1. ASA Format and Citation
Presented by the
Writing Resource Center
California State University, Bakersfield

2. Why ASA? ASA stands for American Sociological Association
The style was developed to be used for publications in ASA journals
ASA is becoming more popular as Sociology departments are requesting students to write research papers using ASA style

3. Title Page Formatting Papers using ASA style must have a title page
Include title of the paper, author(s) name(s), and institution.
Header should not be visible on the title page
In publications, word count is required on the title page
Some instructors may also request the date and instructor name

4. Formatting: Abstract An abstract may not always be needed
Comes after the title page
Abstracts should be limited to one paragraph and a maximum of 200 words

5. Formatting: Key Words Follows the abstract, on the same page 3-5 words
Should identify themes in the paper

6. Formatting: Body
Body of text should come after the key words on a separate page
Body should include headings and subheadings
No subheading at the start of the body (for example, do not use a heading to say Introduction)

7. Overall Formatting 12-point font, double spaced
Headers required and should include title and page number
1 ¼ in. margins on all sides

8. Formatting: Subheadings
FIRST-LEVEL HEADING
All caps
Justify left
Subheadings are used to organize your paper
Second-Level Head
Title case (capitalize all major words. ex: Social Stratification and its Effects on Higher Education)
Italicize
Justify left
Third-level head
Capitalize only the first word
Italicize
Justify left

9. Tables and Figures
When writing a research paper, tables and figures may be necessary to display information
Tables should be numbered consecutively. Example: Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, and so on
Figures should be numbered consecutively as well. Example: Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, etc.

10. Footnotes Generally, footnotes and endnotes are not used in ASA style
However, if necessary, they can be used to add more information for a chart/table/figure or to cite material
Number consecutively using superscript with Arabic numerals

11. In-Text Citations Author’s name already included in text:
Pierre Bourdieu (1963) examined…
Citing study by an author but author’s name not included in the text:
The study revealed… (Gibbons 2012)
Page numbers are used for quotes or information found on a specific page:
As reported by Rowan-Kenyon… (2008:152)
“One-third of college applicants are first-generation” (Rowan-Kenyon et al. 2010:134).

12. In-Text Citations Continued…
Multiple Authors:
Three authors, first in-text citation: (Rowan-Kenyon, Bell, and Perna 2010)
Three authors, later in-text citation: (Rowan-Kenyon et al. 2010)
More than three authors: (Holcomb et al. 2008)
Quotations:
“Parenting practices during middle school are associated with educational aspirations in late high school” (Hill and Wang 2014:225).

13. References All references should be placed on a separate page
Use first-level head format discussed earlier
Double-spaced with hanging indent
Alphabetical order by first authors’ last name

14. References: Same Author
Arrange in chronological order:
Bourdieu, Pierre Outline of a Theory of Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bourdieu, Pierre Language and Symbolic Power. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Bourdieu, Pierre The Field of Cultural Production. Cambridge: Polity Press.

15. References: Same Author
When author is referenced for single-authored works and multiple-authored works, place single-author references first.
For example, if you are using a book by Pierre Bourdieu, and also use a book that he wrote with someone else, you would cite as follows:
Bourdieu, Pierre Outline of a Theory of Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bourdieu, Pierre and Richard Nice Acts of Resistance: Against the Tyranny of the Market. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

16. References: Books One Author:
Last name, First name. Year. Book Title in Title Caps and italicized. Publishing City: Publisher.
Two or More Authors:
Last, First, and First Last. Year. Title of Book. Publishing City: Publisher.
Ex:
Freud, Sigmund and Oskar Pfister. Psychoanalysis and Religion New York: Oxford Press.

17. References: Edited Volume
Same as book references with the addition of “eds.” to indicate editor(s) name(s)
Leonard, Kimberly Kempf, Carl E. Pope, and William H. Feyerherm, eds Minorities in Juvenile Justice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Koshar, Rudy, ed Splintered Classes. New York: Holmes and Meier.

18. References: Chapter in Edited Volume
Put chapter in quotes and add page numbers:
Author Last Name, First Name. Year. “Chapter in Quotations.” Pp in Name of book in Italics, edited by Editor Last Name, Editor First Name. Publishing City: Publisher.

19. References: Scholarly Journal Article
One author:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year. “Article Title in Quotes.” Journal Title Italicized Volume Number(Issue Number):page numbers of article.
Multiple Authors
Palmer, Nathan and April Scheuths “Online Teaching Communities within Sociology: A Counter Trend to the Marketization of Higher Education.” Teaching in Higher Education Volume 18(7):

20. References: e-Journal Articles with DOI
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year. “Article Title in Quotes.” Journal Title Italicized Volume Number(Issue Number):article page numbers. doi: ?NNE.0b013557e31225d988 DOI stand for digital object identifier and is a unique number used to track an article.

21. References: Magazine or Newspaper Article
Known Author(s):
Author Last Name, First Name. Year. “Article Title in Quotes.” Magazine or Newspaper Name, Month Day, pp
Unknown Author:
Magazine or Newspaper Name. Year. Newspaper editorial. Month Day, p. A-1.

22. References: Government Documents
U.S. Bureau of the Census State and County Quickfacts: Kern County, CA. Washington, DC. Retrieved August 15, 2015 from (

23. Unpublished Materials
Check with your instructor first before using unpublished materials.
Unpublished materials should be cited as follows:
Author Last Name, First name. Year. “Title of Presentation.” Location where article was presented or made available.

24. Our schedule is available on our website at www.csub.edu
FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS
Please visit the Writing Resource Center (WRC) in Admin. East, Room 105. to meet with a tutor to go over any questions you have.
Our schedule is available on our website at