Debra's APA Citation Tips
You are responsible for learning and using the APA style guidelines when formatting your paper and citing your resources. There are many resources available to assist you with APA, so be proactive and seek the help that best fits your needs.
- The site includes computer basics and software tutorials on Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and OpenOffice.org as well as social media
- Tutorials on most versions of Office are available
- Quickly access step-by-step directions, screen shots and short video-clips of how to perform various software functions
- Remember that your basic formatting questions can be answered by the Library’s Computer Support Print Services staff as well as Reference staff
Think about APA style requirements and gather citation information while you research.Don't wait until the end of the writing process to do your citations. A large amount of student stress arises from having to back track and relocate images and resources in order to acquire citation details. I recommend that you do one or more of the following:
- Use the COD Library APA Citing Sources pages: https://cod.libguides.com/citing/apa
- It contains examples of how to cite images including diagnostic images
- An annotated bibliography may be required as a part of your coursework
- If required, annotated bibliographies should be double-spaced
- Content of annotations varies dependent upon assignment and instructor preference. For example, many COD instructors require that in 3-5 sentences you explain two things in your annotated bibliography: 1.) the reasons why you think the source is credible (see Debra's evaluating sources guide) and 2.) how this resource fits into your final project (it has has overview information, it provides treatment options, etc). APA does not specify the content of annotations so be sure to check with your instructor about what should be included.
- The formatting of annotations can vary. Some guides suggest that annotations should be block indented five spaces, other guides recommend block indenting five spaces plus two (for a total of seven spaces). NoodleBib annotations use the seven space block indent format. Check with your instructor for preferred formatting.
Online Writing Lab (OWL) from Purdue University
- Explains general APA format requirements (margins, headers, spacing, font, paragraph indentation, sections, etc.)
- Provides written explanations and visual examples of in-text and reference citations
- includes a sample APA paper
- Little Brown Handbook
- Ready Reference, General: PE1112 .L58 2010
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6TH ed.)
- General & Reference: BF76.7 .P83 2010