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APA Formatting and StyleOverview

This presentation will cover:2009 updates to APAGeneral APA guidelinesFirst page formatSection headingsIn-text citationsFormatting quotationsReference page

APA Update 20092009 changes in APA:

Simplified guidelines for formatting section headings Modified discussions of abstract, methods, results, and

discussion sections Expanded information on how to report data in various

forms, including graphs, charts, etc. New instructions for citing materials with no page

numbers Updated and expanded citation guidelines for electronic

sources to reflect changes in technology New expanded section on Journal Article Reporting

Standards

Your Instructor Knows Best

#1 Rule for any formatting style:

AlwaysFollow your instructor’s

guidelines

Format: General Guidelines Margins: one inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, right) Font Size and Type: 12-pt font (Times Roman or Courier are

acceptable typefaces) Line Spacing: Double-space throughout the paper, including the

title page, body of the document, and references. Spacing after Punctuation: Space once after all punctuation. This

includes using one space (not two) following punctuation marks at the end of sentences.

Alignment: Flush left (creating uneven right margin) Paragraph Indentations: 5 spaces Pagination: The page number appears on the upper right edge of

each page of the paper Paper: Use plain white 81/2 x 11 paper. Multiple pages are stapled

in the upper left-hand corner. Do NOT enclose in binder or file.

Format: General Guidelines (continued)

o Header with page numbers in the upper

right corner

o Use italics for titles of longer works

o Endnotes go on a separate page before

your Reference page

Formatting the 1st Page

o No title page

o Double space everything

o In the upper left corner of the 1st page, list your

name, your instructor’s name, the course, and date

o Center the paper title (use standard caps but no

underlining, italics, quote, or bold)

o Create a header in the upper right corner at half

inch from the top and one inch from the right of the

page (include your last name and page number)

Sample 1st PageMarie Thompson The Voice of Democracy 1

Jane Hammond

Psychology 200

November, 3 2008

The Voice of Democracy:

Life Cycle and Political Behavior in Post Communist Russia

Protest activity constitutes an important part of democratic politics.

In the post-communist context, the propensity to challenge authorities can

be considered as a sign of changing public attitudes toward political

participation. Over the past decade, scores of post-communist studies

sought to explain patterns of political behavior by concentrating on such

short-term factors as subjective well-being and long terms factors such as

age and gender (Coleman & Polodskij, 2007; Nikolayenko, 2008).

Formatting Section Headings Headings should be consistent in grammar and

formatting

Top-down progression is used, for example if there

are three levels of headings, you would use Levels

1, 2, and 3.

The introductory section to a paper does not

require a heading since it is assumed that the first

section in your document is an introduction.

Sample Section Headings

Level 1

Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and

Lowercase Heading

Level 2

Flush Left, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading

Level 3

Indented, boldface, lowercase paragraph heading

ending with a period.

Level 4

Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period.

Level 5

Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period.

In-Text Citations: the Basicso APA uses parenthetical citations

o Parenthetical citations depend on the medium

(e.g. Print, Web, DVD)

o Parenthetical citations also depend on the source’s

entry on the References page

o Signal word in the text is the first thing in the

corresponding entry on the Reference page

Author-Page Style

In-text Example:

Although Russia has regained her autonomy and independence

economically in recent years, many citizens are silent in their

public opinion (Coleman & McCulloch, 1990).

Corresponding References Entry:

Coleman, P.G. & McCulloch, A.W. (1990). Societal change,

values and social support: exploratory studies into

adjustment in late life. Journal of Aging Studies, 4(4), 321-

332.

Print Source with Author

In-text Example:

Post-communist citizens, in particular, have lived through

immense political, economic, and social transitions that

might have exacerbated age-related ideological

cleavages in society (Beissinger, 1986).

Corresponding Reference Entry:

Beissinger, M. (1986). Life cycle, generational and protest

potential in Yeltsin’s Russia. World Politics, 38(2), 288-

314.

With Unknown Author

In-text Example:

The quality of the neighborhood to which children

are exposed affects a variety of long-run social

outcomes (“Consequences,” 1997).

Corresponding Reference Entry:

Consequences of growing up poor. (1997).

Duncan, G. J., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (Eds.). New York:

Russell Sage Foundation.

Other In-Text Citations 1

Citing Indirect Sources

In-text Example:

Ravitch argues that high schools are pressured to act as “social

service centers, and they don't do that well” (qtd. in Weisman,

1984).

Multiple Citations

In-text Example:

. . . as has been discussed elsewhere (Burke, 2003; Dewey, 1998).

Other In-Text Citations 2

Sources from the Internet

In-text Example:

The Theory of Mind indicates that pretend play might be a tool that

helps children realize that thoughts, not reality, guide people's

actions, utterances and emotions (Bergen, 2006).

Corresponding References Entry:

Bergen, D. (2006). The role of pretend play in children’s cognitive

Development. Early Childhood Research & Practice, 4(1). Retrieved

February 1, 2004 from http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v4n1/bergen.html

Formatting Short QuotationsIn-text Examples:

According to some, dreams express “profound aspects of

personality” (Foulkes, 2005), though others disagree.

According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express “profound

aspects of personality” (2005).

Is it possible that dreams may express “profound aspects of

personality” (Foulkes, 2005)?

Cullen concludes, “Of all the things that happened there / That's all I

remember” (1994).

Formatting Long QuotationsIn-text Example:

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her

narration:

They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room,

and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping

it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing

his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw’s door, and there he found it on

quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was

obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and

inhumanity was sent out of the house (Bronte , 1856).

Adding/Omitting Words

In-text Example for Adding Words:

Jan Harold Brunvand, in an essay on urban legends, states: “some

individuals [who retell urban legends] make a point of learning

every rumor or tale” (2003).

In-text example for Omitting Words:

In an essay on urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand notes that “some

individuals make a point of learning every recent rumor or tale . . .

and in a short time a lively exchange of details occurs” (2003).

ReferencesPage: The BasicsSample References page:

REFERENCES

 

Beissinger, M. (1986). Life cycle, generational and protest potential in

Yeltsin’s Russia. World Politics, 38(2), 288-314.

Burns, N. (2002). Gender: Public opinion and political action. In I. Katznelson &

H. Milner (eds.), In political science: The state of the discipline, New York:

Norton.

Coleman, P.G., Ivani-Chalian, C. & Robinson, M. (1993). Self-esteem and its

sources: stability and change in later life. Ageing and Society, 13(2), 171-192.

Coleman, P.G. & McCulloch, A.W. (1990). Societal change, values and social

support: exploratory studies into adjustment in late life. Journal of Aging

Studies, 4(4), 321-332.

Reference Page: Books

o Example of Basic Format:Burns, N. (2002). Gender: Public opinion and political

action. In I. Katznelson & H. Milner (eds.), In

political science: The state of the discipline, New

York: Norton.

Reference Page: Periodicals

Article in a Magazine Format:

Author(s) (Date of publication). ‘Title of Article.” Title of Periodical, Volume (Issue),

pages. Medium of publication.

Example:

Buchman, Dana (2006). “A Special Education.” Good Housekeeping, 14(2), 143-148.

Print.

Article in Scholarly Journal Format:

Author(s) (Date of publication). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, Volume(Issue),

pages. Medium of publication.

Example:

Duvall, John N (1994). “The (Super)Marketplace of Images: Television

as Unmediated Mediation in DeLillo’s White Noise.” Arizona

Quarterly, 50(3),127- 153. Print.

Reference Page: WebWeb Source Format: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title

of Online Periodical, volume number(issue number if available). Retrieved from http://www.someaddress.com

Examples:

Bernstein, M. (2002). 10 tips on writing the living Web. A List Apart: For

People Who Make Websites, 149. Retrieved from http://www.alistapart.com

Database Format:

Author(s) (Date of publication). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal,

Volume(Issue), pages. Medium of publication.

Example:

Clark, G. (2001). “No more aches and pains.” Woman’s Day, 65(1),

54-56. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com

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