When you are ready to cite the sources you have used for your research, see the examples below and resources in the right column which will help you cite in APA format. There are example citations for the most common source types and a sample APA format student paper.
Even if you use a citation maker (EasyBib, NoodleTools etc) you must still check your citations again the APA guide to make sure they are 100% correct.
If you need help, ask a librarian or submit your question to Ask a Librarian!
You need to cite where your information came from in the body of your paper (in-text/parenthetical citations) AND on a References page at the end. Use the resources linked to the right for additional examples.
APA In-text:
A survey of high school football coaches showed that 70 to 90% would send a player showing signs of a concussion to a healthcare professional before permitting them to return to play (Guilmette, et al., p. 1043).
For 3 or more authors cite first author only and et al.: (Wasserstein et al., 2007, p. 87).
For 2 authors: (Bassert & Thomas, 2013, p. 72). *note use of ampersand
Or:
A study by Guilmette, et al., (2007) shows that most high school football coaches (70 to 90%) would require a player showing signs of a concussion to be seen by a healthcare professional before returning to play (p. 1043).
Bassert and Thomas (2013) have demonstrated that....
*note use of & in parenthetical citation, but and in signal phrase.
APA References Page:
*List all authors up to first 19 and final author.
Guilmette, T. J., Malia, L. A., and McQuiggan, M. D. (2007) Concussion understanding and management among New England high school football coaches. Brain Injury, 21(10), 1039-1047. doi:10.3109/02699051003648227
APA states that database names and DOI numbers are optional (handbook p. 192), but adding them are good practice and will make it easier to track down your sources again.
APA examples:
Chapter in an electronic book (*do not add period after URL or DOI)
Bilotta, E., & Evans, G. W. (2012). Environmental stress. In L. Steg, A. van den Berg, J. de Groot (Eds.), Environmental psychology: An introduction (pp. 28-35). Retrieved from http://ezproxy.sunywcc.edu/login:2663/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=888149
Print Book
Bradshaw, J. (2013). The behaviour of the domestic cat. Boston: CABI International.
Print journal, (with issue, no volume)
Iyoob, I., Rossetti, M. D., & Chen, Y. (2013). Cloud computing clarity: What every IE needs to know about the newest software paradigm. Industrial Engineer, (4), 32-7.
Online article with DOI
Jackson, J. J., & Samuel, T. S. (2001). The impact of climate change on sea levels. Journal of Environmental Science, 55(4), 233-277. doi:10.1070/8567-6582.33.5.888
APA Tips:
Authors: Last Name, First initial : Bradshaw, J.
Multiple Authors: Separate with commas, use comma & before last author: Iyoob, I., Rossetti, M. D., & Chen, Y.
Put year of publication in parentheses (2016) use (n.d.) if no date found. Use (year, month day) if information available.
Titles: Put titles (books, articles websites) in ‘sentence case’ – only capitalize first word (and first word after any punctuation) and proper nouns: Environmental psychology: An introduction
BUT capitalize journal titles: Journal of Environmental Science
Italicize book and journal titles: Journal of Environmental Science
Journals: Volume (in italics) followed by issue (in parentheses) no space between: 55(4)
Online sources: Use DOI (if available) or Retrieved from URL Do not add a period at the end of the DOI or the URL doi:10.1070/8567-6582.33.5.888 or Retrieved from http://ezproxy.sunywcc.edu/login:2663/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=888149
Don't forget to cite images on your presentation!
APA format: Lastname, FirstInitial. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title. Retrieved from URL
If no author/creator: Title. (Year, Month Day of publication). Retrieved from URL
Plagiarism occurs when you use another person's verbal or written words or text in your own work without appropriately documenting the source of the borrowed words or text. The borrowed text could come from a variety of places, such as a book, a newspaper, a magazine, a website, or even another student's paper.
The WCC Academic Honesty Policy states:
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research, or writing as your own. Examples include:
Copying another person’s actual words without both the use of quotations and documentation.
Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without documentation.
Using information that is not considered common knowledge without acknowledging the source.
Using a paper writing “service” or having a friend write the paper for you.
Note: The guidelines that define plagiarism also apply to information secured on internet websites. Internet references must specify precisely where the information was obtained and where it can be found.
You may think that citing another author’s work will lower your grade. In some unusual cases this may be true, if your instructor has indicated that you must write your paper without reading additional material. But in fact, as you progress in your studies, you will be expected to show that you are familiar with important work in your field and can use this work to further your thinking. Your professors write this kind of paper all the time. The key to avoiding plagiarism is that you show clearly where your own thinking ends and someone else’s begins.
No matter where the text comes from, it must be documented accurately. Accurate documentation means that you must follow the MLA (Modern Language Association) or APA (American Psychological Association) rules for documentation.
The videos above will help answer the most common questions about APA 7th ed format.
The above video will show you how to set up your paper in APA format in Word (how to insert a running page header etc).
