APA Format:

Demystifying Referencing

What not to reference:

Anything that is “general knowledge”

If you can find the information in three readily available sources, it’s considered “general” or “common” knowledge, and needs no referencing.

What to reference:

Everything Else!

In Text Citation Requirements

Last Name(s) of Author(s)

use an ampersand (&) to connect two or more names

This can be in the text of the document, or in the parentheses after the quotation

Copyright Date

First mention only (per paragraph), unless you use 2 or more works by the same author

2 or more works by the same author? Identify each with the publication date.

Same publication date? Use “a,b,c” Think nasty thoughts about workaholic

overachievers

Page or Paragraph Number

Use only if they are available; otherwise use n.p. (no pagination)

Use only if you use a direct quotation Use p. for one page; pp. for multiple

pages, nothing for paragraphs (use par. numbers only if provided)

For more information . . .

Quick Access pp. 246 ff.

Basic format: One Author

(Smith, 2001, p. 2)

Basic Format: Two Authors

(Smith & Jones, 2002, p.3)

Basic Format: 3 or more

First reference: (Smith, Jones, & Brown, 2003, p.4)

Subsequent references: (Smith et al., 2003, p.6)

Gov’t. or Corp. Author:

First reference:(Canadian Nursing Association [CNA], 2005,

p.6)

Subsequent references: (CNA, p.9)

Weird Stuff: Article from a website:

(author, date) No author? Look for one of these:

Corporation Association Government Ministry Sponsoring Body

Still no author? Use a short form of the title, then the date.

No date? Use “Access date,” clearly noted as such

More Weird Stuff:

Info. from an entire website: For a brief reference, just use (URL)

Info from an email: As with personal communications:

(personal communication, Oct. 25, 2005)

More Weird Stuff:

Info from a Government Website (ie. Statistics Canada): As with a corporate website:

First reference: (Statistics Canada [Stats.Can.], {date of collection})

Subsequent references: (Stats.Can., {date of collection}).

Statistics Do not reference stats in common use Do reference stats that are in journals,

but not textbooks Do reference stats used in a

controversial way (APA suggests “to justify a test of significance when the data do not meet the assumptions of the test)

Do reference stats when they are the focus of the article

Formatting Quotations

Less than 40 words:

Incorporate into your own text and enclose in quotation marks Put the parenthetical reference after

the quotation marks and before the end stop

More than 40 words:

Use block format

Block format

Indent one tab-space from the left-hand margin

Don’t indent the right-hand margin Don’t use quotation marks Place the parenthetical notation

after the end of the quotation and after the end-stop.

It looks like this:

The References List . . .

AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaarg!

A Few Tips: Get all the information you need for each

item you use as soon as you get the item. TIP: make a list of things you need

(template?), and fill it out as you go along. List this stuff on a sticky note or index

card, and attach it to the item. If you’re really organized, create a file or

rolodex If you’re really organized and want to

save yourself some time, create a “working bibliography” page on your computer

What information? (books) Author(s) (use “&” to join authors) Date of publication Title (first letter of title capitalized)

Of article/essay Of book

Place of publication Publisher Pages your article/essay is found on

What information? (Print journals)

Author(s) (use “&” to join names) Date of publication Title

Of article/essay Of journal

Pages your article/essay is found on

Weird Stuff (again)

The same strategies will work—but here’s a tip: In QA, more time is given to the MLA

reference system BUT APA uses the same information in a

slightly different order SO Cheat and use the MLA lists of

information needed . . .

Where to find the lists:

Portable Electronic Sources (CD ROM): p. 209

Online sources (with a URL): p. 212-213

Online periodicals (not through EBSCO or ProQuest): p. 214-215

Magic Buttons!

Less magic: EBSCO HOST

More Magic:

ProQuest

Using Templates:

Once you have your information, it’s just a matter of putting it in the right order, with the right punctuation.

Tip: Use a template Make your own, especially of kinds of

materials you use frequently Use a binder insert for quick reference

Finding the templates:

Use Quick Access In-text Citations Directory: p. 270 ff. References List Directory: p. 260

Work from the examples:

Book by one author:Trudeau, P. E. (1968). Federalism

and the French Canadians. Toronto: Macmillian Canada.

Authorlast, Init. (#year#). Title. Place: Publisher.

Work from the examples:

Book by two or more authors (p. 262):

Leghorn, L., & Parker, K. (1981). Woman’s worth. Boston: Routledge& Kegan Paul.

Lastone, F., & Lastone, S. (#year#). Title. Place: Publisher.

Two books by the same author?

List chronologically Earlier works are listed first

Corporate Author? P. 262

American Psychological Association. (1994). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Corporate Author. (#date#). Title (# ed.). Place: Publisher.

NoteNote: if the publisher is also the author, just use the word “author” as the publisher.

Internet Sources (YIKES!!) In general, give the same information

as for print sources, whenever this is available:

Author Title Publication Information

In addition, give a “retrieval statement” (URL, or some indication of how you found this source)

Website (p. 269):

Hunter-Kilmer, M. (1996, February). Whatever the title was. Retrieved December 4, 1999, from http://www.idsonline.com/userweb/phantom/index.htm

Author, Firstname. (#date#). Title. Retrieved #date#, from <URL>

Real Life Example:

Organization’s Web Page

National Hospice and Palliative Care Association. Home page. Retrieved 15 November 2005, from http://www.nhpco.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm

Article on a Website:National Hospice and Palliative Care Institute. “An

Explanation of Palliative Care.” Retrieved 15 November, 2005 from http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=4646

Weird One!

Sutton Group, for The Center to Advance Palliative Care in partnership with NHPCO and the Hospice Association of America. Date? Uhoh!

Weird one solved:Sutton Group, for The Center to Advance

Palliative Care in partnership with NHPCO and the Hospice Association of America. (2002). Study of Hospice-Hospital Collaborations. Retrieved 15 November 2005, from http://www.nhpco.org/files/public/CAPC_-_Survey_Survey_-_Sutton_Final_Report_4.pdf

Most important points: Get the bibliographic info when you get the

resource Create a sticky note, index card, or working

bibliography Use a template

Create your own, particularly of kinds of resources you use often

In Quick Access, use the lists in the MLA section when you’re in doubt. Check with the APA bible if you must.

Still not sure? Make sure: Ask a prof (preferably the one that gave you the

assignment) Come in to the Writing Centre and ask us

The Writing Centre Mon-Thurs 9:00-4:30 Friday 10:090-3:00

Express Lane Mon 9:00-11:00 Tues 11:00-1:00 Wed 9:00-11:00 Thurs 2:30-4:30

This Presentation:

Go to the Writing Centre’s Website:

http://mala.ca/writingcentre/index.asp

Good Luck!!