Apa Paper

Below is a paper written using APA publication guidelines. This paper includes an example of how to write a title page; examples of how to cite quotes and paraphrases in text; and an example of how to write a reference list. The in-text citations and the reference list include examples of how to cite sources with multiple authors; edited books; web pages, including web pages with no apparent author, publication date, or city; newspaper articles; journal articles; and books with no authors. The in-text citations also include examples of how to cite sources with and without incorporating the author's name and year of publication in the sentence itself; how to refer to the same source more than once in the same paragraph; and how to cite different works by different authors at the same time. You can also read the paper to see examples of when you would need to cite something and when you don't need to.

Sometimes students are confused about when they need to cite a source and when they don't need to. One good rule of thumb is: when in doubt, CITE IT. Cite all your quotes. Also cite everything that you paraphrase (a paraphrase is when you borrow another author's ideas or information but say it in your own words). Cite all information and facts that you found from other sources. Cite all ideas that come from other authors. In short, you need to cite almost everything! Don't worry -- you'll get used to it!

EXCEPTIONS: you don't need to cite your own opinions. You don't need to cite another source if you are describing something that you, personally, have experienced. (However, if you are describing your own experience, you do need to say that in your paper.) You also don't need to cite information that is very common knowledge. Example: pretty much everyone knows that the Declaration of Independence was officially signed on July 4, 1776. You don't need to cite a source for this kind of information. However, some people might not know (or might have forgotten) where...