Chapter 4: APA STYLE OF WRITING
Different types of referencing styles:
Referencing styles are systems for citing sources in academic writing, ensuring that credit is
given to original authors and enabling readers to locate those sources. Here are some of the
most common referencing styles:
1. APA (American Psychological Association):
○ Commonly used in social sciences.
○ In-text citations include the author's last name and year of publication (e.g.,
Smith, 2020).
○ The reference list is formatted with hanging indents.
2. MLA (Modern Language Association):
○ Often used in humanities, especially literature and cultural studies.
○ In-text citations include the author's last name and page number (e.g., Smith
23).
○ Works Cited page lists full details of sources.
3. Chicago/Turabian:
○ Chicago style is used in various disciplines; Turabian is a simplified version
for college students.
○ Offers two systems: Notes and Bibliography (used in humanities) and
Author-Date (used in sciences).
○ Footnotes or endnotes are commonly used for citing sources.
4. Harvard:
○ Widely used in various fields, particularly in the UK and Australia.
○ In-text citations include the author's last name and year (e.g., Smith 2020).
○ Reference list is organized alphabetically.
5. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers):
○ Common in engineering and technology.
○ Uses numbered citations in-text (e.g., [1], [2]).
○ The reference list is organized numerically.
6. Vancouver:
○ Used primarily in the medical and scientific fields.
○ Similar to IEEE with numbered citations.
○ References are listed in the order they appear in the text.
7. ASA (American Sociological Association):
○ Used in sociology and related fields.
○ In-text citations include the author's last name and year (e.g., Smith 2020).
○ Reference list formatted with specific guidelines.
Each style has its own rules for formatting citations and bibliographies, so it's important to
follow the specific guidelines for the style you are using.
Role and importance of referencing in academic,
scholarly or research writings.
Referencing in academic writing is important for several reasons:
1. Credibility: It shows that your work is based on reliable sources, making your
arguments stronger.
2. Avoiding Plagiarism: It gives credit to the original authors, helping you avoid
stealing someone else's ideas.
3. Supporting Claims: References back up your points with evidence, allowing readers
to check your sources.
4. Context: They show how your work fits into the larger conversation on the topic.
5. Further Reading: Good references point readers to other useful materials for more
information.
6. Academic Integrity: Proper referencing reflects honesty and professionalism in your
work.
Overall, referencing is key to making your writing trustworthy and responsible.
APA (American Psychological Association) Style of
referencing:
APA (American Psychological Association) style is used for citing sources in social sciences.
Here’s a simple guide:
In-Text Citations
● How to do it: Include the author's last name and the year of publication.
○ Example: (Smith, 2020)
For direct quotes, add the page number:
● Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 15)
Reference List Format
1. Books
○ Format: Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the book. Publisher.
○ Example: Smith, J. (2020). Understanding psychology. Academic Press.
2. Journal Articles
○ Format: Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the
Journal, Volume(Issue), pages. DOI if available.
○ Example: Johnson, L. M. (2021). Effects of stress on learning. Journal of
Educational Psychology, 113(2), 234-245. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000421
3. Websites
○ Format: Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of the
webpage. Website Name. URL
○Example: Brown, A. (2022, June 10). The impact of technology on education.
Education Today. https://www.educationtoday.com/impact-of-technology
4. Edited Books
○ Format: Editor's Last Name, First Initial. (Ed.). (Year). Title of the book.
Publisher.
○ Example: Davis, R. (Ed.). (2019). Advances in social psychology. Psychology
Press.
Key Points
● Make your reference list double-spaced and use a hanging indent (the second line of
each entry is indented).
● List references in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.
● Use italics for book and journal titles, but not for article titles.
Difference between a reference list and
citation:
A reference list and a citation serve different purposes in academic writing:
Reference List
● Definition: A complete list of all sources cited in your work, typically found at the end
of your document.
● Content: Includes full details of each source (author, title, publication date, etc.) so
readers can find them.
● Example: In APA style, a reference list entry for a book might look like this:
○ Smith, J. (2020). Understanding psychology. Academic Press.
Citation
● Definition: A brief mention of a source within the text of your writing.
● Content: Usually includes the author's last name and the year of publication (and
page number if quoting directly).
● Example: In-text citation in APA style would look like this: (Smith, 2020).
Key Differences
● Location: Citations appear in the text, while the reference list is at the end.
● Detail: Citations are brief; the reference list provides full information.
In summary, citations guide readers to the reference list, which contains the complete details
of each source.
Difference between quotation-summary-
paraphrase:
Quotation
● What it is: Copying someone’s exact words from a source.
● Purpose: To show the original wording for emphasis or clarity.
● Example: “Psychology is the study of behavior” (Smith, 2020).
Summary
● What it is: A short version of the main ideas from a source, written in your own
words.
● Purpose: To give an overview without going into detail.
● Example: Smith (2020) says that psychology looks at behavior and mental
processes.
Paraphrase
● What it is: Restating a specific passage from a source in your own words while
keeping the same meaning.
● Purpose: To show understanding and integrate the information into your writing.
● Example: Smith (2020) explains that psychology studies both how people act and
think.
Key Differences
● Length: Quotations are exact; summaries are brief; paraphrases are similar in length
to the original.
● Word Choice: Quotations use the author’s words; summaries and paraphrases use
your words.
● Purpose: Use quotations for exact wording, summaries for brief overviews, and
paraphrases to clarify or explain.
Each method helps you use information from sources effectively!
