1. A Simple Overview of APA Documentation
Common Places: Integrated Reading and Writing

2. To avoid plagiarism, you must document each source you use in your paper, even if you use the source only for ideas.
APA Documentation

3. APA Parenthetical Documentation
Parenthetical documentation is simply the use of parentheses within the text to show readers the sources you use.
APA Parenthetical Documentation
Parentheses provide source information

4. A direct quote is the use of a source’s words
A direct quote is the use of a source’s words. Direct quotes must be accurate. They must include the source’s exact words.
Direct Quotes
Source -- Marissa Reynolds is the author of this text:
Some seizures are not a result of epilepsy. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are associated with somatoform disorders. Technically, these events are not true seizures. However, patients
Student Paper:

5. Use parentheses at the end of the quote
Use parentheses at the end of the quote. Include the writer’s last name, a comma, the source’s date, and either the page number of the paragraph number.
Include the page number only if you used the original document. If you got the source from an online database or a Web site, use the paragraph number.
Direct Quotes
Student Paper when student used actual journal article:

6. If you use an attributive tag such as the one here, you do not have to put the writer’s name in the parentheses. Use parentheses in this case only if you have used an original source with page numbers.
Direct Quotes
Student Paper:

7. Direct Quotes
When you use a source from an online database or from a Web site, refer to paragraph numbers.
A source without an attributive tag and no page numbers:

8. Indirect Quotes
An indirect quote is the use of your own words to express an idea found in a source. Do not use quotation marks for indirect quotes, but do provide source information. You can provide source information in an attributive tag.
Student Paper:

9. Indirect Quotes
If you do not use an attributive tag, provide source information at the end of the sentence.
Student Paper:

10. Quotes from Anonymous Works
Imagine there is no author for the source. In this case, use the first significant title word of the source to identify it. Use them in place of the writer’s last name.
Quotes from Anonymous Works
Use of an anonymous source entitled “Types of Seizures”:

11. Quotes from Corporate Authors
Imagine the source comes from a corporate author such as the Johns Hopkins Hospital. In this case, use the organization’s name where you would use the writer’s last name.
Quotes from Corporate Authors
Use of a source with a corporate author:
Among the various types of seizures, one type is not actually a seizure at all but may resemble one. “A non-epileptic seizure may look like a grand mal seizure” (Johns Hopkins Hospital 3).

12. Preparing a References Page
Since you have used parenthetical documentation, readers can look up the actual sources. But readers still need more information about sources to find them, so you will prepare a references page.
A references page provides complete information about each of the sources you refer to in your paper.
If you use a source in your paper, that source must be on your references page.
Preparing a References Page

13. Preparing a References Page
A references page uses the same header, 1” margins and double spacing as your paper.
The title, “References” should be centered on the top line.

14. Preparing a References Page
After putting in your “references” title, hit enter to go to the next line.
Set up the next line for a hanging indent. Click on Paragraph, and then under Special click on Hanging. Click OK.
Preparing a References Page

15. Preparing a References Page
Now you will enter your sources. These should be entered in alphabetical order.
The actual information that should appear in a works cited entry is specified by the APA Guidelines.
Preparing a References Page
Name of the article. Notice that only the first word is capitalized. Follow the name with a period.
Author’s name (Last, First initial) followed by a period and a space.
The journal’s issue, the journal’s number in parentheses, a comma, a space, and the range of pages followed by a period.
Name of the journal in italics followed by a comma.

16. Preparing a References Page

17. Preparing a References Page

18. Preparing a References Page

19. Preparing a References Page

20. Preparing a References Page

21. Preparing a References Page

22. The APA Handbook provides complete documentation rules
The APA Handbook provides complete documentation rules. You can also find help with APA style online at these (and many more) Web sites:
Basics of APA Style (from the APA)
The Purdue OWL
APA Citation Style from Cornell University Library
APA Style Guide from Vanderbilt University
More Resources

23. The End