APA Style Guide

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Disclaimer

• This lecture is meant to help in several courses when writing papers and assignments in APA.
• All information is intended to be broadly helpful, but may not be applicable to every assignment.
• Students should review their assignment guidelines and ask questions to the instructor if needed.

Resources

• APA resources include the APA website (https://apastyle.apa.org/) and the APA manual.
• Instructional aids and reference guides can be found at https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf.
• APA style is used to:
  • Respect authors by citing work with accuracy.
  • Provide credit to authors to avoid plagiarism.
  • Create a consistent style that avoids distractions and confusion.
• The information is based on the American Psychological Association [APA], 2020.

Citations

• Citations are used in text and in reference lists.
• Citations show what ideas came from what source.
• Citing gives credit to the author for their idea.
• The information is based on the APA, 2020.

Plagiarism

• If an idea is not yours, you must reference it, unless it is common knowledge.
• Common knowledge includes facts that are known by many people.
• Plagiarism involves "...the act of presenting the words, ideals or images of another as your own" (APA, 2020, p. 254).
• Violating ethical standards and academic integrity is plagiarism.
• Plagiarism involves being disrespectful by not recognizing the authors.
• Plagiarism prevents the reader from being able to access the original source.
• Self-plagiarism is "... presentation of your own previously published work as original" (APA, 2020, p. 256).

Avoiding Plagiarism

• To avoid plagiarism:
  • Paraphrase by stating information in your own words.
  • Quote directly, but limit quotations in short academic papers.
  • All in-text citations should be in the reference list.
  • Keep track of references throughout your work; don't wait until the end to add them.
  • Avoid cutting and pasting, as this leads to confusion.

Crediting Sources for Paraphrasing

• If there is only one author cite the name every time including (Brown, 2023)
• If there are two authors, cite names every time (Brown & Smith, 2023).
• If there are three or more authors, cite the first author followed by "et al." (Brown et al., 2023).

Correct In-Text Citation Examples

• Example "most often, nursing values and obligations are articulated in the form of beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice” (Doane & Varcoe, 2015, p. 98).
• Example There are four principles that are usually referred to as comprising nursing values (Doane & Varcoe, 2015).
• Example Doane and Varcoe (2015) stated that "most often, nursing values and obligations are articulated in the form of beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice" (p. 98).
• Example Doane and Varcoe (2015) stated nursing values relate to four principles that guide practice.

Paraphrases and Quotations

• Long paraphrases are on p. 269 though it is better to over cite if in doubt
• Direct quotations are discussed on pp. 270-273.
  • Verbatim quotations need to include a page number in the citation.
  • Use a single page number (p. X) or multiple page numbers (pp. X-X).
  • Format depends on length.
    • Short quotations are less than forty words.
    • Block quotations are more than forty words.
• The information is based on the APA, 2020.

Block Quotations

• Block quotations contain more than 40 words (p. 272).
• Block quotations do not have quotation marks.
• Indentation should be 0.5 inches.
• Note where the period goes.

Feedback from Last Term’s Assignments

• Key elements of APA style:
  • Page numbers should be in Times New Roman, on the top right of each page, starting on the title page. -Provide page numbers with direct citations
  • Headings are needed to organize the paper.
• Review the rubric while writing to ensure all parts have been covered.

More In-Text Citation Examples

• Initials of authors not required in citations.
• Only the authors' last name, year, and page (or paragraph number if it's a direct quote) are needed.
• Example for one author:
  • "Strengths of mindset are the qualities that give rise to a set of attitude, outlooks, philosophies, and values that affect one's way of behaving” (Gottlieb, 2012, p. 130).
• Example of more than two authors -There are important differences in how ethics, morality, and ethical dilemmas are defined (Gregory et al., 2020). -Ethics is “the branch of of philosophy hat helps us organize our thinking and reasoning about what we consider to be right and wrong, particularly in the social context” (Gregory et al., 2020, p. 565)

References Page

• Important points about the reference page:
  • List in alphabetical order.
  • Initial titles are italicized (for books).
  • Include the publisher, but do not cite the APA manual.
  • Use hanging indents.
• All in-text citations must be included in the reference list.
• See https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf.

APA Reference List

• List every reference that is found within the in text citations of a paper
• Include at the end of the paper double spaced with the same space between each individual line and between references.
• List references alphabetically with a hanging indent by the first authors last name
• The format of the citation depends on what type of source it is.
• See example student paper on page 66.
• The information is based on the APA, 2020.

Reference List Examples by Type

• Reference list requires four elements (APA, 2020, p. 283):
  • Author
  • Date
  • Title
  • Source
• Reference examples can include:
  • Journal articles (APA, 2020, pp. 317-318)
  • Books (APA, 2020, pp. 321-323; 326-327)
  • Reports (APA, 2020, pp. 329-330)
  • Online media (APA, 2020, pp. 348-350)
  • Webpages (APA, 2020, pp. 350-352)
• See https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf.

Mechanics of Style

• Other important APA content:

Abbreviations

• Use abbreviations if conventional (p. 172).
• Write the full version and the abbreviation in parentheses when first used.
  • For example: The patient was admitted to long term care (LTC). Her experience in LTC…
• The information is based on the APA, 2020.

Numbers

• Use numerals for numbers 10 and above, and words for numbers below 10 (pp. 178-179).
• Do not start a sentence with a numeral number.
• Examples:
  • Forty-eight percent of the sample showed an increase; 2% showed no change.
  • Twelve students improved, and 12 students did not improve.
• The information is based on the APA, 2020.

Language

• Be sensitive to labels (pp. 133-134).
• Acknowledge people’s humanity.
• Reduce bias by topic.
• When discussing age, use appropriate terms for older adults.
• Be mindful of:
  • Disability
  • Gender
  • Racial/ethnic identity
  • Sexual orientation
  • SES
• The information is based on the APA, 2020.

Other APA Mechanics

• Review when writing your assignments as needed (pp. 154-160):
  • Spacing after punctuation
  • Periods and commas
  • Semicolons and colons
  • Dashes (em versus en)
  • Quotation marks
  • Parentheses/square brackets
• The information is based on the APA, 2020.

APA Paper Formatting

• Use 12-point Times New Roman font.
• Double space, with no extra space between paragraphs.
• Use 2.54 cm (1 inch) margins.
• Include page numbers on the top right.
• Follow format guidelines for student vs. professional papers.
• The information is based on the APA, 2020.

Formatting Papers

• Review level headings (APA manual p. 48).
• See example on page 49.