Instructions (RLMT307) Week 8 Week 8: Term Project Paper Write your final research topic paper. This outline must follow the preceding format as far as section headings. This final paper should be bet

APA Guidelines

New Guidelines Sixth Edition 2010

In today’s fast growing technological world, new inventions have altered the manner in which we gather report and perform scientific research. Thus, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association has updated the widely referenced Manual to a Sixth Edition which has simplified and condensed the material while retaining and strengthening the basic rules of APA. This reference guide will concentrate on the Basic Elements of APA writing.

July, 2009, the American Psychological Association released its sixth edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, with modifications to APA Style writing. According to the APA Website (www.apastyle.org), the Manual ‘s Copyright is 2010 and changes are being implemented. Currently a mixture of the fifth and sixth editions are acceptable. As of January 1, 2010, only the sixth edition will be accepted.

As you continue your higher education, you are faced with different writing styles. This reference guide will concentrate on the basic principles of APA style as it applies to writing term (research) papers and essays. This reference guide will provide helpful tips and suggestions to assist in producing a scholarly term paper or essay using APA formatting and style guidelines. Sixth Edition changes and/or locations are in RED.

CHANGES TO THE NEW APA EDITION

• Simplified and condensed

• Ethical issues expanded

• Simplified heading styles

• Avoiding bias in language  

• New mechanics of style for ease of reading essays

• Citing sources in one location

• Citing passages from electronic text/archival copy

• Guidelines for new technology such as DOI

• More focus on publication process

WHY APA?

APA (Sixth Edition) has broadened its audience since it is consulted not only by psychologists but also by students & researchers in many fields such as business, education, social work, nursing and many other behavioral and social sciences. APA rules permit uniformity of many styles to one consistent style.

(8.03) BASIC APA PAPER CONSISTS OF:

• The cover page or title page

• Abstract (optional)

• Text of the paper

• Reference page

(2.01- 2.03, 8.03) TITLE PAGE

APA Manuscript elements of the title page:

Running head: TITLE OF PAPER 1

Title of Paper

Author's Name

American Public University

The Sixth Edition has revised the Title Page to consist of five elements: title, running head, author byline, institutional affiliation and author note (for publication). (8.03) For essay papers, author’s note is not required.

Notice the Running head is flush left and the page number is flush right on the same line. They are permanent (will appear on every page of the paper with only page numbers changing). The title should be no more than 12 words in length and should not contain abbreviations. Your title may be one or two lines. Double space your title page and throughout your paper.

Under the title is the author’s name consisting of first name, middle initial, and last name. No titles or degrees are used (Dr. or Ph.D.)

Under the author’s name is the institutional affiliation – American Public University.

(2.04) ABSTRACT

TITLE OF PAPER 2

Abstract

This is a summary, not an introduction of the paper. This is one of the few times an indent is not required. The length of the abstract is one paragraph (double spaced) and should not exceed 120 words.

Some papers require an abstract (consult your instructor). Begin with a new page (do not indent) with a brief and comprehensive summary of your paper. Use past tense for procedures and present tense for results. Abstract is usually easier to write upon completion of the paper. Avoid citing within the Abstract. Center Abstract (unformatted – no italics, bold, underlining, etc) at the top of the page. The Abstract is a single paragraph, double spaced, without indentions ranging from 150-250 words. Use numerals to express all numbers in the Abstract (with the exception of starting a sentence).

(8.03) BODY OF THE PAPER

Running head: TITLE OF PAGE 3

Title of paper centered

Body of paper requires many set rules and guidelines. Examples shown are not to scale, therefore, please visit the online library or the APA Manual for exact placement.

Starting on page 3 (if Abstract is not required - page 2) and center the title of the paper in upper and lower case letters. Paragraphs are indented ½ inch (5 to 7 spaces) and double spaced. Do not add additional lines between paragraphs.

BASIC APA WRITING COMPONENTS

• (2.01-2.03) Title page: Use APA format (see Title Page above)

• (2.01) Title: Name your paper. The title can “hook” your readers.

• (2.05) Introductory Paragraph: Tell the readers what you are about to tell them. Pretend the reader has no idea what you are writing about, thus, giving detailed information. The thesis statement is often the last sentence of the first paragraph. Generally, the introductory paragraph is past tense.

• (2.05) Thesis Statement: Essentially, a thesis statement answers the question, "What do I want my readers to know after they have read my essay?"

• (2.08) Body: Tell them what you want to tell them. The number of paragraphs will depend on the length and complexity of your paper.

• (2.08) Concluding Paragraph: This is a short summary. You should not introduce any new information.

WRITING THE PAPER

There are specific guidelines when writing an APA style paper.

• Center the title at the top of page two (page 3 if there is an Abstract). The title is written in uppercase and lowercase letters. (3.03)

• Double space entire paper (8.03)

• Use 1 inch margins (8.03)

• Text is left aligned (8.03)

• Two spaces after sentence terminator - rather than one (New Sixth Edition Change) (4.01)

• 12 point font (new Sixth Edition of APA requires New Times Roman only) and black ink (8.03)

• Same font throughout with the exception of italicizing (8.03) (1) introducing a key term you wish to emphasize(4.21) (2) titles of books, periodicals, films, videos, TV shows and microfilm publications (4.21) (there are more in-depth examples if you would like to reference 4.21 in New Sixth Edition of APA Manual)

• First sentence of a paragraph must be indented (8.03) (with the exception of the Abstract) (2.04)

• Quotes 40 words or more must be in blocked quotation format with no quotation marks and include the page number in parentheses after the last period (4.08)

WRITING TIPS FOR STUDENTS

• Brainstorming: Before beginning to write, take the time to put your ideas down on paper. Mind-mapping and list-making are two useful brainstorming techniques.

• Organizing: Plan your paper or assignment. This may be as simple as a chronological list of your points or as elaborate as a formal outline.

• Multiple Drafts: Professional writers create multiple drafts of their writing. You should too.

• Extra Time: Quality writing takes time – lots of time. Build in a cushion of extra time.

• Allow Time Between Drafts: While a break of 24 hours or more is ideal, a thirty minute break will yield positive results.

• Help from Others: Being mindful of plagiarism and academic honesty, request proofreading help.

• Use Formal Voice: Academic writing is more formal than casual conversations, emails, and instant messages.

• Perspective: Use third person point of view when writing research papers (avoiding pronouns such as I, we, my, our (first person) and you, yours, your, us, we (second person). You should deal with facts and not opinions, thus providing citations within your paper and on your reference page. Focus on the subject itself and not on your feelings about the subject. The use of third person retains a formal tone in your writing. (3.09)

• Tone: An effective way to achieve the correct tone is write in a way to educate and persuade the reader. (3.07)

• Reducing Bias: Use the word person instead of he (considered sexist) or he/she (which can be awkward). Avoid use of the terms such as opposite sex and minority. Be aware of the order of presentation of social groups. Also, take note with language concerning gender, race, disability and sexuality. (3.12-3.17)

• Flow of Paper: Use transitional words helping maintain the flow of thought. Use a pronoun referring to a noun in a preceding sentence allows a smooth transition and elevates repetition. Other words assisting in transition are time links (after, next, since, then, while), cause-effect links (as a result, consequently, as a result), addition links (furthermore, in addition, moreover, similarly), and contrast links (although, but, conversely, however, nevertheless). (3.05)

• Wordiness and Redundancy: Eliminate wordy sentences; get your point across with as few words as possible eliminating empty words such as “that”. (3.08)

• Word Choice: Use scholarly words. (ex: kids = children; hate = dislike) (3.09)

• Complete Sentences: Write in complete sentences and avoid slang. Complete sentences contain both subjects and verbs. Avoid run on sentences.

• Subject-Verb Agreement: Be sure your subject and verb agree. For example, “we are” rather than “we is,” “they did” rather than “they done.” (3.19)

• Verb Tense and Active Voice: Limit shifts in verb tense, and use active voice rather than passive voice. (3.18)

• Awkward Phrasing: Use Standard English phrasing. For example, “try to do” rather than “try and do,” “we went” rather than “us went.”

• Long Paragraphs Preferred: Be sure your ideas are fully developed in each of your paragraphs. This usually results in paragraphs of five or more sentences. (3.08)

• Full Wording Rather Than Contractions: Convert contractions to their complete word-partner. For example:

  • it’s = it is

  • won’t = will not

  • haven’t = have not

• Homonyms: Homonyms are words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different definitions. For example, new and knew, your and you’re, and know and no.

• Acronyms: Identify acronyms on first use. Example: American Pubic University (APUS). (4.23)

• Non-words: Ensure all your words are Standard English words. For example, “alot” is not a word.

• Frequently Misspelled Words: Be alert for commonly confused words. For example, possess and posses, a lot and allot, definitely and defiantly, and their and there.

• Numbers: 0-9 are written out while 10 and above are written as numbers

(Exceptions: numbers expressing approximate lengths of time be written as words ex: 1 hr 30 min; 12:30 a.m.; about 3 months ago) (4.31-4.34)Use numerals to express all numbers in the Abstract (with the exception of starting a sentence). (4.31) (New Sixth Edition Change)

• etc.: Avoid using etc. at the end of a list unless it is part of the quotation. (4.26)

• Parenthesis: Parentheses are most often used in citations. Before using them in other applications, consult the APA handbook for guidance. (4.09)

• Commas and Introductory Phrases: Usually commas are placed between an introductory phrase and the main sentence; however, commas are rarely used to separate a concluding phrase.

• Colon: Colons should only be used when the introductory phrase is a complete sentence. (4.05)

• Semicolon: Semicolons are used to either connect two complete sentences, or to connect a list with commas. (4.04)

• Ampersand: If the citation is in parentheses, use the ampersand ('&') instead of the word “and”. (6.12)

• Slashes: Use dashes rather than slashes. (4.06)

• Punctuation when ending a Quote: If quotation is at the end of a sentence, close quote with quotation marks, cite the source in parentheses, and end with a period or other punctuation outside the final parenthesis. If quote is in mid-sentence, close quote with quotation marks, cite the source immediately after the quotation marks, and continue the sentence. (6.03)

• Question Marks and Quotation Marks: Place question marks outside the quotation mark unless the question mark is part of the quotation. (4.08)

• Single Quotation Marks: The only time you use single quotation marks is inside of double quotation marks. (4.08)

• Exclamation Points: Exclamation points should not be used unless the exclamation point is part of a quotation. (4.08)

• Titles of Books and Magazines: Italicize the title of books and magazines. (4.21)

• Titles of Articles and Chapters: Place the title of articles and chapters of books in quotation marks to set off when mentioned in text. (4.07)

• Bold: Use italicizing to emphasize words rather than Bold. (4.21)

• Levels of Headings: (3.03)

DIRECT QUOTES VERSUS PARAPHRASING

Direct quote is the exact words of an author or source. (6.03)

Example: According to Conner (2004) “Many of us understand all sorts of things but never have the opportunity or take the time to try them out" (p. 161).

Paraphrasing is your own rendition of someone else’s information or idea. (6.04)

Example: Many people possess knowledge on a multitude of topics, but infrequently have the chance to take advantage of such knowledge (Conner, 2008).

Block quotations of 40 words or more. Make each line of the quote begin in the same place, creating a straight line on the left side of the quotation, while the right side is jagged. (6.03) (4.08)

Do NOT use quotation marks unless there are quotations within the quotation then use normal quotation marks, not single ones.

Remember, you must still give credit for the source. Place periods or commas within quotation marks when they are part of the quoted material. At end of quote, place period then page number. Example: …… placebo effect. (p. 276)

Page number must be given for direct quotes. If no page numbers are available, cite the paragraph number using the abbreviation para. (instead of the symbol ¶). If no page or paragraph numbers are available, cite the heading and paragraph number in which the information is found: (Discussion section, para. 2). (6.05) (Sixth Edition)

(2.11) COMPONENTS OF A REFERENCE PAGE

`

Running head: TITLE OF PAPER 7

References

Stielow, F. J. (2003). Building digital archives. New York: Neal-Schuman

Running head and page number

Title of page

Alphabetize

Double Space

Hanging Indent

The word “References” (“Reference if only one source) should appear at the top center of the page. Entries are double spaced with the top line justified to the left. Additional lines of each reference are indented (hanging indent).

Do not list a reference for which you do not have a citation in the body of the paper. Similarly, do not include a citation without a corresponding reference.

OBTAINING REFERENCES FROM RELIABLE SOURCES

Most information on the Internet is the electronic equivalent of the other print sources listed and therefore not acceptable as a college reference. The Internet is unregulated and there is no quality control. By using the online library and accessing the Deep Web, you will be able to located reliable and scholarly information for your research. You can only use the Internet if it is the equivalent of other acceptable sources such as:

• Reputable News Media (Time, Newsweek, New York Times)

• Serious Popular Magazines (New Yorker, National Geographic)

• Government Publications

WHAT IS A CITATION?

A "citation" is the way you tell your readers that certain material in your work came from another source. It also gives your readers the information necessary to find that source again, including (6.11 – 6.21):

• information about the author

• the title of the work

• the name and location of the company that published your copy of the source

• the date your copy was published

• the page numbers of the material you are borrowing

Why should I cite sources?

Giving credit to the original author by citing sources is the only way to use other people's work without plagiarizing. But there are a number of other reasons to cite sources:

• Citations are extremely helpful to anyone who wants to find out more about your ideas and where they came from.

• Not all sources are good or right - your own ideas may often be more accurate or interesting than those of your sources. Proper citation will keep you from taking the rap for someone else's bad ideas.

• Citing sources shows the amount of research you've done.

• Citing sources strengthens your work by lending outside support to your ideas.

Doesn't citing sources make my work seem less original?

Not at all. On the contrary, citing sources actually helps your reader distinguish your ideas from those of your sources. This will actually emphasize the originality of your own work.

When do I need to cite?

Whenever you borrow words or ideas, you need to acknowledge their source. The following situations almost always require citation:

• Whenever you use quotes

• Whenever you paraphrase

• Whenever you use an idea that someone else has already expressed

• Whenever you make specific reference to the work of another

• Whenever someone else's work has been critical in developing your own ideas.

Do I have to cite sources for every fact I use?

No. You do not have to cite sources for facts that are not the result of unique individual research. Facts that are readily available from numerous sources and generally known to the public are considered "common knowledge," and are not protected by copyright laws. You can use these facts liberally in your paper without citing authors. If you are unsure whether or not a fact is common knowledge, you should probably cite your source just to be safe.

(Information derived from American Public University COLL100)

GUIDELINES FOR CITING REFERENCES

References are in alphabetical order by author name. (6.25)

If no author, do not use Anonymous. The title takes the place of the author and the reference is alphabetized by the first letter of the first word of the title [in text citation, use quotation marks (“Study Finds,” 2005)]. If work is designated as “Anonymous”, cite in the text and reference list as so. Do not list the author as anonymous or unknown unless that is the way the author is listed on the source. (6.15)

When citing eight or more authors on a reference page, the first six authors are listed; all subsequent authors except the last are omitted and replaced with an ellipsis; and then the name of the last author is listed. (6.27) In-text citation, cite only the surname of the first author followed by et al. (6.12) (Sixth Edition)

When citing periodicals, if the volume number is 22, the issue is 3, and the page range is 23 through 25. Write the information as follows: 22(3), 23-25. Do not use the words Volume or Vol., Issue or Iss., or Pages, p. or pp. (7.01)

Following the author’s name, the publication date follows. The date (in parentheses) is always the second part of a reference. (6.28) List the date as follows:

(year). For example: (2009).

(year, month). For example: (2007, January). Note: Do not use month abbreviations.

(year, month day). For example: (1998, June 16).

(n.d.). Use n.d. for works which do not contain a publication date

Capitalize only the first word of titles, proper nouns (such as names of people, places, studies, etc.), and subtitles following a colon (:). (6.29)

Italicize the name of books, journals, and magazines (4.21), but do not italicize the name of an article. (7.01)

Book: Learn more now: 10 simple ways to learning better, smarter & faster.

Journal: Journal of Social Psychology

Magazine: Newsweek

New Guidelines for Citing References: Keep the format as simple as possible (Sixth Edition)

• • No retrieval dates needed unless the source material may change over time (6.32)

  • For electronic references, give the DOI, if assigned. Database names are no longer needed. (6.32)

  • If no DOI assigned, provide the URL of the journal or book publisher.  (Database names are no longer needed such as ProQuest or EBSCO) (6.32)

The digital object identifier (DOI) is an alphanumeric string identifying content providing a link to location on the Internet. Give DOI for journal articles, books, or book chapters accessed online. No period at the end of the string. Do not use the phrase retrieved from. Do not give a retrieval date. The DOI is typically located on the first page of the electronic journal article, near the copyright notice. (6.31) (Sixth Edition)

(7.02) BOOK REFERENCE EXAMPLE

Last name, Initials. (yyyy published). Book title. Place of Publication: Publisher.

Fischer, L., Schimmel, D., & Stellman, L.R. (2007). Teachers and the law. (7th ed.). Boston,

MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

(7.02) ONLINE BOOK REFERENCE EXAMPLE

Last name, Initials. (yyyy published). Book title. Place of Publication: Publisher. Retrieved from …

Palmer, R. (2006). Getting straight 'A's: A students' guide to success. New York, NY:

Routledge. Retrieved from Ebrary.

(7.02) BOOK REFERENCE WITH DOI EXAMPLE

Last name, Initials. (yyyy published). Book title. doi:xxxxx
Stielow, F. J. (2003). Building digital archives. doi:xxxxx

Note: Database names such as ProQuest or EBSCO or retrieval dates are no longer needed. (6.32)

(7.01) JOURNAL ARTICLE REFERENCE EXAMPLE

Last name, Initials. (yyyy of journal volume). Article title. Journal, volume number, (issue

number), pages

Roy, A.J. (1982). Suicide in chronic schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 96(1),

171-177

It should be noted using the words Volume or Vol., Issue or Iss., or Pages, p. or pp. are not acceptable in the citation. Also, the journal title and volume number are italicized. (7.01)

(7.01) JOURNAL ARTICLE REFERENCE WITH DOI EXAMPLE

Last name, Initials. (yyyy of journal volume). Article title. Journal, volume number, (issue

number), pages. doi: xx.xxxxx

Roy, A.J. (1982). Suicide in chronic schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 96(1), 171-

177. doi: xx.xxxx

It should be noted using the words Volume or Vol., Issue or Iss., or Pages, p. or pp. are not acceptable in the citation. Also, the journal title and volume number are italicized. (6.30)

Note: For electronic references, give the DOI, if assigned. Database names such as ProQuest or EBSCO or retrieval dates are no longer needed. (6.32) (Sixth Edition)

(7.01) JOURNAL ARTICLE REFERENCE WITHOUT DOI EXAMPLE

Last name, Initials. (yyyy of journal volume). Article title. Journal, volume number, (issue

number), pages. Retrieved from http://xxxxxxx
Roy, A.J. (1982). Suicide in chronic schizophrenia. British Journal of

Psychiatry, 96(1), 171-177. Retrieved from http://xxxxxxx

It should be noted using the words Volume or Vol., Issue or Iss., or Pages, p. or pp. are not acceptable in the citation. Also, the journal title and volume number are italicized. (7.01)

Note: Database names such as ProQuest or EBSCO or retrieval dates are no longer needed. Provide URL if DOI is not available. (6.32) (Sixth Edition)

(7.03) INTERNET SOURCE EXAMPLES

Minnesota Department of Employment. (2007). Excellence in education. Retrieved

from http://www.deed.state.mn.us/whymn/ExcInEduc.htm

National Education Association. (2009). Educators employment liability

program: Benefits. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/29065.htm

THERE ARE MANY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES IN THE APA MANUAL

PLAGIARISM

Many people think of plagiarism as copying another's work, or borrowing someone else's original ideas. But terms like "copying" and "borrowing" can disguise the seriousness of the offense:

According to the Merriam-Webster OnLine Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means

• to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own

• to use (another's production) without crediting the source

• to commit literary theft

• to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.

But can words and ideas really be stolen?

According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. In the United States and many other countries, the expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection
as long as they are recorded in some media (such as a book or a computer file).

All of the following are considered plagiarism:

• turning in someone else's work as your own

• copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit

• failing to put a quotation in quotation marks

• giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation

• changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit

• copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (see our section on "fair use" rules)

Attention! Changing the words of an original source is not sufficient to prevent plagiarism. If you have retained the essential idea of an original source, and have not cited it, then no matter how drastically you may have altered its context or presentation, you have still plagiarized

Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism.

(Information derived from American Public University COLL100)

APA Checklist

Cover Page:

• Sections of a basic paper include: title page, abstract (optional), text of paper and a reference page. Never submit an APA paper without all sections.

• (Fifth Edition) Page headers consists of two or three words of the title followed by the page number with a right justified margin. Headers must be PERMANENT.

• (Fifth Edition) Running head is aligned on the left margin one line below the page header. Should read: Running head: <space> Portion of the title not to exceed 50 characters. All letters of the title are capitalized. For example: Running head: JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN AMERICA (note that the 'R' in running is capitalized, but the 'h' in head is not).

• (Fifth Edition) Title should be at the middle of the page and centered, followed by your name, professor’s name and title of course. The date should also be included.

• (Sixth Edition) Running head is aligned on the left margin on the same line as page number (page number is flush right margin). Should read “Running head: <space> Portion of the title not to exceed 50 characters. All letters of the title are capitalized. Headers must be PERMANENT. The Title page is always page 1.

• (Sixth Edition) Title should typed in upper and lower letters, centered and positioned in the upper half of page, followed by your name, professor’s name and title of course.

Formatting the paper:

• Center the title at the top of page two (page 3 if there is an Abstract). The title is written in uppercase and lowercase letters

• Introductory Paragraph: Tell the readers what you are about to tell them. Pretend the reader has no idea what you are writing about, thus, giving detailed information. The thesis statement is often the last sentence of the first paragraph. Generally, the introductory paragraph is past tense.

• Double space entire paper

• Use 1 inch margins

• Text is to be left aligned

• (Fifth Edition) Single space after a sentence terminator

• (Sixth Edition) Two spaces after a sentence terminator - rather than one

• (Fifth Edition) Acceptable fonts: Times New Roman: Size 12; Arial: Size 11 or Courier: Size 12 Black ink only

• (Sixth Edition) Use 12 point font, New Times Roman only and black ink

• (Sixth Edition) Same font throughout with the exception of italicizing (1) introducing a key term you wish to emphasize (2) titles of books, periodicals, films, videos, TV shows and microfilm publications (there are more in-depth examples if you would like to reference 4.21 in New Sixth Edition of APA Manual)

• (Fifth Edition) Numbers: 0-9 are written out while 10 and above are written as numbers

• (Sixth Edition) Numbers: 0-9 are written out while 10 and above are written as numbers

(Exceptions: numbers expressing approximate lengths of time be written as words ex: 1 hr 30 min; 12:30 a.m.; about 3 months ago)

• Avoid using etc. at the end of a list unless it is part of the quotation

• Exclamation points should not be used unless the exclamation point is part of a quotation

• Capitalize first letter following a colon if clause is a complete sentence

• Use complete sentences and avoid slang

• First sentence of a paragraph must be indented (with the exception of the Abstract)

• Do not use contractions ( it’s = it is; won’t = will not)

• Always spell out acronym on first use. Example: American Pubic University (APU)

Citing In Text & Reference Page:

• Must give page number for direct quotes. If no page numbers are available, cite the paragraph number using the abbreviation para. (para. 4). If no page or paragraph numbers are available, cite the heading and paragraph number in which the information is found: (Discussion section, para. 2).

• Spell out all authors on first time reference is cited. Use et al. in further references

(example: Smith et al., 2009) (Exception: Six or more authors use et al. first time)

• Quotes over 40 words must be indented and page number cited. Do not use quotation marks.

• Cite references in the text of your paper and include your sources on the reference page. PLEASE NOTE: Wikis (like Wikipedia) cannot guarantee the verifiability or expertise of their entries therefore they are not considered scholarly sources.

• Ampersand: If the citation is in parentheses, use the ampersand ('&') instead of the word “and”.

• References are in alphabetical order by author(s) last name on the reference page; list last name, then first and middle initial only. If no author is provided, use the first character of the title.

• When citing a book on the reference page, capitalize only the first word of the title

• When citing a reference on the reference page, all lines with the exception of the first line for each reference must be indented (hanging indent)

• (Sixth Edition) For electronic references, give the DOI, if assigned. Database names are no longer needed. If no DOI assigned, provide the URL of the journal or book publisher.        

• Use third person point of view when writing research papers (avoiding pronouns such as I, we, my, our (first person) and you, yours, your, us, we (second person). You should deal with facts and not opinions, thus providing citations within your paper and on your reference page. Focus on the subject itself and not on your feelings about the subject. The use of third person retains a formal tone in your writing.

• Remember, if you cite a reference in your paper, you must give credit on your reference page AND if you list a reference on your reference page, you must have cited within your paper. The reader must know which information in your paper came from a particular source in case they need to do research themselves.

• (Sixth Edition) No retrieval dates needed on reference page unless the source material may change over time

ALWAYS PROOFREAD YOUR WORK BEFORE SUBMITTING

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Sixth Edition

Punctuation

4.01 Spacing After Punctuation Marks

4.02 Period

4.03 Commas

4.04 Semicolon

4.05 Colon

4.06 Dash

4.07 Quotation Marks

4.08 Double and Single Quotation Marks

4.09 Parentheses

4.10 Slash

Spelling

4.12 Preferred Spelling

4.13 Hyphenation

Capitalization

4.14 Words Beginning a Sentence

4.15 Major Words in Titles and Headings

4.16 Proper Nouns and Trade Names

4.17 Nouns Followed by Numerals or Letters

Italics

4.21 Use of Italics

Abbreviations

4.22 Use of Abbreviations

4.23 Explanation of Abbreviations

4.24 Abbreviations Accepted as Words

4.25 Abbreviations Used Often in APA Journals

4.28 Other Abbreviations

4.29 Plural of Abbreviations

4.30 Abbreviations Beginning a Sentence

When to Cite

6.01 Plagiarism

6.02 Self-Plagiarism

Quoting and Paraphrasing

6.03 Direct Quotation of Sources

6.04 Paraphrasing Material

6.05 Direct Quotations of Online Material without Pagination

6.06 Accuracy of Quotations

6.07 Changes from the Source Requiring No Explanation

6.08 Changes from the Source Requiring Explanation

6.09 Citations Within Quotations

6.10 Permission to Quote, Reprint or Adapt

Citing References in Text

6.11 One Work by One Author

6.12 One Work by Multiple Authors

6.13 Groups as Authors

6.14 Authors with the Same Surname

6.15 Works with No Indentified Author or with an Anonymous Author

6.16 Two or More Works within the Same Parentheses

6.17 Secondary Sources

6.18 Classical Works

6.19 Citing Specific Parts of a Source

6.20 Personal Communications

6.21 Citations in Parenthetical Material

Reference List

6.22 Construction of an Accurate and Complete Reference List

6.23 Consistency

6.24 Using the Archival Copy or Version of Record

6.25 Order of References in the Reference List

6.26 References Included in a Meta-Analysis

Reference Components

6.27 Author and Editor Information

6.28 Publication Date

6.29 Title

6.30 Publication Information

6.31 Electronic Sources and Locator Information

6.32 Providing Publication Data for Electronic Sources

Reference Examples by Type

7.01 Periodicals

7.02 Books, Reference Books, and Book Chapters

7.03 Technical and Research Reports

7.04 Meetings and Symposia

7.05 Doctoral Dissertations and Master’s Thesis

7.06 Reviews and Peer Commentary

7.07 Audiovisual Media

7.08 Data Sets, Software, Measurement Instruments, and Apparatus

7.09 Unpublished and Informally Published Works

7.10 Archival Documents and Collections

7.11 Internet Message Boards, Electronic Mailing Lists and Other Online Communities

Fifth Edition

Punctuation

3.01 Period

3.02 Comma

3.03 Semicolon

3.04 Colon

3.05 Dash

3.06 Quotation marks

3.07 Parentheses

3.08 Brackets

3.09 Slash

Spelling

3.10 Preferred Spelling

3.11 Hyphenation

Capitalization

3.12 Words Beginning a Sentence

3.13 Major Words in Titles and Headings

3.14 Proper Nouns and Trade Names

3.15 Nouns Followed by Numerals or Letters

Italics

3.19 Italicizing Words

Abbreviations

3.20 Use of Abbreviations

3.21 Explanation of Abbreviations

3.22 Abbreviations Accepted as Words

3.23 Abbreviations Used Often in APA Journals

Heading and Series

3.30 Organizing a Manuscript with Headings

3.31 Levels of Headings

3.32 Selecting the Levels of Headings

3.33 Seriation

Quotations

3.34 – 3.41 Quotations and Citing of Sources

Numbers

3.42-3.49 Numbers

3.50-3.52 Metrication

3.53-3.61 Statistical and Mathematical Copy

3.62-3.74 Tables and Table Checklist

3.75-3.86 Figures

Reference Citations

3.94 One Work by One Author

3.95 One Work by Multiple Authors

3.96 Groups as Authors

3.97 Works with No Author or with an Anonymous Author

3.98 Authors with the Same Surname

3.99 Two or More Works within the Same Parentheses

3.100 Classical Works

3.101 Specific Parts of a Source

3.102 Personal Communication

3.103 Citations in Parenthetical Material

Reference List

4.04 Order of References in Reference List

Examples of different sources and proper citation format (periodical and non-periodical):

• • Authors 4.08

  • Publication Date 4.09

  • Title of Article or Chapter 4.10

  • Title of Work and Publication Information 4.11-4.13

  • Publication Information 4.14

  • Retrieval Information: Electronic Sources 4.15

  • Elements and Examples of References (every source imaginable is listed here) 4.16

Manuscript Preparation and Sample Papers

501 General Instructions for Preparing the Paper Manuscripts

5.02 Typeface

5.03 Double Spacing

5.04 Margins

5.05 Order of Pages

5.06 Page Numbers and Headers

5.07 Corrections

5.08 Paragraphs and Indentions

5.09 Uppercase and Lowercase Letters

5.10 Headings

5.11 Spacing and Punctuation

5.12 Seriation

5.13 Quotations

5.15 Title Page

5.16 Abstract

5.17 Text

5.18 References

Provided by Dr. Jill Fuson, American Public University System (Sept, 2009). Information Retrieved from Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th & 6th ed.), (2009). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.