APA Tips
Want an "A" on a term paper? One of the easiest ways
to boost your grade is to use APA V writing style! Your paper will
look professional (and at least give the impression that you put
some time and effort into it!). Not sure how to use APA? Check out
the links below. Also, I've included some helpful APA style reminders
on this page. If you check out these links but still have questions,
drop by my office or talk with the TA. We have the APA V manual
(it's also available at the library), so if we don't know the answers,
we can sure find out.
Note...APA has done it again! They made some
changes. Some of the links below are still the older APA IV version.
However, the major changes students need to pay attention to relate
to formatting the reference page (they went back to APA III!!),
how to reference/cite Internet pages, using italics rather than
underlining, and how to do your title page.
A
Guide for Writing Research Papers (APA Style)
Citing
the World Wide Web in Style (How to cite the Internet using APA
and MLA)
APA
Style Resources (lots of links!)
These reminders are for APA V style.
Title Page: Place a header
1/2" from the top of the page and flush right. The header consists
of the first 2 to 3 words of the title, then 5 spaces, then the
page number. Hint: Use the automatic functions of your word processing
program for this and to insert the page numbers...that way you won't
have to type it on every page! The header goes on every page.
On the very first line of your title page, 1
inch from the top of the page, and flush left is the running head.
It should read: “Running head: PARENTING BEHAVIORS”.
The running head should be an abbreviation of the title. Limit it
to 50 characters (including spaces) maximum. The running head only
goes on the title page.
Centered in the middle of the page is the title.
The title should be clear and concise (what your paper is about).
The first letter of each word in the title should be capitalized.
Do not bold, underline or use a different font. The next centered
line (double spaced) is your name. It is preferred that you use
your first name, middle initial, and last name. The next centered
line (double spaced) is the institution you belong to (i.e., your
university).
Abstract: Title this page "Abstract";
double spaced and do not indent; do not exceed 120 words.
Body of Paper: The title is
centered on first line, first page of text. Do not underline or
bold the title. Use one inch margins all round (1 ½ inch
margins on left is acceptable). Do not justify margins on the right.
Do not place extra spaces between paragraphs or sections. Use an
active voice (don't use "there is" or "there are"!);
avoid personal pronouns, such as "I," "we,"
or "you."
Headings: For more detailed
information about headings, click
here. "Introduction" is not labeled as such (except
for dissertations, books)
HEADING (level 5)
Heading (level 1)
Heading (level 2)
Heading (level 3)
Heading . (level 4)
Citation:
Within text, alphabetize more than one reference
by first author; multiple authors (3 and over) are listed completely
with the first citation and then with “et al” for remaining
citations; direct quotes require page numbers; long quotes do not
have quotation marks but are indented on both margins and double
spaced like the rest of the paper.
Reference page:
Type "References" (without quotes)
on first line ("Reference" if only one reference). Double
space all references and do no put extra spaces between references.
Use the hanging indent format, with first line of each reference
flush left and subsequent lines indented. first line of each reference
is indented as in paragraphs. Only the first letter of the first
word of an article title is capitalized; journals are Capitalized
and italicized (along with volume, but not (number)).
Only the First word of book is capitalized, unless a word follows
a colon, and Book title is italicized. Finally, the reference
page lists only those articles/texts that one can look up in the
library. You do not write down the names of people you may have
interviewed or spoken with (i.e., personal communications) on the
reference page.
Examples of most common reference formats
(Note: the hanging indent is absent only because of website formatting):
Smith, D. (1992). Writing is fun: Unless you’re
a college student. Journal Title,123(4), 123-456. (NOTE: Include
the issue number (in this instance (4)) only when every issue of
the journal starts with page 1; if the journal is continuously
numbered (i.e., the issue starts with page 352 and goes to 500),
you do NOT include the issue number).
Jones, L. (1997). Writing APA style is a cinch:
Unless you’re a college student. Place, AZ: Publisher.
Smith, D., Jones, L., & Doe, J. (1998).
I used to write but now I don't. Journal Title, 56, 1567-1592.
Doe, J. (1998). Writing is a hassle. In A. B.
James & C. R. Robbins (Eds.), Title of the edited book with
only first word capitalized (pp. 12-34). Place, AZ: Publisher.
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