APA STYLE
Created by Denise Regeimbal and Amanda Rutstein, 2012
Updated by Connie Dowell, 2013
BASIC APA RESEARCH
PAPER ELEMENTS
 Structure
and content
 Clear and concise organization
 Mechanics of style
 Tables and figures
 Parenthetical citations
 References
LANGUAGE AND BIAS
APA is a style developed for scientific research. As
such, APA papers strive to achieve clarity and to
avoid bias or biased language. Try not to use
language that makes assumptions about particular
demographic groups or reinforces stereotypes.
Additionally, while you may come to conclusions
about data, avoid personal opinions not backed by
evidence or discussion of personal experiences
(unless permitted by your assignment).
GETTING STARTED
GENERAL DOCUMENT FORMATTING
 Setting
up a Word document
 Select Font/Font Size
Times New Roman
 Font Size 12
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1” margins all around
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Left justified with right ragged edge
Double spaced
All paper elements should be double
spaced except in-text table/figure notation
 Indent the first line of all paragraphs
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TITLE PAGE ELEMENTS
 Header
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Running head and paper title
Page numbers
 Title
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page body
Paper Title
Your Name
Institution
The university pledge
APA sample title page
BASIC APA ELEMENTS OF A
RESEARCH PAPER
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Abstract

Sample APA style research paper

Basic Elements of a Research Paper
Introduction
 Body of paper
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In-text citations
Parenthetical
 Tables and figures
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Conclusion
 References
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Reference page format
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Order of source information for each resource
Order of all sources on reference page (alphabetized)
Hanging indent—1/2 inch
HEADING LEVELS
Section Headings: 6th Edition of APA
Level One Headings: Centered, bold upper and lowercase
Method
Level Two Headings: Left justified, bold upper and lowercase
Sample and Participant Selection
Level Three Headings: Indented, boldface, lowercase paragraph heading with a period.
Personality and self-esteem.
Level Four Section Headings: Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading with
a period.
Self-esteem measurements.
Level Five Section Headings: Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading with a period.
Participant selection.
PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS:
PARAPHRASING

Paraphrased information is cited with the last
name(s) of the author(s) and the year of
publication. Punctuation goes after the
parentheses.
You can include your citation at the end of the
sentence (Smith, 2013).
 Or if you use the author’s name in the sentence, you
can place the year in parentheses next to it.

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
According to Smith (2013),
Some professors require page or paragraph
numbers for paraphrased material
PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS: QUOTING

Quoted material is cited with the author(s), the
year of publication and the page or paragraph
numbers of the quotation.

…end of the quote” (Smith, 2013, p. 7).


…end of the quote” (Smith, 2013, para. 7).

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Or for multiple pages: (Smith, 2013, pp.7-8).
For multiple paragraphs: (Smith, 2013, para. 7-8).
Paragraph numbers are used for online
documents without page numbers
QUOTATION RULES
Frame all quotes
 Block quotes:
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Any quote longer than 40 words (or at the professor’s
discretion)
Indent each line of the quote
For quotes that stretch over more than one
paragraph, further indent the first line of the new
paragraph (as shown on the next slide)
Omit quotation marks
Though the APA book shows example in single space,
it instructs readers to double space their block
quotes.
BLOCK QUOTE EXAMPLE
Introduction to block quote:
The first line of text begins here.
This line starts a new paragraph. The paragraph
continues onto the next line and so forth. Note the
indentation showing the start of a new paragraph. After
you have finished your quote, you will return to typing
flush left (Smith, 2013, p. 7).
The paragraph picks up here.
CHANGES IN QUOTATIONS
You can alter capitalization of the first word or
punctuation marks in quotes to make them work
within your sentence. You don’t need to indicate
that you have changed anything.
 If you omit part of the quote, use ellipses (…) to
show something is missing.
 If you must change or insert a word for clarity, do
so within brackets. If you add emphasis (italics),
use [emphasis added].
 To indicate that an unusual spelling or
grammatical issue in a quote is original (and not
your mistake) use [sic] after the error.

MULTIPLE AUTHORS
Authors are cited in the order in which they
appear on the document you are citing.
 (Smith & Young, 2013).
 (Smith, Young, & Blunt, 2013).
 When using authors’ names in a sentence, do not
use “&.” Spell out “and.”
 For citations with more than two authors, use all
names the first time you cite. In subsequent
citations use only the first author, then “et al.”
 (Smith, et al., 2013)

MULTIPLE SOURCES
Sometimes you may paraphrase information that
is echoed in multiple sources. Use a single set of
parentheses and separate citations with a
semicolon. Order them alphabetically.
 (Blunt, 2005; Smith, 2013; Young, 2001).

SECONDARY SOURCE CITATIONS

It is best to see the original source if possible, but
sometimes you may need to cite ideas that were
cited in one of your sources, though you could not
read the original work. Do not include secondary
sources on your reference page, but do give credit
in the text and cite the source you did see like
this:
Jones’ research (as cited in Young, 2012)
 In the example above, Young is the source the writer
saw. He or she did not see Jones’ work. Young would
go on the reference page. Jones would not.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Interviews, phone conversations, emails and
other forms of private communication are cited in
the text, but do not appear on the reference page.
 J. Smith (personal communication, September
20, 2012)
 (J. Smith, personal communication, September
20, 2012)
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SOME COMMON REFERENCE TYPES

Book:
Smith, J. & Young, K. L. (2012). Book title. Location: Publisher.

Chapter in an Edited Book:
Young, K. L. (2002). Chapter title. In J. Smith (Ed.), Book title.
(pp. 7-22). Location: Publisher.

Ebook:
Smith, J. & Young, K. L. (2012). Book title. Retrieved from
http://www.example.com

Journal Article:
Blunt, R. S. & Young, K. L. (2005). Title of the article. Name of the
Journal, 7(2), 29-38. doi: xxxxxxx
WHAT’S A DOI?
A DOI (digital object identifier) is a number used
to index journal articles (and some other
documents) so that researchers can easily locate
them and buy copies or access supplemental
material.
 The DOI may appear with other publication
information on the first or last page of a journal
article or in an upper or lower corner. You may
also find the DOI with the abstract when you find
a journal through a database.
 If a journal article has no DOI, and it is available
online, end the reference with “Retrieved from”
and the URL of the journal’s home page.

WHAT ABOUT A WEBSITE?
APA does not provide reference examples for
simple websites. You can construct references for
individual pages using principles of APA citation.
The following are commonly used constructions,
but ALWAYS check with your professor to find
out his or her preferred style!
Author, A. (2013). Title of page. Retrieved from
http://www.exampleurl.com/
Author, A. (2013). Title of page. Retrieved from
http://www.exampleurl.com/
 Again, these are NOT official APA examples.
There are NO APA examples for websites.

MISSING INFORMATION

If you don’t have a date on a document, use “n.d.”
in the reference and for in text citations.

(Smith, n.d., p. 7).
If there is no author listed for a document put the
title first, then the date, then the rest of the
reference information. For in-text citations, use
the first few words of the title in place of the
author: (“The great depression,” 2003).
 Keep in mind, however, that authors are not
always individual people. Corporations,
organizations, or government entities can be
authors of material produced on behalf of the
organization as a whole.
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EXTRAS
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Following the professor’s specific instructions
Using the MS Word References tab or other formatting
software
Whole numbers under 10 are spelled out while whole
numbers over 10 are numerical.
Article titles are not framed with quotation marks in the
reference list
PDFs of documents can be cited just like paper copies.
Do not cite Wikipedia…just don’t
WRITING CENTER INFORMATION
Fredericksburg Campus Writing Center
(540) 654-1036
Located in Trinkle 107A
Monday-Thursday 10-5 and Friday 10-3
Stafford Campus Writing Center
(540) 286-8109
Located in the lobby of the South Building
Monday-Thursday 3-8; Friday 3-7
Online-only hours Monday-Thursday, Saturday 912; Sunday 6-9
*Handouts regarding APA Style guidelines and punctuation
rules are available at both the Fredericksburg and Stafford
Writing Centers
WHERE TO GO FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION

Sixth Edition of APA Publication Manual
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Stafford Writing Center website
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Fredericksburg Writing Center website
APA website
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Stafford Writing Center website
Fredericksburg Writing Center website
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Purchase highly recommended
APA website
The Purdue Online Writing Lab (Purdue Owl)

Purdue Owl