (start each on separate page)

General Rules for a Research Paper using the APA Format Times New Roman, 12-point font Double space throughout paper Uniform margins of 1 inch all around Page numbers are flush right at the top of each page (including the title page) Title should be no longer than 12 words

More General APA Rules Every page has the same header called a “running head,” which is a shortened form of the title (50 characters maximum). The running head is flush left, on the same line as the page number, & in all capital letters. The Abstract should be 150 to 250 words Main section headings (Method, Results, etc.) are centered & in bold type

Research and Source Citation Any research assignment should be accompanied by a bibliography listing the sources you used. Within the text of your paper, in-text citations identify the source of specific information Scientific research most often uses the APA (American Psychological Association) style for citing sources Keep track of the information you need for your bibliography as you do your research; it’s much harder to go back later & find the information

Why do we need to cite sources? To be honest and ethical To recognize intellectual property To avoid plagiarism To avoid academic censure

Avoiding Plagiarism “Whether paraphrasing, quoting an author directly, or describing an idea that influenced your work, you must credit the source” (APA Manual, 2010, p. 170). Direct quotations are NOT the only borrowed material that must be cited in your paper. The source of any idea, theory, or research that you paraphrase or summarize in your paper must also be cited.

Formatting Source Citations Whether you directly quote, paraphrase, or summarize, you must credit the source of information you use in your paper. Within the paper itself, APA in-text citations use an author-date citation system. The References page at the end of your paper includes the full bibliographic information on each source cited in the text.

APA In-Text Citation Format Open parenthesis, author’s last name If author is unknown, use title of work Year of publication, close parenthesis Example: (Jones, 2014) For direct quotations, add page number (optional for material not directly quoted) Example: (Taylor, 2012, p. 263) NOTE: If the author’s name and/or the date appear elsewhere in the text itself, omit from the in-text parentheses.

Examples of Various Options for APA In-Text Citations One study found that “students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time” (Johnson, 2009, p. 27). According to Johnson (2009), “students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time” (p. 27). Students using APA style for the first time often find the citation format challenging (Johnson, 2009). In 2009, a study by Johnson showed that APA is a challenging citation format for first-time learners. What kind of source use is this?

Examples of In-Text Citations: Special Cases No author, use title: (Human Sleep, 2012) (“Insomnia,” 2008) No date, use n.d.: (Hobson, n.d.) Two authors: (McLaughlin & Miracle, 2010) Secondary sources: Hitler’s letters (as cited in Hoza, 2013) No page numbers, use paragraph or chapter number: (Bendick, 2004, para. 7) (Tacy, 1997, Chapter 22) What kind of source use is this?

How the In-Text Citations & the References Page Work Together In-text citations briefly identify the source & direct the reader to the References page (the bibliography). The References page at the end of your paper includes the full bibliographic information for each source cited in the text. Every in-text citation should refer to an entry in the References, and every work listed in the References should be cited in the paper.

APA References Page Format The References page comes immediately after the main text of your paper. Title of page is References (don’t forget the running head & page number). Use double spacing throughout. List sources in alphabetical order by author’s last name (use title if author is unknown). Print, online sources, etc. are all mixed together. Use hanging indent: 1st line of each entry is flush left & subsequent lines are indented.

APA Reference Entries: General Elements Author(s) by surname, initial(s) Year of publication (for periodicals, include month & day if given) Title (for periodicals, include article & publication titles) Location: Publisher (for books) Volume #, issue #, page #s (for periodicals) (Note: Examples can be found in APA Manual, online, & in sample paper on web guide.)

Reminders Regarding References Don’t rely on your memory: always check a reliable source to verify the format & punctuation of each entry in your list of References. When in doubt, use the library’s copy of the APA Manual to answer questions. Proofread your References carefully. Then proofread again.

More Help with the APA Style Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition (available for reference in WAHS library) APA Style Online (includes a tutorial) Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) NOTE: All of the examples used in this presentation were either made up or borrowed from one of the above sources. This is called “fair use” for educational purposes.