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APA Micro-course

Questions to consider:

  • How do I organize and format my References page?
  • How do I list a source with no author?
  • What is a hanging indent and how do I create one in Microsoft Word or Google Doc?
  • How accurate are the citations I can pull from library databases? (hint: not very)

Your list of full citations starts on a new page at the end of your paper (continue page numbering from paper body), with the title: References, centered one inch from the top. Basic tips:

  • Every source cited in your text should point to an entry in your References, and vice versa.
  • Entries are alphabetized by author last name (or organization if applicable, or if anonymous, by title, skipping initial articles like A, An) and aligned left.
  • Hanging Indent is used for each entry (2nd and subsequent lines for each entry indented 0.5 inches). Also see: Create a Hanging Indent in Word.
  • All text is double-spaced, same as the rest of the paper.
  • Author names: last name first; first, and if available, middle initials follow (Kirk, J. T.).
  • Articles, webpages, book chapters, and other short works that are part of a greater whole: capitalize ONLY the first letter of the first word in the title and subtitle, as well as proper nouns (Trade between North Korea and China: Firm-level analysis).
  • Title of stand-alone works like journals (and journal volume number), websites or web pages or book in italics, but capitalized normally (Journal of American History).
  • Location for online sources: use a DOI, if available (e.g., many journal articles from the library), otherwise use a URL for web sites and pages.
  • For journal articles and other sources located in a library database and without a DOI available, do not include a URL.

Example of a journal article from an online database in the library (note: hanging indent not shown here but must be included)

DeCamp, W., and Christopher F. (2017, February). The impact of degree of exposure to violent video games, family background, and other factors on youth violence. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 46(2), 388-400. doi:10.1007/s10964-016-0561-8.