By Kate Cottle

A style of formatting papers

Consistency

A way to level the playing field

A way to note sources

Sources are any outside information that you use in your projects

Noting sources is a two step process

In-text citation: within the body of the paper

References page: a list at the end of your sources

is just one type of style. You may worked with MLA or Chicago Style in other settings.

We use APA here because it is the style used in social sciences and nursing.

http://www.bakeru.edu/images/stories/1_Academics/2_Library/citation/apa_6th_ed.gif

There are three main aspects to APA

Manuscript Style

Formatting choices

Editorial Style

MUGs (Mechanics, Usage and Grammar)

Sourcing: noting where you got your information

In-text citations

References

This is how the paper looks.

Margins: 1 inch

Spacing: double spaced

Paragraphs begin with indents

Font: 12 point, serif font (Times New Roman)

Header:

In the upper margin of the page

On the left, a shortened version of the title.

On the right, a page number.

MUGs

Mechanics

Punctuation

Capitalization

Numbers

Usage

Active Voice

Agreement

Grammar (actually mechanics and usage) http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eIARuH0-x4Y/SjAbAWf5ptI/AAAAAAAAAz4/p7ZxgSDsl1E/s400/punctuation+lite.gif

Word Choice

Noun Clusters

Jargon

Colloquialisms

Specificity

Biased Language

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When you write research papers, you have to both use and acknowledge outside information.

All outside sources must noted, whether you have incorporated the information as a quote, a paraphrase, or a summary.

All sources that have in-text citations should also have an entry on the References page.

Sourcing is a two-part process. In-text citations are short entries of authors

name (or a shortened version of the title if not author), date of publication, and a page or paragraph number.

The references page contains the longer, more informative entries that a person could use to find your source.

Both kinds of entries have consistent information that would allow someone to find that material.

The entry will consist of four parts

Parentheses

Authors name

Date of publication

Page number or paragraph number (if a quote rather than a paraphrase or summary)

(Sparrow, 2005, p. 187)

These go in your sentence as close as possible to the end of the outside material, but still where the reference fits in best. If your quote/ paraphrase ends at the end of the

sentence, that is where the citation will go. Many people have discussed the topic, but the ultimate authority

said, Aaaarrrr, they be landlubbers (Sparrow, 2005, p. 187).

If your quote/ paraphrase ends at the middle of the sentence, that is where the citation will go or you can split it so it flows better.

Sparrow (2005) wrote, Aaaarrrr, they be landlubbers, in opposition to many experts (p. 187).

Once you have cited something in the body of your paper, it must go into your References page.

This page is double spaced and each entry has a hanging indent A hanging indent means that the first line of the

entry is on the left margin and every entry after that is a half inch in.

This page is alphabetized by author. If no author, then listed alphabetically by title.

There are many variations of entries, based on the source.

To determine what information is necessary, first think about what type of source you are looking at.

Book?

Newspaper?

Online journal article?

Once you have determined what your source is, look in the APA Style Manual for the information that you will need.

Most often this includes:

Author name

Data of publication

Name of article

Name of book/ journal/ newspaper

Website or database

APA Style Manual, 6th Edition Make sure it is the revision: the second printing

Purdue OWL

Pocket Guide to APA Style by Robert Perrin

APA the Easy Way by Peggy M. Houghton, Timothy J. Houghton, Michele M. Pratt

Guide to Graduate Writing

Student Success Center Writing Resources