Learning APA BasicsLearning APA Basics

Presented by: Annie CawthonPresented by: Annie Cawthon

What is APA?What is APA?

American Psychological Association (APA)American Psychological Association (APA) Used to provide consistency and uniformity in Used to provide consistency and uniformity in

writingwriting Originated in 1929 as a seven page article and Originated in 1929 as a seven page article and

is now a 440 page manual. (YEP…..the is now a 440 page manual. (YEP…..the dreaded red and black 5dreaded red and black 5 thth edition APA edition APA book…..)book…..)

(Cuddy, 2002)(Cuddy, 2002)

Why Should You Care?Why Should You Care? 200 level courses: APA is just being introduced. 200 level courses: APA is just being introduced.

Partial credit given for mistakes.Partial credit given for mistakes. 300 level courses: No credit given for incorrect APA. 300 level courses: No credit given for incorrect APA.

No faculty corrections will be made to submitted No faculty corrections will be made to submitted papers. The paper is returned to the student, papers. The paper is returned to the student, appropriate APA changes must be made, and the appropriate APA changes must be made, and the student will receive a drop in one letter grade!student will receive a drop in one letter grade!

By using correct APA, you are eliminating the risk of By using correct APA, you are eliminating the risk of being suspected of plagiarism- which is taken being suspected of plagiarism- which is taken EXTREMELY seriously!EXTREMELY seriously!

(Brenda Rowe’s NUR 420 website)(Brenda Rowe’s NUR 420 website)

Specific 300 Level Course APA Specific 300 Level Course APA ExpectationsExpectations

Title page: Correct placement of running head; Title page: Correct placement of running head; correct header with page number; inclusion of title, correct header with page number; inclusion of title, student name, and affiliation (school name). Correct student name, and affiliation (school name). Correct pagination, headers, and margins on subsequent pagination, headers, and margins on subsequent pages.pages.

Correct references in the body of the paper; correct Correct references in the body of the paper; correct use of author’s name and publication date; Correct use of author’s name and publication date; Correct citation of secondary sources.citation of secondary sources.

Quoted material must include page number, author, Quoted material must include page number, author, and date. and date.

100% accuracy on reference page.100% accuracy on reference page.

The Title Page The Title Page (p 10-11 in APA Manual)(p 10-11 in APA Manual)

Title:Title:- Should be a concise statement of the main topic- Should be a concise statement of the main topic- Use upper and lower case letters- Use upper and lower case letters- Avoid using abbreviations in the title- Avoid using abbreviations in the title- Title should be at center of page- Title should be at center of page- Avoid using phrases such as “A Study of….” or “An Experimental - Avoid using phrases such as “A Study of….” or “An Experimental Investigation of…”Investigation of…”- Recommended to be 10-12 words- Recommended to be 10-12 words

• • Author’s Name:Author’s Name:- Your first name, middle initial, and last name- Your first name, middle initial, and last name- Omit titles and degrees (e.g. Dr., Professor, PhD, EdD)- Omit titles and degrees (e.g. Dr., Professor, PhD, EdD)

• • Institutional Affiliation:Institutional Affiliation:-Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University-Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University

The Title Page con’tThe Title Page con’t(pp. 12 & 296 APA Manual)(pp. 12 & 296 APA Manual)

The Running Head:The Running Head:

- Located - Located only on the title page!only on the title page!

- It is an abbreviation of the title- It is an abbreviation of the title

- Located flush left at top of the title page in - Located flush left at top of the title page in ALL UPPERCASE LETTERS.ALL UPPERCASE LETTERS.

- Should - Should notnot be more than 50 characters be more than 50 characters (including letters, spaces, and punctuation)(including letters, spaces, and punctuation)

- Example on p. 306 in APA Manual- Example on p. 306 in APA Manual

Manuscript HeaderManuscript Header(p. 288 Ex. 5.06 in APA Manual)(p. 288 Ex. 5.06 in APA Manual)

Use the first two or three words of the titleUse the first two or three words of the title Located Located on each pageon each page Located in upper right hand corner Located in upper right hand corner The manuscript header is useful because if the pages The manuscript header is useful because if the pages

get separated, the page number and header on each get separated, the page number and header on each page will assist in putting the paper back in the page will assist in putting the paper back in the correct order.correct order.

Steps: ViewSteps: View Header/Footer Header/Footer Align right Align right Type in 2 to 3 word portion of Type in 2 to 3 word portion of titletitle insert 5 spaces insert 5 spaces click icon to insert page number. The manuscript click icon to insert page number. The manuscript header and appropriate page number will automatically be added to each header and appropriate page number will automatically be added to each sequential page, so you only have to go through the process once- when sequential page, so you only have to go through the process once- when creating the title page. creating the title page.

In-Text CitationsIn-Text Citations(p. 207 APA Manual)(p. 207 APA Manual)

1 author1 author: Include author’s last name and year. Do not include : Include author’s last name and year. Do not include month.month.

Ex: Walker (2004) discussed that…..Ex: Walker (2004) discussed that….. In a recent study...(Walker, 2004).In a recent study...(Walker, 2004).

2 authors2 authors: Cite both names each time.: Cite both names each time.Ex: Walker and Rosen (2005) found Ex: Walker and Rosen (2005) found that…..that….. In a recent study…(Walker & In a recent study…(Walker &

Rosen, 2005).Rosen, 2005).3, 4, 5 authors3, 4, 5 authors: Cite all authors the first time you use them, the : Cite all authors the first time you use them, the

each subsequent time, use the 1each subsequent time, use the 1stst author, followed by et al. author, followed by et al. (period after al & don’t use italics)(period after al & don’t use italics)

In- Text Citations con’tIn- Text Citations con’t(p. 207 APA Manual)(p. 207 APA Manual)

Example of Example of 2, 3, or 4 authors2, 3, or 4 authors::1st time: Bradly, Ramirez, and Soo (1994)1st time: Bradly, Ramirez, and Soo (1994)Subsequent times: Bradly et al. (1994)Subsequent times: Bradly et al. (1994)(*Omit the year from subsequent citations if within the same paragraph)(*Omit the year from subsequent citations if within the same paragraph)

Ex: Bradly et al. found that…Ex: Bradly et al. found that…

6 or more authors6 or more authors: Cite 1: Cite 1stst author followed by et al. (year) for author followed by et al. (year) for first and first and subsequent citations.subsequent citations.

- In the reference list, list the first 6 authors, then shorten the rest to et al. In the reference list, list the first 6 authors, then shorten the rest to et al.

--If you have two sources with authors who have the same last name, include --If you have two sources with authors who have the same last name, include the initials of the first author in all in-text citations, even if the year is the initials of the first author in all in-text citations, even if the year is different.different.

Citing Personal CommunicationCiting Personal Communication(p. 214 APA Manual)(p. 214 APA Manual)

Items considered to be personal communication Items considered to be personal communication include memos, interviews, and telephone include memos, interviews, and telephone conversations (non-recoverable items).conversations (non-recoverable items).

Do Do notnot include in the reference list, cite in-text only. include in the reference list, cite in-text only. Include the surname and initials and provide exact Include the surname and initials and provide exact

date as possible.date as possible.

Ex: T. K. Lukes (personal communication, April 18, Ex: T. K. Lukes (personal communication, April 18, 2005) expressed….2005) expressed….……..(T. K. Lukes, personal communication, ..(T. K. Lukes, personal communication,

April 18, April 18, 2005).2005).

The Reference PageThe Reference Page( Ch. 4 in APA Manual, p. 215)( Ch. 4 in APA Manual, p. 215)

Step 1: Alphabetize properlyStep 1: Alphabetize properly Remember: “Nothing Precedes Something”Remember: “Nothing Precedes Something”

Ex: 1Ex: 1stst- Brown- Brown

22ndnd- Browning- Browning- If there is an apostrophe in the last name (M’Carthy), If there is an apostrophe in the last name (M’Carthy),

disregard the apostrophe when alphabetizing. disregard the apostrophe when alphabetizing.

Ex: 1Ex: 1stst- M- MaacArthurcArthur

22ndnd – M’ – M’CCarthyarthy

- Invert all names. Ex: Cawthon, A. L.- Invert all names. Ex: Cawthon, A. L.

The Reference Page con’tThe Reference Page con’t(Ch. 4, p. 214 in APA Manual)(Ch. 4, p. 214 in APA Manual)

Separate authors, surnames and initials, and initials and suffixes with Separate authors, surnames and initials, and initials and suffixes with commas.commas.

When there are 2 or more authors, use an ampersand (&). When there are 2 or more authors, use an ampersand (&). Ex: Cawthon, A. L., Weathersby, K. A., & Crow, K. E.Ex: Cawthon, A. L., Weathersby, K. A., & Crow, K. E.

• • When there is no author or editor, place the book title or organization in the When there is no author or editor, place the book title or organization in the author position (p. 249 APA Manual).author position (p. 249 APA Manual).

• • Capitalize only the 1Capitalize only the 1stst word and proper nouns in the title and subtitle. Do word and proper nouns in the title and subtitle. Do notnot use quotation marks or italics. use quotation marks or italics. (p. 240 APA Manual)(p. 240 APA Manual)Ex: Ex: RResponses to stimuli: esponses to stimuli: EEvidence for…vidence for…

**Turn to p. 239 to view elements of a reference to a periodical****Turn to p. 239 to view elements of a reference to a periodical**

Helpful ResourcesHelpful Resources The APA Manual (5The APA Manual (5thth ed.) ed.)

- Sample paper on pp. 306- 320- Sample paper on pp. 306- 320- Appropriate use of numbers on pp.122-128- Appropriate use of numbers on pp.122-128- How to cite a web address on p. 231- How to cite a web address on p. 231

• • Professor Summerville’s website (Professor Summerville’s website (www.faculty.mercer.eduwww.faculty.mercer.edu SummervilleSummerville APA style guide link on left side of page) APA style guide link on left side of page)

• • http//http//www.owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/www.owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/(APA formatting and style guidelines)(APA formatting and style guidelines)

• • www.mercer.edu/arc/www.mercer.edu/arc/(This site takes you to the online writing lab offered by Mercer University. (This site takes you to the online writing lab offered by Mercer University.

• • Swilley Library (You can meet with someone from the writing lab. The Swilley Library (You can meet with someone from the writing lab. The writing lab can be found on the bottom floor of the library). Also, if you writing lab can be found on the bottom floor of the library). Also, if you are in the library, stop by the reference desk and grab an APA pamphlet- are in the library, stop by the reference desk and grab an APA pamphlet- “APA Style Guide and Checklist”“APA Style Guide and Checklist”

RecapRecap Using APA properly is going to be extremely important Using APA properly is going to be extremely important

throughout the next three years, make it easier for throughout the next three years, make it easier for yourself……get the APA Manual (5yourself……get the APA Manual (5thth edition). edition).

Be aware of great resources to use when you have an APA Be aware of great resources to use when you have an APA question.question.

Use your faculty as a resource…that’s why they are here! Use your faculty as a resource…that’s why they are here! They want to help!They want to help!

ANY QUESTIONS????ANY QUESTIONS????

References:References:

Cuddy, C. M. (2002). Demystifying APA style. Orthopedic Nursing, 21(5), 35-42.Cuddy, C. M. (2002). Demystifying APA style. Orthopedic Nursing, 21(5), 35-42.Publication Manual of the American Psychological AssociationPublication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5 (5thth ed.). (2001). Washington, DC: ed.). (2001). Washington, DC:

American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association.