APA StyleAn Overview

What is APA Style?The Big Picture

1) APA=American Psychological Association

2) Uniform format used for social sciences Psychology, Linguistics, etc. Business Nursing

3) Organization, Style, Citations

4) Reasons: Clear direction, less distractions,

Audience Connection

APA Style

Writing style is the voice an author uses to communicate with the audience.

APA Style Guidelines:◦ 1st person acceptable/preferred in APA style

(unless assignment says differently)◦ Clear and Simple=Good◦ Vague and Complex=Bad◦ Concise=Good◦ Wordy and/or Repetitious=Bad◦ Avoid poetic language

APA Stylistics

Vary from Class to Class

May not include all elements

Definition of elements may vary

May include additional elements

Follow Professor’s Instructions

Basic FormatOverall Mechanics

Typed Double Spaced 12pt Font Serif (Times New Roman for Body) Sans-Serif (Tahoma for Headings) Uniform 1” Margins Flush left align (DO NOT JUSTIFY) Tab indent every new paragraph

General Format

Elements of the Paper

Most Common Elements

Title Page (First Page)

Abstract (New Page)

Text (New Page)

References (New Page)

Tables (New Page)

Figures (New Page)

Appendices (New Page)

Overview

Title Page Running Head: Running Head

Page Number

Title (12 pt, TNR, Centered)

Author (12 pt, TNR, Centered)

Institution (12 pt, TNR, Centered)

Author Note

Various Elements

Style Considerations

◦ Accurate

◦ Nonevaluative

◦ Coherent and readable

◦ Concise

Abstract

Mechanics◦ New Page◦ TNR 12 pt ◦ Running Head◦ Page #◦ Double Spaced◦ Do not indent paragraph◦ Single Paragraph◦ Word Limit

Abstract

Introduction◦ What is the problem?◦ Why is it important?◦ What is the hypothesis/thesis?

Body◦ What research/testing did you do?◦ Does your research prove/disprove your

thesis/hypothesis?◦ How does it prove/disprove?◦ What are the implications?

Conclusion◦ Tie it all together

Text

Mechanics◦ New Page◦ TNR 12 pt◦ Running Head◦ Page #◦ Tab indent new paragraphs◦ Double spaced◦ Other authors properly cited

Text

Acknowledge Resources cited in text

Provide an easy/accurate way to locate cited work

Alphabetize by last name/first name

References

Tables

Figures

Appendices

Other Elements

In-Text CitationsAvoiding Plagiarism

Claiming the words, ideas, or research of another person as your own.

Failing to cite the author when quoting Failing to cite the author when paraphrasing Theft of intellectual property

What Is Plagiarism?

In Text Citations◦ One sentence quotes◦ Block quotes◦ Paraphrasing◦ Graphs that are not your original work◦ Figures that are not your original work

How To Avoid Plagiarism

In-Text CitationsMechanics

One Author-Direct quote◦ Author not mentioned in Sentence:

“Deciding on a suitable subject and narrowing it down to manageable proportions are crucial steps toward the success of your research paper” (Rozakis, 1999, p.25).

◦ Author is mentioned in Sentence: Rozakis (1999) suggests that “Deciding on a suitable

subject and narrowing it down to manageable proportions are crucial steps toward the success of your research paper” (p.25).

Sample Citations-One Author

One Author-Paraphrase ◦ Author not named in Sentence:

Determining your subject and simplifying the main ideas are very important to the overall success of a research paper (Rozakis, 1999).

◦ Author named in sentence: Rozakis (1999) states that finding a sufficient subject

and simplifying the ideas are very important in the overall success of a research paper.

Sample Citations-One Author

One author-Multiple references in one paragraph◦ Note: As long as the author is mentioned in a

sentence at the beginning of the paragraph, the author’s name need not be mentioned in subsequent citations in the same paragraph, as long as no other resource is quoted in that paragraph (American Psychological Assocation, 2011).

Sample Citations-One Author

One Author-Multiple References in one Paragraph:◦ Rozakis (1999) shows the importance of

narrowing a subject to ease the process of research. She suggests that the first step is to find a very general subject that suits the limits of the assignment (1999). A student may have an awesome idea, but if it doesn’t meet the limits of the assignment, it will not be sufficient to earn a good grade. It is best if the subject chosen can be phrased as a question (1999).

Sample Citations-One Author

One Work-Two Authors-Direct Quote◦ “An informal outline can be as simple as listing

the major ideas in the order you plan to discuss them, or it may use the topic sentences from each planned paragraph as a blueprint from which to work”(Barnwell & Dees, 1995, p.87).

◦ Barnwell and Dees (1995) state, “An informal outline can be as simple as listing the major ideas in the order you plan to discuss them, or it may use the topic sentences from each planned paragraph as a blueprint from which to work” (p. 87).

Sample Citations-Two Authors

One Work-Two Authors-Paraphrase◦ Barnwell and Dees (1995) show that an informal

outline can have many forms, but that all forms will create a starting point from which to write.

◦ Informal outlines vary in complexity, but all outlines provide a starting point for a writer (Barnwell & Dees, 1995).

Sample Citations-Two Authors

One Work-Three to Five Authors-Direct Quote-First Appearance in Paper◦ Alexander, Decker-Lucke, Ernest, Kutsko, and

Peterson (2002) state, “Primary and ultimate responsibility for accuracy in fact-checking and verification of quotations (including Scripture references) must lie with the author” (p. 8)

◦ “Primary and ultimate responsibility for accuracy in fact-checking and verification of quotations (including Scripture references) must lie with the author” (Alexander, Decker-Lucke, Ernest, Kutsko, & Peterson, 2002, p. 8).

Sample Citations-3 to 5 Authors

One Work-Three to Five Authors-Paraphrase-First appearance in Text:◦ Alexander, Decker-Lucke, Ernest, Kutsko, and

Peterson (2002) show that the author of a work in Biblical studies holds the primary responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of quoted information in all written work.

◦ The author of a work in Biblical studies holds the primary responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of quoted information in all written work (Alexander, Decker-Lucker, Ernest, Kutsko, & Peterson, 2002).

Sample Citations-3 to 5 Authors

One Work-Three to Five Authors-Direct Quote-Subsequent Appearances in Text:◦ Alexander et al. (2002) state, “Primary and

ultimate responsibility for accuracy in fact-checking and verification of quotations (including Scripture references) must lie with the author” (p. 8)

◦ “Primary and ultimate responsibility for accuracy in fact-checking and verification of quotations (including Scripture references) must lie with the author” (Alexander et al., 2002, p. 8).

Sample Citations-3 to 5 Authors

One Work-6 or more Authors-Direct Quote:◦ Huggins et al. (2011) say, “The ability to write a

paper is a skill that students must have in order to successfully complete their college education” (p. 3).

◦ “The ability to write a paper is a skill that students must have in order to successfully complete their college education” (Huggins et al., 2011, p.3).

Sample Citations-6 or more

One Work-6 or more authors-Paraphrase:◦ Huggins et al. (2011) shows the necessity of prior

writing instruction for students who enter college.◦ Students need to know how to write a paper

before they enter college (Huggins et al., 2011).

Sample Citations-6 or more

ReferencesHelp readers find sources

Allows readers/professors to find and use the same data you have

Ensures that you have not violated any copyright limitations or laws

Protects you from charges of plagiarism

The Purpose of References

ReferencesMechanics

Book-Print-1 Author:◦ Lastname, Initial(s). Year of Publication or copyright.

Title of Book. Location: Publisher.◦ Example:

Rozakis, L. 1999. Writing Great Research Papers. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Book-Print-2 Authors:◦ Lastname, Initials of 2nd author,& Lastname, Initials

1st author. Year. Title of Book. Location: Publisher.◦ Example:

Dees, R. & Barnwell W. H. 1995. The Resourceful Writer: A Basic Writing Course. Boston: Houghton Mifflin

Company.

Reference Components-Books

Book-Print-3 to 7 Authors:◦ Note: Same elements as 2, but must list all

authors. Start with 2nd author listed on book.◦ Example:

Kutsko, J.F., Alexander, P.H., Ernest, J.D., Decker-Lucke, S.A., & Peterson, D.L. 2002. The SBL Handbook of Style. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers.

Reference Components-Books

Book-Print-More than 7 authors:◦ Note: Same order of elements. The only thing

that changes is the way the authors are listed.◦ List the First 4 Authors using standard method,

add an ellipses, and then list the last author. Should be a total of 5 named authors.

Reference Components-Books

Additional elements for journals, referencing individual chapters only, and online resources.

Various types that can be valid resources include:◦ Periodicals◦ Books (Reference Books or Individual Chapters)◦ Technical and Research Reports◦ Meetings and Symposia◦ Doctoral Dissertations and Master’s Theses◦ Reviews and Peer Commentary◦ Audiovisual Media◦ Dataset, Software, etc.◦ Archival Documents and Collections◦ Internet Message Boards, Mailing Lists, and Other Online

Communities◦ Author Variations, Title Variations, Publication Info Variations

Reference Components-Other

Additional ResourcesOnline and In-Person

Purdue Online Writing Lab◦ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01

/ Publication Manual of the American

Psychological Association◦ Available for purchase on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Publication-Manual-American-Psychological-Association/dp/1433805618/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321658616&sr=8-1

◦ Available for purchase from the APA website http://www.apastyle.org/manual/

Best Resources

American Psychological Association. 2010. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

6th edition. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Dees, R. & Barnwell W. H. 1995. The Resourceful Writer: A

Basic Writing Course. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Kutsko, J.F., Alexander, P.H., Ernest, J.D., Decker-Lucke, S.A., & Peterson, D.L. 2002. The SBL Handbook of

Style. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. Rozakis, L. 1999. Writing Great Research Papers. New

York: McGraw-Hill.

References