Learning APA Style
Section: Title Page
- Upper half of the page and centered - Full title of the paper with no more than 12 words - No abbreviations - Upper & lower case letters - Name (no title or degree) - Affiliation (university, etc.) - No date & Instructor name - Do not use titles (Dr.) or degrees (PhD). - NOTE: All text on the title page, and throughout your paper, should be double-spaced.
Grammar Basics
- Use complete sentences - No fragments - Complex sentences are welcomed (that doesn't mean run-on sentences) - No contractions: Incorrect: "The results didn't show an increase....." Correct: "The results did not show an increase....." - Verbs - Use past tense (showed) or present perfect tense (has shown) for the Introduction, the description of the methods, and the description of the results Use present tense (show) for the discussion and conclusion
What is APA?
A simple set of procedures, or style rules intended to ease reading comprehension consisting of rules or guidelines that a writer (or student) follows to ensure clear and consistent writing of papers and reports.
APA Headings
APA uses a system of five heading levels: 1. Centered, boldface, upper and lowercase headings. 2. Left-aligned, boldface, upper and lowercase headings. 3. Indented, boldface, lowercase heading with a period. 4. Indented, boldface,italicized, lowercase heading with a period. 5. Indented, italicized, lowercase heading with a period.
References (references page)
All sources referenced in your paper must appear in your references section - The first line of each entry is flush with the left margin, and all subsequent lines are indented (this is called "hanging indent") - Entries are in alphabetical order, by the first author's surname (followed by 1st initial) - Double spaced
Short quote
If a quotation is less than 40 words work it into the body of your paper. - Should be surrounded by quotation marks - Followed by in-text citation. - The final punctuation of the sentence is then typed after the in-text citation, outside of the parentheses.
Guideline: Avoid colloquial expressions
"I will come up with a research..." "Many times..." "Whether or not..."
Web APA Resources
Copy & paste the URL into your browser: APA Citation Tools Guide - http://library.trevecca.edu/documentation/apa LIU Color Coded APA - http://liu.cwp.libguides.com/citapa Purdue OWL - http://bit.ly/OwlPurdueAPA
Sections of the Paper
Four Major Sections Title page, Abstract, Main body, References. Each of these begins on a new page. Tables and figures follow the references.
Formatting the "Running Head"
-In Word. Click the 'Insert' tab -Then click 'page number' -Choose 'top right' as the location - The header will open with the page number inserted. -Type in all caps "TITLE OF YOUR PAPER" in the header flush left. - It cannot exceed 50 characters including spacing and punctuation.
(In-text Citations) 6 and more authors
When citing a work with six or more authors, identify the first author's name followed by "et al." Smith et al. (2006) maintained that.... ..... (Smith et al., 2006)
Block quote
When the quotation is at least 40 words or more. Also referred to as 'long quote'
References: Heading
"References" should be at the top and centered, but not in bold Remember that this section starts on a new page
(In-text Citations) A work with 3 to 5 authors
Identify all authors in the first phrase or in parentheses. (Harklau, Siegal, & Losey, 1999) In subsequent citations, only use the first author's last name followed by "et al." in the signal phrase or in parentheses. (Harklau et al., 1999) notice that there is not a comma between the author's name and "et al."
Sub Headings
Function as an outline & reveal organization Bullets are not acceptable in APA Do not have just one subsection within a section (i.e., if you have an A, you must have a corresponding B) Incorrect: Procedure Survey. Correct: Procedure Survey. Stress hormones.
Block quote example
Gibbings (2018) states the following about the leadership role of governance professionals: Increasing the ability of organisations to thrive in a complex, changing world starts with equipping senior leaders with the capability, capacity and courage to lead the change. This starts with challenging the role that directors and executives see themselves playing in times of change. Governance professionals have a pivotal part to play in enabling that to happen. (p. 506) Note: In Word this would be double-spaced. The quote would be indented 5 spaces.
What is the "Running head"?
The page header with paper title and page number found at the top of every page.
Guideline: Avoid clichés
"Old as time" "All that glitters is not gold"
Basic Formatting Guidelines
- 1 inch margins on all sides - Double space everything - Times New Roman font, Size 12 - Do not justify text - Running Head on every page - Apply section headings when needed
Section: The Abstract
- A brief concise summary of your paper. - Should contain the main elements of the paper - May also include possible implications - Between 150-200 words - No indentation (block formatting) NOTE: Not all papers require an abstract. Check with your professor to determine if it is required. TIP: Best to write after finishing the paper.
Section: Main Body
- Follows the abstract and precedes the references page. Includes these parts which do not use headings. - Introduction-This part starts on the first line after the title. - Content - Use sub-headings as needed in the content area - Summary
Guideline: Abstract format
- On the first line of the abstract page, center the word "Abstract" - Normal font, not bold, italics or quotation marks
Book (reference example)
Last name, A.A. & Last name, B.B. (year). Title of the work. Location: Publisher. Triandis, H. C. & Smith, G.F. (1995). Individualism and collectivism. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Electronic journal (reference example)
Last name, A.A., Last name, B.B., & Last name, C.C. (year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, volume, pp-pp. Thomas, A., Donnell, A. J., & Buboltz, W. C. (2001). The Hong Psychological Reactance Scale: A confirmatory factor analysis. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 2-13.
Short quote example
Lonsbary (2002) found that "conversation increases empathy" (p. 75).
Example: "Running Head"
On the title page it should look like this: Running head: TITLE OF YOUR PAPER Pages after the title page should look like this: TITLE OF YOUR PAPER
Section and sub-section headings
Section headings always receive level one formatting. Each sub-section of the Main Body begins at level 1.
(In-text Citations) Signal words
Signal words or phrases are key to introducing quotations. Ex. According to Smith (2010), "......" (p.2). Ex. Smith (2010) argues that "......" (p.2). Use such signal verbs as: acknowledge, contend, maintain, respond, report, argue, conclude, etc..
(In-text Citations) A work with two authors
Use "and" in between authors' name in the signal phrase, but use "&" between their names in parentheses. Ex. According to feminist researchers Raitt and Tate (1997), it is evident that that women's responses to the war have been ignored. Ex. Some feminist researchers insist that women's responses to the war have been ignored (Raitt & Tate, 1997).
Guideline: When you write numbers as numerals
- Numbers above 10 - Numbers in abstract (that aren't at the beginning of a sentence) - Numbers immediately preceding a unit of measurement (5-mg dosage) - Numbers that represent mathematical functions (multiplied by 5) - Numbers that represent time, ages, score, or points on a scale. - Numbers that reference a table or a figure (In Table 1)
Guideline: When you write numbers as words
- Numbers zero-nine - A number that begins a sentence, title, or heading - Common fractions (one fifth) - Universally accepted usage (the Twelve Apostles)
Block quote format
- Precede quote with an introductory phrase or sentence(2) followed by a colon Free-standing block of typewritten lines - Introduced in a sentence closed with a colon. - Start the quotation on a new line, indented 1/2 inch from the left margin - Omit quotation marks.
Parenthetical (citation example)
Engaging in conversation increases empathy (Lonsbary, 2002). Notice that there is not a period before the citation. The period only goes at the end of the sentence, following the citation.
Title Page: Example
The OWL@Purdue has a great example of an APA formatted title page Copy the link into your browser to view it. http://bit.ly/2ButShy
In-text Citation Basics
Whenever you refer to ideas or findings that are originally from another researcher, you MUST cite your source. Include the author's LAST name and the date of publication Do not include the title of the article or journal you used within text Barton (2015) found cat purring reduces stress. For quotations provide a page number as well but refrain from using quotes! In your papers it is better to over-cite, than to under-cite