APA: USING REFERENCES EFFECTIVELY

The Writing Centre

In this Presentation
About academic writing, sources, plagiarism Kinds of research

General paper formatting

In-text citations References list

Academic Writing
Presenting new perspectives Making a POINT Proving your points with research Giving the reader PROOF Relating back to the overall argument of your paper Adding some explanatory COMMENTARY

Types of Sources
Primary
Original research, theories, or documented experiences.
Original work that you are writing. Examples: carrying out your own experiments,

conducting surveys or interviews, reviewing primary documents such as letters and treatises, as well as documentaries.

Secondary
Supports your argument based on source material

authored by other people. Information and arguments from other writers about a topic or primary source. Examples: journal articles, books, films.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism can be intentional: Buying a paper, submitting a friends, paying someone to write a paper for you, piecing together text from websites, etc.

It can also result unintentionally from a failure to cite your

sources and/or cite them properly (i.e. according to a style guide)

Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism

Paraphrase, quote, or summary
Have you made the appropriate choice?

Dont rely too heavily on others work

How much cited material is in each paragraph/section?
Whos really making the point?

Know how to use your style guide properly,

keep it with you and reference it at all stages of research and writing!

Citations
Summary: provides an understanding of the core

argument of a text in your own words.

Paraphrasing: provides an understanding of one

aspect of the text in your own words.

Used most often.

Quotation: uses the authors EXACT words to

provide one idea.

Used to put emphasis on the words of the author or when

it is difficult to write the idea equally well in your own words.

Use a Style Guide

These are standards for formatting your paper and citing

your sources
Three common options: APA (usually the sciences & social sciences) MLA (usually the humanities) Chicago (certain disciplines like History)

What is APA?
Formatting and referencing style of

the American Psychological Association. Currently 6th Edition.

Handout with essentials in the Writing

Centre
Full manual located in Ryerson

Library, 2nd Floor Reserves at BF76.7.P82 2009 and in the Book store

General Formatting
Standard legal paper size 8.5 x 11 Typed at 12 pt. Time New Roman font and double-spaced

1 margins on all sides

Page header and number on all pages

Page Header
Page number in top right corner of EVERY page. Title

page starts as 1.
Title in top left of EVERY page: Title page: Running head: TITLE OF PAPER All other pages: TITLE OF PAPER Use the Page Header section in Microsoft Word.

Title Page 1/2

Double-spaced and in the

upper half of the page Full title (may take two lines) Writers name Institution name Do not bold or italicize anything

Title Page 2/2

Some professors may require additional

information so be sure to follow WHAT YOUR PROFESSOR WANTS

Date

Professors name
Course name/code/section etc.

Abstract 1/2
Not always required, but advised Page 2 First line, centered: Abstract (plain text) Do not indent first line In 150-250 words, detail the important points of the paper

Abstract 2/2
Should include a concise

summary of the key information

research topic, questions participants, methods results, conclusions

In-text Formatting: The Basics

Begin your essay on the first line of the page

following the title (or abstract) page

Type the title at the top centre then continue with

the introduction on the next line

Remember: everything is double-spaced!

Throughout the essay, subheadings may be used There are five levels; see 6th Manual pp. 62-63

In-text Citations 1/8

(Author, Date) or

(Author, Date, Page/Paragraph)

Not mentioning authors name in sentence: One study found that 54% of men preferred apples to oranges (Singh, 2002). Emphasize the author by mentioning authors

name in sentence:
Singh (2002) found that 54% of men studied

preferred apples to oranges.

In-text Citations 2/8

Emphasize the year/author by using publication

information in the sentence:

In 2002, Singh found that 54% of men studied preferred apples to

oranges.

Citing a quotation must include a page reference:

As Singh (2002) notes, these results have critical importance to

understanding cardiovascular health issues in men (p. 45).

In-text Citations 3/8

Modify a quotation using square brackets [ ] to

show that wording has been altered to maintain context or conform grammar
Citing indirect sources (quoting a quote): use

double quotations to signify all material taken from the source being quoted and single quotations to signify material quoted in that source
Miele (1993) found that the placebo effect which had

been verified in previous studies, disappeared when [only the first groups] behaviours were studied in the manner (p. 276).

In-text Citations 4/8

To include a mid-sentence quote: following the

closing of the quote (), cite the source in parenthesis and continue your sentence.

only use other punctuation (eg.: ,) if your written sentence requires

it. In applying Blaines idea that the act of understanding another language through physical communication is exemplary of the universality of human action (2002, p. 32) essentially renders the original theory as false.

Crediting a citation from another source Swansons study (as cited in Sonire, Liu, & Schmidt, 2005) suggests that

In-text Citations 5/8

For block quotations (40 words or more)
begin new paragraph (for quote, and again afterwards) indent 5 spaces for each line do not use quotation marks 6th Manual p. 171

To cite two sources on a single point, separate

them within the parentheses using a semi-colon. Organize alphabetically.

(Crandell, 1997; El-Kassem, 2004).

In-text Citations 6/8

To cite different sources from the same author

and same year distinguish each using letters

(Liu, 1999a) (Liu, 1999b)

Citing a work with two authors: use both names

for all citations

(Jolly & Ellemere, 2003).

Interviews and personal communication are cited in

text but not on the reference list!

(G. Berenstein, personal communication, February 10, 2007).

In-text Citations 7/8

When citing a work with 3, 4, or 5 authors include

all names in the first citation, but only the first author and et al. for subsequent citations
first: (Grant, Dewey, Fern & Miller, 2008) subsequent: (Grant et al., 2008)

When citing a work with 6 or more authors use

only the name of the first author and et al. for all citations
(Zamboni et al., 2005)

In-text Citations 8/8

Be sure to include the page/paragraph number(s) for

direct quotes. It is strongly encouraged that a page/paragraph number also be given for paraphrasing or other material drawn from a specific section of a source
p. refers to a single page; pp. refers to more than one para. refers to a paragraph from a website or document that does

not have page numbers you must count down to the paragraph number

If a work has no date, use n.d. in place of the year More on citations in 6th Manual pp. 169-179

References List 1/5

At the top of a new page, centre the title

References

No other formatting: no bold, no underline, no

numbering or bullets
Entries should be double-spaced and have a

hanging indent (second and subsequent lines indented by one tab)

In Microsoft Word, highlight text then: Format

Paragraph Indentation Special Hanging

References List 2/5

Order entries alphabetically by the authors last

names; works with no author should be organized by the beginning letter of the first major word of the title or group/organization author. Only use the last name and the initials of first and middle names.
Mills, S. (1997). Discourse. New York: Routledge. Said, E. (1979). Orientalism. New York: Vintage Books.

References List 3/5

If an author/group of authors has more than one work,

order them chronologically:

Foucault, M. (1969). The Archaeology of Knowledge. New

York: Routledge.
Foucault, M. (1978). The History of Sexuality Volume I: An Introduction. New York: Vintage Books.

References List 4/5

Personal communications (such as interviews)

are not included in the Reference list

Pay attention to the capitalization and

italicization of titles (of books and chapters, journals and articles) and to punctuation and spacing
Use logic to determine how to reference complex

sources, or consult the Manual

References List 5/5

Ensure that all sources cited within the body of

the essay are included in the References list and vice-versa

When referencing electronic media (websites,

etc.), cut URLs to complete a line of text and proceed to the next
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2008). UNODC

supports UN rights declaration. Retrieved January 4, 2009, from http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/unodc -supports-un-rights-declaration.html

Referencing Print Sources 1/3

Book, one author
Morrison, D. R. (1998). Aid and ebb tide: A history of CIDA and Canadian development assistance. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press.

Two or more authors

Stolorow, R., Brandshaft, B., & Atwood, G. (1987). Psychoanalytic treatment: An intersubjective approach (5th ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. Note the capitalization of words within the book titles

Referencing Print Sources 2/3

Unidentified author (use title or group name)
Southern Ontario recreational atlas. (1998). Victoria: Phototype Composing.
Note: In-text citations will have the appropriate title instead of

an author

Selection in an edited book

Modleski, T. (1986). Feminism and the power of interpretation: Some critical readings. In T. deLauretis (Ed.), Feminist studies/critical studies (pp. 121-138). Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Referencing Print Sources 3/3

Article in a journal that has volume and issue numbers (no space between)
Shutte, H. (1972). Transcultural child psychiatry. Acta Paedopsychiatrica, 38(9), 229-231.

Article in a daily newspaper

Vardy, J. (2001, January 17). Technology creating IT rage in workplace. National Post, p. C6.
Consult the APA Format and Referencing handout

or the 6th Manual for further examples

Referencing Electronic Sources 1/3

Online periodical (no printed version)
Spillman, B. C., & Pezzin, L. E. (2000). Potential and active family caregivers: Changing networks and the sandwich generation. The Milbank Quarterly, 78. Retrieved from http:// www.milbank.org/quarterly/7803fear.html
Since URLs often change, APA recommends

identifying the article by a DOI (digital object identifier)

Rather than Retried from simply use: doi: 2426272.

Referencing Electronic Sources 2/3

Electronic article in a journal with print version available
Whitmeyer, J. M. (2000). Power through appointment [Electronic version]. Social Science Research, 29, 535-555.

Non-periodical web page or web document

Smitheran, H. (2009). My life and times. Retrieved from http://www.haroldsmitheran.com Note that there is no period after a URL

Referencing Electronic Sources 3/3

Electronic independent document (no author)
Electronic reference formats recommended by the American Psychological Association. (2001, January 10). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Retrieved January 16, 2001, from http://www.apa.org/journals/ webref.html
Consult the APA Format and Referencing handout

or the 6th Manual for further examples

The Writing Centre

One-on-one tutorial sessions to help students with

writing and referencing during any stage of the process. One 50 minute appointment per week. Book appointments online. Regular workshops on a variety of writing-related topics. Useful guides and links on the website.
LIB 272B www.ryerson.ca/writingcentre (416) 979-5000 ext. 7192