APA Citation and Style Workshop

Jul 18, 2024

APA Citation and Style Workshop

Introduction

  • Welcome to the APA Citation and Style workshop.
  • Key outcomes by end of session:
    • Explain APA style and its importance.
    • Define plagiarism and recognize how to avoid it.
    • Identify where to find APA help.
    • Basic steps to create an APA citation.
    • Discussion about APA rules and the American Psychological Association (APA).
  • APA is mandatory at UCW.
    • Important for academic integrity and giving credit to sources.
    • Helps in formatting and preventing plagiarism.

Understanding APA

  • APA Style: American Psychological Association.
  • Format Guidelines: Structure, font, headings, layout.
  • Citations: How to give credit to sources.
    • Important to uphold academic integrity and prevent plagiarism.

What is Plagiarism?

  • Definition: Presenting someone else's work as your own.
  • **Includes: **
    • Copying words without credit.
    • Using ideas without crediting.
    • Improper paraphrasing.
  • Paraphrasing: Rewriting someone’s ideas in your own words.
  • Responsibility: Avoiding plagiarism is the student’s responsibility.

What to Cite

  • Cite:
    • Ideas not your own.
    • Exact wording, quotations, phrases.
    • Images, figures, diagrams, charts, graphs.
  • Do Not Cite:
    • Your own opinions, experiences, interpretations, and analysis.
    • Common knowledge (e.g., Ottawa is the capital of Canada).

How to Cite

  • In-Text Citations:
    • Author’s last name and date.
    • Direct quotes: Include page number.
    • Paraphrasing: Author’s last name and date.
    • Examples:
      • Paraphrase: (Jones, 2015).
      • Direct Quote: (Jones, 2015, p. 150).
  • Reference List:
    • Last page of the paper titled “References”, centered and bolded.
    • Double spaced, alphabetical order by author’s last name.

Creating APA Citations

  1. Identify the Source Type: Book, Website, Journal Article, etc.
  2. Find the Template: Use the APA Quick Reference guide.
  3. Find Information: From the source.
  4. Fill Elements in Order: Using the template format.
  • **Journal Article Example: **
    • Template: Author(s), Year, Title, Source, Volume(Issue), Pages, DOI.
    • Fill elements and format them correctly.
  • APA Quick Guide: Available on the UCW library website.
    • Step-by-step instructions.
    • Examples for different source types.
  • Automatic Citation Generators: Can use but must verify accuracy with APA guide.

Resources and Help

  • APA Quick Guide: Found on the UCW library website.
  • Word Template and Sample Paper: Pre-formatted for APA.
  • Ask for Help:
    • Email UCW librarians.
    • Use AskAway for live chat support.
  • Academic Research Workshop: Recommended for learning research skills.

Common Questions

  • Similarity Checker (Turnitin):
    • Checks for similarity, not plagiarism.
    • No fixed acceptable percentage.
    • Proper citations help reduce concerns about plagiarism.

Conclusion

  • Key Takeaways:
    • Understand APA rules importance.
    • Steps to avoid plagiarism.
    • How to create and format citations correctly.
    • Available resources for assistance.
  • Contact: Use UCW librarian email and AskAway for help.

Note: Attend the Academic Research Workshop for a deeper dive into research and citation practices.

Additional Notes

  • Secondary Sources: Special rules for citing articles that cite other articles. Always attempt to find the original source first.
  • Identifiers: DOIs for journal articles are crucial. URLs needed for websites.
  • Mandatory APA style: Required at UCW for all students’ work.