APA Citations & Academic Writing

NSG431

WRITING CENTER SERVICES

depaul.mywconline.com  

Chat with a Tutor 

Writing Groups 

“Resources for Writers” on depaul.edu/writing

WORKSHOP GOALS

Discuss academic writing expectations and habits of strong writers 

Review citation conventions of APA style

Practice formatting in-text citations and references in APA style

EFFECTIVE ACADEMIC WRITING

What’s effective in this paragraph?

What could be improved?

VOICE

Maintain a formal tone

Use a consistent authorial voice

AUDIENCE

Define jargon and abbreviations

Follow appropriate style guide conventions

CONTINUITY & TRANSITIONS

Organize points so that they form a logical and coherent argument

Use transitions to help guide readers from one point to the next

Above all, strive to produce a piece of writing that makes your ideas clear to readers!

DRAFTING

First draft should not be your last draft

Review other examples within the genre

Know where you typically get stuck and strategies to become unstuck

EDITING

Read aloud

Read draft backwards sentence by sentence

Print text in a larger font size and/or change the type face

Flag words or punctuation related to past writing challenges

WHY CITE?

Allows reader to find your sources

Provides evidence for your argument and enhances credibility

Demonstrates your interaction with others in the field and their ideas

Helps avoid plagiarism 

Source: UCLA Library

WHEN TO CITE?

Using or paraphrasing the author’s direct words or ideas

Summarizing an author’s words or ideas

Using information that is not common knowledge for your audience

INTEGRATING SOURCES: SUMMARY

Emphasizes points over details
 
Reduces a large text into a smaller text, in your own words

Fits original text into the context of your writing

INTEGRATING SOURCES:  PARAPHRASE

Emphasizes details over points
 
Fits original text into the context of your writing

INTEGRATING SOURCES:  DIRECT QUOTATION

Maintains the author’s original phrasing word for word to: 

-Display a particularly poignant or articulate expression
 
-Highlight the author’s opinion

-Demonstrate contrasting perspectives 

CITATIONS: EXAMPLE

References
Jarrett, P. (2015). Student midwives’ knowledge of perinatal mental health. British Journal of Midwifery, 23, 32-39. Retrieved from www.ebscohost.com.
In-text
(Name, Year, and Page Number if applicable)
    
Jarrett (2015) claims many student midwives felt unprepared to work with patients with mental illness (p. 33).

CITATION CREATION GAME!

In groups of 2 or 3, write a correctly formatted APA Reference & in-text citation for each sample source provided

HINT: Use the Online Resources for Formatting References to help you!

No need to memorize style conventions!

https://owl.english.purdue.edu

APACitations&AcademicWritingNSG431

By Matthew Pearson

APACitations&AcademicWritingNSG431

  • 615