ULM Library LibGuides: Psychology: Writing &amp; Citing

APA Style

APA Basics

All citation styles are based on similar information - that is, whatever information a reader would need to find your original source. In APA Style, this typically follows the pattern

► Author name ► Publication Year ► Title of the Specific Work ► Information About the Source of the Work

Where citation styles tend to differ is the formatting of these pieces of information in relation to each other and the punctuation used. While we provide samples from a few of the most popularly cited source types, always refer to the APA Publication Manual for your specific situation.

Note: The APA 7th Edition has simplified much of the source information - that bit after the author, date, and title. Database names and URLs are rarely included because those tend not to tell the reader much about how to find the reference. Similarly, the location where print materials were created is no longer included. Find out more about the changes in the APA Style Blog!

Periodicals

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title in sentence case: Only capitalize first words and proper nouns. Source Name, Vol(Iss), pp. doi or non-database URL.

Taylor, N. (2018). Youth information-seeking behavior and online government information. Journal of Documentation, 74(3), 509-525. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-06-2017-0093.

Books

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of book in sentence case. Publisher Name. doi or URL if available.

Aspray, W., & Hayes, B. (2011). Everyday information: The evolution of information seeking in America. MIT Press.

Chapter of a Book

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (pp. pages of chapter). Publisher. DOI (if available)

Armstrong, D. (2019). Malory and character. In M. G. Leitch & C. J. Rushton (Eds.), A new companion to Malory (pp. 144-163). D. S. Brewer.

Edition Other Than the First

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (# edition). Publisher. DOI (if available)

Belcher, W. (2019). Writing your journal article in twelve weeks: A guide to academic publishing success (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press.

Websites

*Note - only use this format if your source doesn't match any other source type listed in the Manual.

Group Author. (Yeah, Month Day). Title of a particular webpage in italics and sentence case. Name of Website (unless it's the same as the group author). url.

Bologna, C. (2018, June 27). The secret to a long, happy healthy life? Think age-positive. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/03/health/respect-toward-elderly-leads-to-long-life-intl/index.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). High blood pressure. https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/index.html.

Publication Manual: 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association by American Psychological Association
Call Number: BF76.7 .P83 2020

ISBN: 9781433832161

Publication Date: 2019-10-01

Available in Physical Format Only
The Concise APA Handbook
ISBN: 9781648021831

Publication Date: 2021-02-01

Concise Edition of the APA 7 Style Handbook.
Available Online

Purdue O.W.L. APA Style Guide
The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University provides free guides explaining writing and citing in APA and other styles.
APA Style
The website for the American Psychological Association's style guide.

APA Basics

APA Slides

APA Presentation Overview: Introduction, General Paper Formatting and Structure, In-text citations, and Reference List

APA in-text citation for a long quote example slide

10 Writing Tips

Writing Tip #1 Read and understand all assignment requirements before you start writing

Writing Tip #2 Start your writing process early to allow time for research, drafting, and revision

Writing Tip #3 Unless your assignment allows for a personal or reflective tone, avoid using first-person pronouns like "I" or "we"

Writing Tip #4 Adhere to the specified citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) required by your instructor

Writing Tip #5 Create a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines the main points of your paper

Writing Tip #6 Conduct thorough research using reputable sources to support your argument

Writing Tip #9 Carefully edit and proofread your work for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors

Writing Tip #10 Cite your sources accurately and consistently to avoid plagiarism

Writing Tip #8 Ensure that your ideas flow logically from one paragraph to the next

Writing Tip #7 Organize your paper with a clear introduction, main body, conclusion, and reference section

The Write Place

Need help with a writing assignment? Head to The Write Place!

Tutors at The Write Place can assist with writing at all stages: planning and outlining a paper, developing and expanding a topic, checking grammar, editing, citing sources, and more. Bring your draft and the directions for your assignment, and you and your tutor will work together to improve what you have and develop the skills and strategies you need to succeed in future writing tasks.

On Campus:

Location: Walker Hall 3-87
Hours: Open Monday through Thursday 8am-5pm and Friday 8am-12pm
No appointment necessary!