APA Format for Papers Understanding Understanding APA Format for Papers

Objectives This presentation will allow you to: Learn what APA format is Identify the basic guidelines of APA format Describe the 4 main elements of APA style This presentation will allow you to: Learn what APA format is Identify the basic guidelines of APA format Describe the four main elements of an APA-style paper. Explain how to format each element of an APA-style paper. Explain how to format each element

APA style is the most commonly used format in social sciences What is APA? www.apastyle.org American Psychological Association What do you think of my published paper? I cited all my sources on the last page. It’s great! Where did you get all your info? Business Economics Nursing APA style is the most commonly used format in social sciences APA stands for the American Psychological Association. APA style is the most commonly used format for papers in the Social Sciences—business, economics, psychology, sociology, nursing, and so on. The most up to date information can be found on the APA website @ www.apastyle.org. APA format is a method that allows readers to locate the publications you used in your research. To avoid plagiarism, give credit to the writers for their material and document where you located the information you used. Psychology Sociology

APA General Guidelines APA style requires the use of third person Correct: The study indicated that chocolate promotes good health. Incorrect: I read that chocolate promotes good health. APA style requires the use of an active voice APA style requires the use of third person point-of-view in an APA paper. An example of third person would be: The study indicated that chocolate promotes good health. An incorrect example would be: I read that chocolate promotes good health. You should also write using an active voice. This means that the subject is the one doing the verb. An example of an active voice would be: Mike must have eaten 5 hamburgers. Passive voice is the opposite of active voice so an incorrect example of active voice would be: Five hamburgers were eaten by Mike. Correct: Mike must have eaten five hamburgers. Incorrect: Five hamburgers were eaten by Mike.

APA General Guidelines Providing enough details Keeping verbiage brief clarity conciseness Balance clarity and conciseness. Clarity is providing enough details. To achieve clarity, avoid vague wording and be specific in descriptions and explanations. Conciseness is keeping your verbiage brief. To achieve conciseness, a writer should condense information. Use plain and simple language, avoid metaphors, and minimize the use of figurative language. Avoid vague wording Be specific Condense information Use plain, simple language Avoid metaphors Minimize use of figurative language

Paper Format 1” Paragraph: Typed, double-spaced Paper size: 8.5” x 11” Page Header Page Number Typed, double-spaced Paragraph: Typed, double-spaced Paper size: 8.5” x 11” Margin: 1” on all sides Font: Times New Roman Font size: 12 point Page header: Upper-left corner Page number: Upper-right corner An APA style essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5”x11”) with 1” margins on all sides. Times New Roman or a similar font in 12 pt. size should be used for easier reading. The document should include a page header indicating a short title of the essay on the upper-left side of every page, and a page number in the upper right side of every page including the title page.

Test Your Knowledge (Part 1)

Ask your instructor if this is required 4 Major Sections References Each has a specific format and should include certain elements Your essay should include these four major sections Main Body Abstract Ask your instructor if this is required Title page An APA paper has four major sections: a title page, abstract (be sure to ask your instructor if they require an abstract as some do not) , main body, and a list of references. Each has a specific format and should include certain elements.

Title Page This page must contain: Page #: Upper-right corner Page Number This page must contain: Page #: Upper-right corner Running head: Upper-left corner Title: Center Your name: Under the title School affiliation: Under name Title The title page, which is the first page of your paper, will contain the following information: a page number a running head for publication (To create a running head for publication, type Running Head, colon, and then your title in capital letters with a maximum of 60 characters. Note: Although a running head section is required for manuscripts submitted for publication, it is an optional section for student papers. Ask your instructor if they require this.) the title Your Name School affiliation Name School

(Do not include “Running head:”) Abstract Page Page Header (Do not include “Running head:”) Brief Summary No indentations This page must contain: Page Header: Upper-left corner Heading: Center Summary: 150 to 250 words Optional: Possible Implications Future work Keywords Optional The abstract page consists of a page header, a heading (which is the word ‘Abstract’ centered at the top of the page), and a brief summary of the paper accurately presenting its contents. The paragraph should be between 150 and 250 words in block format without indentation. The abstract may also include some possible implications of your research and future work you see connected with your findings, as well as keywords associated with your topic.

Test Your Knowledge (Part 2)

Double-spaced without a break Main Body Page Number 3 This page must contain: Page Number: 3 Title: Center Paragraph: Double-spaced No space between paragraphs Parenthetical in-text citations Double-spaced without a break For the text: Make sure that the first text page is page number 3 (page#1 is a title page, page #2 is an abstract page). Start with typing the essay title centered, at the top of the page. Type the text double-spaced with all sections following each other without a break. Do not use white space between paragraphs. And lastly, create parenthetical in-text citations to identify the sources used in the paper.

PLAGIARISM In-Text Citations Establish credibility of the writer Show respect for someone else’s intellectual property Use in-text citations when using information from an author’s work In-text citation In-text citation (quotes and paraphrasing) (Last name, Year Published) (Last name, Year Published, Page) Author’s Work Your Paper Ten minutes of sunshine a day will increase your vitamin D levels (Johnson, 2009). She stated, “Students may experience difficulty using the APA style,” but she did not explain why (Jones, 1998, p. 199). Locate the cited source in the References page References Use in-text citations whenever you use information from an author’s work. In-text citations help establish credibility of the writer, show respect to someone else’s intellectual property, and consequently, avoid plagiarism. Also, in-text citations help readers locate the cited source in the references page at the end of your paper. An in-text citation is written as the author’s surname and year of publication within parentheses. When you’re paraphrasing or quoting a source, also include the page number. No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times. No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times (Smith, 1881). Avoid PLAGIARISM

Where did you get your information? References Heading This page must contain: All sources used in your paper Heading: References Paragraph: Double-spaced First line is flush left Subsequent lines indented Alphabetical order by author’s surnames (or title) 1st line Subsequent Where did you get your information? The references page will list all of the sources used for your paper. It should include the heading, which is the word ‘References’ centered at the top of the page. Each entry should be double-spaced. The first line of each entry should be flush left and subsequent lines in the same entry should be indented. Entries should be listed alphabetically by the author’s surnames. If a source is anonymous, treat its title as an author’s surname.

Capitalize only the 1st letter of: Reference Guidelines Capitalize only the 1st letter of: Invert authors’ names The 1st word of a title and subtitle Correct: Cummings, J.N. Incorrect: Jean N. Cummings OR Cummings, Jean Correct: Anatomy and physiology Incorrect: Anatomy and Physiology Don’t capitalize the 1st letter of the 2nd word in a hyphenated compound word The 1st word after a colon or a dash Correct: First-class citizens Incorrect: First-Class citizens Correct: Science of life: Biology Here are some other guidelines to follow. Invert authors’ names--last name first followed by initials. Do not capitalize the first letter of the second word in a hyphenated compound word. Do not italicize, underline, or put quotes around the titles of shorter works such as journal articles or essays in edited collections. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a title and subtitle, the first word after a colon or a dash in the title, and proper nouns. Incorrect: Science of life: biology Don’t italicize, underline or put quotes around titles of shorter works Proper nouns Incorrect: Bugs Correct: Economy of America Incorrect: Bugs Incorrect: Economy of america Incorrect: “Bugs”

Model your reference list after samples References When you click any article in e-global, this option is available What were my sources? It is important to correctly identify the type of source: e.g., Is it an article from a newspaper or from a scholarly journal? Hard copy or electronic version? Once you know the sources, look at samples of similar references on the APA website or other source and model your reference list after them. There is a citation feature available through the electronic library in your course. Model your reference list after samples

Refer to web, online, or print sources Templates are available APA Citation Refer to web, online, or print sources You must use APA citation Do a search! Templates are available APA is a complex system of citation, and you’re not expected to remember it all, but you are expected to use it! To minimize confusion, refer to the APA website or other online and print sources. Templates for all parts of APA papers are also available—just do a search!

Test Your Knowledge (Part 3)

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