Cracking the APA Code
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Key
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APA is hard, but not impossible.
What’s the code?
King, S. J., & Turner, D. S. (2000). Caring
for adolescent females with anorexia.
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 32, 146–
149. Retrieved from Health Source:
Nursing Academic database.
APA learning curve
Gradual
enlightenment
Eureka!
?
Why
me?
#$%^&!
APA 3:Why bother?
To credit other authors
To allow readers to follow your research trail
Dear Paula, Will coenzyme Q10
reduce wrinkles?
Regarding coenzyme Q10, there are only a handful of studies showing it to have
any effect on wrinkles (Sources: Biofactors, September 1999, pages 371–378, and
Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, April 1999, pages 83–88). However,
neither of these studies was a double-blind or placebo-controlled trial…. "CoQ10
supplements are readily absorbed by the body and no toxic effects have been
reported for daily dosages as high as 300 mg though the safety of CoQ10 has not
been established in pregnancy and lactation, so caution is advised here until more
data becomes available" (Sources: International Journal of Alternative and
Complementary Medicine, February 1998, pages 11–12, and
www.naturaldatabase.com).
APA 3:Why bother?
Which is more helpful:
http://www.cosmeticscop.com
Begoun, P. (2007, February). Question of the month.
Retrieved from Cosmetics Cop
Web site: http://cosmeticscop.com/about/
question.asp?id=664
APA 3:Which is more
credible?
Terrace, H. S., Petitto, L. A., Sanders, R. J., &
Bever, T. G. (1979). Can an ape create a
sentence? Science, 206, 891-902.
Washoe: the signing chimp. (n.d.) Retrieved
February 5, 2005, from Mrs. Smith’s third
grade Web site: http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/
classprojects.html
Best way to learn APA?
Understand the principles.
Find and follow a model.
Realize it’s an iterative process.
First Principle
If it’s not cited, it’s yours.
Over the past 30 years, researchers have
demonstrated that the great apes . . .
resemble humans in language abilities
more than had been thought possible. Just
how far that resemblance extends,
however, has been a matter of some
controversy.
Conclusion drawn by
the writer; no citation
Second Principle
If it’s cited, you must provide enough
information to locate the source.
In an influential article, Terrace,
Petitto, Sanders, and Bever (1979)
argued that the apes in language
experiments . . . were merely imitating
their trainers.
In-text citation points
to reference list entry
Where do we find Terrace et al?
Each in-text citation has a matching entry:
In an influential article,
Terrace, Petitto, Sanders,
and Bever (1979) argued
that the apes in language
experiments… were
merely imitating their
trainers.
References
Terrace, H. S., Petitto, L. A.,
Sanders, R. J.,& Bever,
T. G. (1979). Can an ape
create a sentence? Science,
206, 891-902.
In-text cites match ref. list
In an influential
article, Terrace,
Petitto, Sanders,
and Bever (1979) . .
.
How would the
second article,
“Speaking to the
Relatives,” be
cited?
(Tenebaum, n.d.).
References
Savage-Rumbaugh, S., & Lewin, R.
(1995). The ape at the brink of the
human mind. New York: John
Wiley.
Tenebaum, D. (n.d.) Speaking to the
relatives. Retrieved August 27,
2007, from Why Files Web site:
http://whyfiles.org/058language/
ape_talk.html
Terrace, H. S., Petitto, L. A., Sanders,
R. J., & Bever, T. G. (1979). Can
an ape create a sentence?
Science, 206, 891-902.
In-text cites match ref. list

Every in-text citation should have a
matching reference list entry.

Exception: works with nonrecoverable
data, such as letters, emails, or
interviews, are cited only in text.
(T. Westbrook, personal communication,
February 12, 2005)
Third Principle

Elements in an APA citation follow a
predictable order.
Author. (Date). Retrieval information.
Retrieval information varies by format:
Book
Article
Web site
Other--TV show, computer program,
Congressional testimony….
APA Logic: 3—Order
Elements in an APA citation follow a
predictable order
based on the format for a book:
Barrett, D. (2007). Waistland: The
(r)evolutionary science behind our weight
AUTHOR and fitness crisis. New York: Norton.
DATE
TITLE
PLACE
PUBLISHER
APA Logic: 3—EBSCO
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C.
(Date). Title of article. Title of
Periodical, ##, 000-000. Retrieved from
xxx database.
APA Logic: 3—EBSCO
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C.
(Date). Title of article. Title of
Periodical, ##, 000-000. Retrieved from
xxx database.
APA Logic: 3—EBSCO
How do you turn raw data into an APA-style
citation?
Sorenson, S. (1998). Studying the models. How to
write research papers. Retrieved from
Academic Search Elite database.
APA Logic: Creating citations
1.
2.
Follow the model:
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Date).
Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##, 000-000.
Retrieved month day, year, from source.
Have EBSCO do it.
APA Logic: Use citation maker
3.
Remember, none are perfect:
CitationMachine can’t handle sources with no authors.
You have to correct
this:
APA without tears.
(2007). New York:
Mythos.
APA Logic: Use citation maker
4.
BibMe.org will load info, but you need to
• scan the perimeter
• check the results.
Autism fact sheet: National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
(2008, July 21). Retrieved from
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/
detail_autism.htm
APA Logic: Using software
You need to choose
•
APA documentation style
•
The type of source
Note: EBSCO may be called an electronic
database or a subscription service.
•
Fill in the blanks with the information you have.
APA Logic: 3—Omissions
Omit information you don’t have.
Usually go on to the next element.
If no author is given, the title becomes the first
element in the citation.
Parenthetical citation
. . . (“Washoe,” Introduction section).
Reference list entry
Washoe: the signing chimp. (n.d.) Retrieved
February 5, 2005, from Mrs. Smith’s third
grade Web site: http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/
classprojects.html
Where are citation makers?
Citation Machine (citationmachine.net)
BibMe (bibme.org)
EBSCO (choose APA format when
emailing or printing)
APA 4: Find a model
See Strategies for Learning APA
handout
What do I document?
Paraphrases—others’ ideas expressed
in my words
Quotations—others’ ideas expressed
in their words and set off with “ ”
APA learning curve
Gradual
enlightenment
Eureka!
?
Why
me?
#$%^&!