Introduction to Citation Styles: APA 7th ed.

Summary

This script discusses the importance of citations in academic writing, emphasizing their role in crediting others' ideas and enhancing credibility. It outlines APA style, a widely used citation format in the sciences and social sciences, and explains its two main components: in-text citations and reference list citations. The script details how to format these citations, including author names, publication dates, titles, and source information, and advises on using official style manuals or online guides for specific citation formats.

Takeaways

• 📚 Citations are essential for giving credit to original ideas and enhancing credibility.
• 📈 APA style is widely used in the sciences and social sciences for citation purposes.
• 🔍 In-text citations in APA style include the author's last name or organization and the year.
• 👥 For works with more than three authors, use 'et al.' after the first author's name.
• 📝 A complete citation is required in the reference list at the end of the document.
• 🔗 The reference list should match the in-text citations in format and content.
• 📑 The reference list uses a hanging indent and is organized alphabetically by the author's last name.
• 📰 Reference list citations vary and should be checked against the official APA style manual or online guides.
• 🎓 Academic journal articles are a common source to cite in college papers.
• 🔑 The DOI, or digital object identifier, is a direct link to the article and should be included if available.
• ❓ For assistance with APA citation, consult a librarian or use reliable online resources.

Q & A

Why are citations important in academic writing?

Citations are crucial as they give credit to the original ideas of others, enhance the credibility of the author, and assist readers in locating the same sources.

What is the purpose of citation styles?

Citation styles provide guidelines and conventions that ensure a consistent presentation of writing and sources across different disciplines.

Which disciplines commonly use APA style for citations?

APA style is frequently used in the sciences and social sciences.

What are the two main components of a citation according to APA style?

The two main components are the in-text citation within the body of the paper and the complete citation in the reference list at the end.

How should you reference a source with more than three authors in APA style?

For sources with more than three authors, include the first author's last name followed by 'et al.' in the in-text citation.

What is the format for a reference list citation in APA style?

A reference list citation typically includes the author, date, title of the work, and the source or information about where to access it, separated by periods.

How should references be organized in the reference list in APA style?

References should be organized alphabetically by the author's last name using a hanging indent.

What is the significance of using sentence case for article titles in APA citations?

Using sentence case for article titles, where only the first word, subtitle, and proper nouns are capitalized, maintains a standard format for titles in APA citations.

Why is the volume and issue number important in citing academic journal articles?

The volume and issue number are important as they help readers locate the specific issue of a journal where an article was published.

What is a DOI and why is it included in APA citations?

A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique alphanumeric string assigned to digital documents, providing a direct link to the article on the publisher's site, which is useful for citation purposes.

Who can provide assistance with APA citation formatting?

Librarians can offer guidance and assistance with proper APA citation formatting.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Citations and APA Style Overview

This paragraph discusses the importance of citations in academic writing, emphasizing their role in giving credit to original ideas, enhancing credibility, and aiding readers in locating sources. It introduces APA style, a widely used citation format in the sciences and social sciences. The paragraph outlines the two main components of a citation: in-text citations, which include the author's last name or organization and the year, and reference list citations, which provide detailed publication information. It also mentions the use of 'et al.' for works with more than three authors and the structure of a reference list citation, which includes author, date, title, and source details. The paragraph concludes with advice on using official style manuals or online guides for citation specifics and offers the assistance of librarians for those unsure of how to cite sources in APA style.

Keywords

💡Citations

Citations are formal references to the source of information used in a written work. They are crucial for academic integrity, as they acknowledge the original authors' ideas and prevent plagiarism. In the context of the video, citations are discussed as a means to enhance credibility and guide readers to the sources. The script mentions that citations help readers find the same sources again, emphasizing their utility in academic research.

💡Citation Styles

Citation styles refer to the standardized formats for citing sources in academic writing. They vary by discipline and are designed to maintain consistency in how sources are acknowledged. The video script highlights APA style, which is prevalent in the sciences and social sciences, as an example of such guidelines. The explanation of citation styles in the script underscores the importance of adhering to disciplinary conventions for presenting sources.

💡APA Style

APA Style is a set of guidelines for formatting and referencing in academic writing, developed by the American Psychological Association. It dictates the structure of in-text citations and the reference list, which are key components of academic writing. The script uses APA Style to illustrate how to properly cite sources, emphasizing its widespread use in certain fields and its role in maintaining a standard for scholarly communication.

💡In-text Citation

An in-text citation is a brief reference within the body of a text that signals to the reader where the information is coming from. The script specifies that in APA Style, it includes the author's last name or organization and the year of publication. This component is vital as it directly links the ideas in the text to their sources, providing immediate context for the reader.

💡Reference List

The reference list is a comprehensive collection of all sources cited in a work, formatted according to specific style guidelines. The script explains that it should match the in-text citations and includes detailed information such as author, title, source, and access details. The reference list is essential for academic writing as it allows readers to locate and verify the sources, supporting the research's validity.

💡Hanging Indent

A hanging indent is a formatting style where the first line of a paragraph is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented. The script mentions using a hanging indent in the reference list, which helps in organizing the entries alphabetically and makes it easier for readers to skim through the list. This formatting detail contributes to the clarity and accessibility of the reference section.

💡Academic Journal Articles

Academic journal articles are scholarly works published in periodicals that contribute to a field of study. The script uses these as a primary example when discussing citation practices, highlighting the components such as author names, publication year, article title, journal name, volume, issue number, and page range. Understanding how to cite these articles is crucial for students engaging with current research.

💡Sentence Case

Sentence case refers to the capitalization style where only the first word of a sentence and proper nouns are capitalized. The script specifies that the title of an article in APA Style should be in sentence case, which is a common practice in academic writing to maintain a consistent and less formal appearance in titles.

💡Volume and Issue

In the context of academic journals, volume refers to the yearly collection of issues, while issue denotes individual groupings of articles published within that year. The script explains that these should be included in the reference list, with the volume number italicized and the issue number in parentheses, which provides a precise location for the cited article within the journal's publication cycle.

💡DOI (Digital Object Identifier)

A DOI is a unique alphanumeric string assigned to digital documents, such as journal articles, that provides a persistent link to their location on the internet. The script advises including the DOI in citations if available, which ensures that readers can easily access the cited article, even if the URL changes over time.

Highlights

Citations give credit to the ideas of others and enhance credibility.

Citations help readers find the same sources again.

Citation styles provide guidelines and conventions for presenting writing and sources.

APA style is commonly used in the sciences and social sciences.

In-text citations include the author's last name or organization and year in parentheses.

Use 'et al.' for works with more than three authors.

A complete citation is included in the reference list at the end of the paper.

In-text and reference list citations should match.

Reference list citations include author, date, title, and source information.

Use a hanging indent and organize references alphabetically by author's last name.

Reference list citations vary based on the type of source and available information.

Consult the official style manual or an online citation guide for details.

Academic journal articles are commonly cited in college.

Include last names and initials of authors, using an ampersand for 'and' before the last author.

Article titles are in sentence case, with only the first word and proper nouns capitalized.

Italicize the academic journal title and volume number.

Include the journal issue number and page range if available.

Add the DOI if available for direct linking to the article.

Formatting citations requires attention to detail.

Ask a librarian for help with APA style citations if unsure.

Transcripts

When you use the information and perspectives you found in other sources,

citations give credit to the ideas of others and make you a more credible

author. They can also help your readers find the same sources again.

Citation styles are guidelines and conventions that different disciplines follow to

present writing and sources in a consistent way.

APA style from the American Psychological Association is a common

citation style used in the sciences and social sciences.

There are two main components of a citation. First, when you reference another source include an

in-text citation in the body of your paper. In APA style, this citation

includes the author's last name or organization comma and the year in

parentheses. If there are more than three authors, include the first author's last

name, then use the abbreviation et al., which means and others.

Then, include a complete citation in the reference list at the end of your paper.

Your in-text and reference list citations should match.

A reference list citation typically includes the author, the date, the title of the work, and the source,

or information about where you can get it including any URLs or other links.

Each part is separated with a period.

In the reference list, use a hanging indent and organize your references alphabetically by author's last name.

This helps your readers skim through the list to find the reference for an in-text citation

Reference list citations vary based on the type of source you're citing and the

information available. Use the official style manual or an online citation guide

to check which details about the source you should include. Let's take a look at one example.

In college, you'll probably be citing a lot of academic journal articles.

First, include the last names and initials of the authors.

Use the ampersand sign for "and" before the last author, then include the year the article

is published in parentheses. Next, include the title of the article in sentence case.

This means only the first word of the title and subtitle and any proper nouns are capitalized.

After that include the academic journal where the article was published, in italics.

Academic journals published collections of articles throughout the year.

A journal might have a volume for each year and publish a new issue every few months.

Separate the journal and the volume with a comma and italicize the volume number too.

If there is an issue number, include that in parentheses and add the page range.

Finally include the DOI, or digital object identifier, if it's available.

This is a direct link to the article on the publisher's site.

Formatting citations and your paper can require some attention to detail.

If you're not sure how to cite a source using APA style, ask a librarian!