APA References

Summary

This video tutorial explains how to create a references page in APA style, essential for academic writing. It covers the formatting requirements for the references page, including how to order references alphabetically and use hanging indents. The tutorial outlines the necessary elements for citing various sources, such as books, journal articles, and web articles, detailing the proper structure and punctuation for each. Viewers will gain insights into handling multiple authors, missing publication dates, and other common challenges in citation, ensuring their references meet APA standards effectively.

Takeaways

• 📄 A separate references page is essential for APA style papers, listing all cited sources.
• 📏 The references page must match the essay's formatting: running head, page number, and one-inch margins.
• 🔖 The heading 'References' should be centered at the top of the page, not bolded, and the page should be double-spaced.
• 🔤 References must be ordered alphabetically and each entry should have a hanging indent.
• 👥 Author names are listed in the order they appear in the source, using initials for first names.
• ⚖️ For two authors, use an ampersand (&); for three to seven, list all authors; for eight or more, list the first six followed by ellipses and the last author's name.
• 📅 The publication year follows the author's name in parentheses; use (n.d.) if no date is available.
• 📚 Book titles are italicized with only the first word capitalized; journal titles are italicized, and article titles are written as sentences.
• 🔗 For online journal articles, include a DOI or URL at the end of the reference.
• 🌐 Web articles may lack authors and publication dates; start with the title and indicate (n.d.) for no date.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the references page in an APA-style paper?

The references page lists all the sources cited in the paper, providing full publication information to verify the sources and allow instructors to check for accuracy and plagiarism.

How should the references page be formatted in an APA paper?

The references page should have the same formatting as the rest of the essay, including a running head, page numbers, one-inch margins, and double spacing. The heading 'References' should be centered but not bolded.

What indentation style is required for references in APA format?

Each reference must have a hanging indent, which can be created by adjusting the paragraph settings or manually by pressing enter and then tabbing for the second and subsequent lines.

How should authors be listed in APA references?

Authors should be listed in the order they appear in the source, using initials for first names. For two authors, use an ampersand; for three to seven, list all with an ampersand before the last author. For eight or more, list the first six followed by ellipses and the last author's name.

What do you do if a source does not have an author?

If no author is provided, you can use the organization as the author or start with the title of the article.

What is the correct way to format book titles in APA style?

Book titles should be italicized, and only the first letter of the title and subtitle (if any) should be capitalized.

How do you reference a journal article in APA style?

Start with the author(s), followed by the publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (without quotation marks), the title of the journal (italicized), volume number (italicized), issue number (not italicized), and page numbers, ending with a period.

What additional information is required for journal articles retrieved from online databases?

For journal articles accessed online, you need to include a DOI number or the URL of the database after the standard reference.

How should web articles be cited in APA format?

Web articles should include the author (if available), the publication date, the title of the page or article, and the URL. If no author is available, start with the article title. Use 'n.d.' for no date.

What should you do if you encounter a source that doesn't fit any standard APA citation model?

In cases where a source doesn't fit a standard model, use the closest citation format available, adapting the elements as necessary.