APA format

Basic format
• 1 inch margins, Times New Roman, size 12
• Specific header (title in caps on the left and then
Last name and page number on right)
• Cover page
• Abstract
• Body
• References
Cover Page
Abstract Page
Main Body
 Citing Literature
• State the idea, then cite it
• Before:
– Waits and Lewis (2003) state that most online
courses were traditionally delivered via asynchronous
technologies.
• After:
– Most online courses were traditionally delivered via
asynchronous technologies (Waits & Lewis, 2003).
 General Actions to keep in mind
• Include an introduction and conclusion
• Limit direct quotations – paraphrase.
• Organize by topic or theme – not by author
• Use headings
• Use transitional and comparative terms
• Identify patterns and relationships between studies
• Critically discuss strengths and weaknesses of sources
• Compare and contrast
• Cite all paraphrased information and direct quotes
appropriately
• Distinguish between assertion and evidence
• Not about your opinion or belief
 checklist
• Adherence to writing process for editing
• Importance or significance of the topic
• Organization and other criteria
• Effectiveness of introduction
• Currency and relevancy of literature cited
• Thoroughness and accuracy of literature reviewed
• Coherence and flow
• Effectiveness of conclusion
• Accuracy of citations
• Mechanics and overall accuracy
• Appropriateness of style and language usage
• Grammatical accuracy
 Preparing to write
• Search appropriate databases
• Organize your information – group into
categories
• Evaluate sources – not all will be relevant
• Develop a plan and an outline
• Consider your writing setting – the environment
that works for you
 In-text Citations
Parenthetical
Subsequent Parenthetical format,
citations in format, first subsequent
Type of citation First citation in text text citation in text citations in text

One work by one author Walker (2007) Walker (2007) (Walker, 2007) (Walker, 2007)
One work by two Walker and (Walker & Allen, (Walker & Allen,
authors Walker and Allen (2004) Allen (2004) 2004) 2004)
One work by three Gilsenan, Ramirez, and Gilsenan et al. (Gilsenan, Ramirez, (Gilsenan et al.,
authors Smith (1999) (1999) & Smith, 1999) 1999)

One work by four Gilsenan, Ramirez, Soo, Gilsenan et al. (Gilsenan, Ramirez, (Gilsenan et al.,
authors and Smith (2008) (2008) Soo, & Smith, 2008) 2008)
Gilsenan, Ramirez, (Gilsenan, Ramirez,
One work by five Hicks, Soo, and Smith Gilsenan et al. Hicks, Soo, & (Gilsenan et al.,
authors (2003) (2003) Smith, 2003) 2003)
One work by six or more Smith et al. (Smith et al.,
authors Smith et al. (2005) (2005) (Smith et al., 2005) 2005)
Groups (readily National Institute of (National Institute of
identified through Mental Health (NIMH, Mental Health
abbreviation) as authors 2003) NIMN (2003) [NIMH], 2003) (NIMH, 2003)
University of
Groups (no University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh (University of (University of
abbreviation) as authors (2005) (2005) Pittsburgh, 2005) Pittsburgh, 2005)
(Angeli et al., 2010)
 In-text Citations

• Remember to include page numbers for

all
direct quotes
– For 1-2 authors: List both last names
every time!
– For 3-5 authors: List all last names the first
time, then use the first author’s last
name followed by “et al.” for
subsequent entries
– For 6+ authors: List the first author’s last
name and et al. (List all authors on the
reference page)
 In-text Citations: No Authors
Unknown author: Cite by the title.
-Titles of books and reports are italicized or
underlined -Titles of articles, chapters, and
web pages are in quotation marks.
Example (“Behavior Management,”
2005).

Organization as author:
- Write out the organization’s full name the first
time with any abbreviation in brackets
Example
(National Education Association [NEA],
2011).
- Subsequent citations: use abbreviation
Example
(NEA, 2011).
(Angeli et al., 2010)
 Reference General Guidelines

• Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of

an article or book title and subtitle, the first word
after a colon or a dash in the title, and proper
nouns.
Example Social skills and self-efficacy for exceptional children

Note: Do not capitalize the first letter of the second

word in a hyphenated compound word.

(Angeli et al., 2010)

 Reference General Guidelines

• If multiple sources by the exact same

author(s) list them by date (earliest first)
on the reference page

• Capitalize all major words in journal titles.

Example
Journal of Learning
Disabilities
 Common Reference Examples

Basic Format for Books:

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital

letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher.

Article from Database:

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of article. Journal Title,

8(3), 120-125. doi: 000000001123

(Angeli et al., 2010)

 Common Reference Examples
Newspaper Article
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Title of Newspaper.

Retrieved from http://www.someaddress.com/full/url/

Nonperiodical Web Page

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of

document. Retrieved from http://Web address

(See APA manual or Purdue OWL for more detailed

explanations and additional reference types)

(Angeli et al., 2010)

 Reference Page

• The reference list must be double-spaced, and

entries should have a hanging indent (see
example on next page)

• Entries must be listed in alphabetical order

• The word “References” should be centered at

the top of the page

(APA, 2010, p. 178)

 Reference Page Sample
APA FORMAT
23
References

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual

Hanging of the American Psychological Association 6th ed.
indent Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M.,
Soderland, L., & Brizee, A. (2010). APA format and styling
guide. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
resource/560/01

(Angeli et al., 2010)

 Additional Resources
1. APA Formatting and Style Guide. Provides detailed
explanation and examples of all components of APA.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

2. Free tutorial on APA. Includes specific examples.

http://www.apastyle.org/learn/index.aspx

3. Specific examples of references. Explains DOIs.

http://www.library.uncc.edu/display/?dept=reference&f
ormat=open page=1094
 Quotations: Which is correct?
• “Conflicts exist in the one size fits all curriculums that do not meet the needs of
diverse student populations.” (page 354)

• “Most social software is accessible to all learners, including those with physical or
mental constraints.” p. 21.

• “Cognitivist/behaviourist pedagogies centre on the individual as an autonomous entity

to which certain stimuli can be applied in order to achieve a certain measurable
output” (p. 38).

• Asian students in particular found that asynchronous environments allow them time to
reflect, think, and learn more (Wang, 2007; Zhao & McDougall, 2008)