Cracking the APA Code

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APA is hard, but not impossible. BQB JT IBSE, CVU OPU JNQPTTJCMF

What’s the code? King, S. J., & Turner, D. S. (2000). Caring for adolescent females with anorexia. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 32, 146– 149. Retrieved December 19, 2002, from Health Source: Nursing Academic database.

APA learning curve ? Why me? Eureka! #$%^&!#$%^&! Gradual enlightenment

Best way to learn APA? Understand the principles. Find and follow a model. Realize it’s an iterative process.

First Principle If it’s not cited, it’s yours. Over the past 30 years, researchers have demonstrated that the great apes... resemble humans in language abilities more than had been thought possible. Just how far that resemblance extends, however, has been a matter of some controversy.

Second Principle If it’s cited, you must provide enough information to locate the source. In an influential article, Terrace, Petitto, Sanders, and Bever (1979) argued that the apes in language experiments... were merely imitating their trainers.

Where do we find Terrace et al? This brief in-text citation... Terrace, Petitto, Sanders, and Bever (1979)... has a matching reference list entry: Terrace, H. S., Petitto, L. A., Sanders, R. J., & Bever, T. G. (1979). Can an ape create a sentence? Science, 206,

In-text cites match ref. list  The beginning of the parenthetical citation matches the beginning of the reference list entry (Hacker, n.d.).  Hacker, D. (n.d.). APA in-text citations. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from 9_o.html

In-text cites ≠ match = problem  Matching the beginning of the reference list entry allows readers to quickly skim the reference entries (  Hacker, D. (n.d.). APA in-text citations. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from 9_o.html

In-text cites match ref. list  Every in-text citation should have a matching reference list entry.  Exception: works with nonrecoverable data, such as letters, s, or interviews, are cited only in text. (T. Westbrook, personal communication, February 12, 2005)

Third Principle  Elements in an APA citation follow a predictable order.

APA Logic: 3—Order Elements in an APA citation follow a predictable order. Author. (Date). Publication information

APA Logic: 3—Publication Publication information varies by source. Periodical Nonperiodical (whole/part) Online periodical Online document

APA Logic: 3—Periodical Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Date). Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##, Note: the last two elements are the volume number and page numbers.

APA Logic: 3—Mag. or Annual Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Date). Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##, Terrace, H. S., Petitto, L. A., Sanders, R. J., & Bever, T. G. (1979). Can an ape create a sentence? Science, 206,

APA Logic: 3—Journal Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##(##), Note: add issue number and date if given.

APA Logic: 3—Journal Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##(##), Curtis, M. & Herrington, A. (2003). Writing development in the college years: By whose definition? College Composition and Communication, 55(1), 69–90.

APA Logic: 3—Nonperiodical Author, A. A. (Date). Title of work. Location: publisher. A nonperiodical is an item published separately, such as a book, CD, or movie.

APA Logic: 3—Nonperiodical Author, A. A. (Date). Title of work. Location: publisher. American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, D.C.: Author.

APA Logic: 3—Part of work Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date). Title of chapter or section. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C. Editor (Eds.) Title of work (pp ). Location: publisher.

APA Logic: 3—Online per. Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Date). Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##, Retrieved month day, year, from source.

APA Logic: 3—Online Eg. Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Date). Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##, Retrieved month day, year, from source. Levin, J. S. (2000). The revised institution: The community college mission at the end of the twentieth century. [Electronic version]. Community College Review: 28(2), 1–25.

APA Logic: 3—Database Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Date). Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##, Retrieved month day, year, from source. Kroll, K. (1994). A profile of community college English faculty and curriculum. Community College Review, 22(3), 37–54. Retrieved March 16, 2004, from Academic Search Premier database.

APA Logic: 3—Online doc. Author, A. A. (Date). Title of document. Retrieved month day, year, from source. Washoe: The signing chimp. (n.d.) Retrieved February 5, 2005, from Mrs. Smith’s third grade Web site: classprojects.html

APA Logic: 3—No author If no author is given, the title becomes the first element in the citation. Parenthetical citation... (“Washoe,” Introduction section). Reference list entry Washoe: The signing chimp. (n.d.) Retrieved February 5, 2005, from Mrs. Smith’s third grade Web site: classprojects.html

APA 3:Which is more credible? Terrace, H. S., Petitto, L. A., Sanders, R. J., & Bever, T. G. (1979). Can an ape create a sentence? Science, 206, Washoe: The signing chimp. (n.d.) Retrieved February 5, 2005, from Mrs. Smith’s third grade Web site: classprojects.html

APA 3:Which is more credible? Road Rage and Teens. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2004, from alyplace Sharkin, B. S. (2002), Road rage: Risk factors, assessment, and intervention factors. Journal of Counseling & Development, (82)2. Retrieved July 20, 2004, from Academic Search Elite database.

APA 3:Which is more credible? s password search for Sharkin AND road rage Sharkin, B. S. (2002). Road rage: Risk factors, assessment, and intervention factors. Journal of Counseling & Development, (82)2. Retrieved July 20, 2004, from Academic Search Elite database.

APA 4: Find a model See Strategies for Learning APA handoutStrategies for Learning APA

What do I document? ParaphrasesParaphrases—others’ ideas expressed in my words QuotationsQuotations—others’ ideas expressed in their words and set off with “ ”

Is there an easier way? Citation Machine (citationmachine.net) More accurate, with helpful hints about fine points like capitalization— Bedford Bibliographer link and directions available at

Hints to remember If you don’t know the author, start with the title. In article titles, capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle and any proper nouns. Just a myth: George Washington and the cherry tree Use n.d. if you can’t find a date Give the whole URL for Web sites (copy and paste) Check the perimeter of a Web site and links like About Us for information If you’re missing more than two of the elements needed for an APA citation, consider whether the source is credible enough to use.

APA learning curve ? Why me? Eureka! #$%^&!#$%^&! Increasing confidence