APA Style Workshop II: In-Text Citations and
References
Workshop Objective:
Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge
of APA formatting of in-text citations and
references in order to avoid plagiarism.
Why Do We Use In-Text Citations and References?
To give credit to the original author(s) of the source
materials.
To allow readers the ability to locate the original text
and read more about the ideas presented in your
paper.
*Note: When in doubt, cite the material in order to
avoid plagiarism.
When Does Plagiarism Occur?
• When you fail to cite quotations and borrowed ideas.
• When you fail to use quotation marks when
borrowing the direct language of the author in your
paper.
• When you fail to put summaries in your own words.
Three Rules to Remember
When using ideas, concepts, or information from a
source other than your own knowledge, you must:
1. Summarize that information (paraphrase) in
your OWN words or,
2. Borrow an author’s EXACT words but enclose
those words in QUOTATIONS.
3. Give credit to your source.
What is a Paraphrase?
• Paraphrasing is putting someone else’s original
thoughts/ideas into your own words.
• Paraphrasing serves as an alternative to directly
quoting a source and can add variety to your paper.
• The mental process of paraphrasing enhances your
ability to grasp the original concept.
What is a Direct Quote?
• A direct quote means that you have taken an
author’s original and exact wording and copied it into
your paper.
• You can do this as long as you enclose the quote in
quotations and give credit to the author.
Do I Paraphrase or Quote?
There are no specific rules for choosing, but as a general rule of
thumb, follow these steps.
1. Try to summarize the idea you want to include in your
paper/project.
2. Write down your summary.
3. Read your summary and then read the author’s original
wording. If your summary is too close to the original, you
must re-summarize OR if you can not create a summary
in your own words, simply borrow the author’s words
and put them in quotes.
I Chose to Paraphrase, Now What?
• Reread the original passage until you understand the
main idea.
• Set aside the original passage and write down your
interpretation of the passage on a note card.
• Look at the original passage and see if your paraphrase
accurately expressed the main ideas in a new way.
• Record the source (author, date).
HELP! I Can’t Paraphrase an Idea
• It is okay if you cannot paraphrase some ideas.
• At times, there is no other way to express someone
else’s idea. Maybe the author chose language that
you cannot reword and still maintain its original
meaning.
– Ex. “Entrepreneurs are risk-takers.”
– Risk-takers is hard to reword. The only way to rewrite this
is to say, entrepreneurs take risks. This is too close to the
author’s original words. Don’t panic. In this case, it is okay
to use a direct quote.
Paraphrasing Activities
Let’s take a look at some incorrect
and correct paraphrases
and direct quotes.
*After you choose to paraphrase or quote, you must give credit
to the original source.
How Do We Give Credit to a Source?
2 Musts:
1. In-text citations in the body.
2. Reference list: the corresponding and more
detailed version of where you found the in-text
citations listed at the end of your paper.
Formatting will depend on your source - where you found
your information.
Books, journals, websites, etc. are all cited and referenced
differently.
How Do We Give Credit to a Source?
• The easiest way to remember how to cite, is to
follow the author-date method.
• This method requires the author's last name and the
year of publication to appear in every in-text citation.
• Paraphrases include: (Jones, 2013)
• Direct quotes include: (Jones, 2013, p. 45)
*all sources that are cited in the text must appear in the
references list at the end of your paper.
In-Text Citations: Incorporating Sources
• Once you find the author, date, and page
number of your citation, work on introducing
your citation.
• A simple way to introduce a quotation or
paraphrase is with a signal phrase.
• A signal phrase includes: the author’s name and
the year of publication (and the page number if
you are directly quoting).
Signal Phrase Examples for Direct Quotes
According to Jones (2010), “the iPhone is better than
the Android” (p.4).
Jones (2010) argued that “the iPhone is better than
the Android” (p.4).
According to Jones, “the iPhone is better than the
Android” (2010, p.4).
Jones argued that “the iPhone is better than the
Android” (2010, p.4)
Signal Phrase Examples for Paraphrases
Jones suggests that Androids are not as efficient
cell phones as their counterparts, Apple’s iPhones
(2010).
In 2010, Jones argued that Androids were not as
efficient cell phones as their counterparts, Apple’s
iPhones.
I Have My Source Information and Chose My To
Paraphrase or Quote, Now What?
Formatting!
Formatting Short Quotes
When directly quoting from a work, you will need to include the
author, year of publication, and the page number for the reference
(preceded by "p.").
According to Jones (1998), “students often had difficulty
using APA style, especially when it was their first time" (p. 199).
Jones found "students often had difficulty using APA style"
(p. 199, 1998).
What happens if my source does not have an author? That’s okay.
You can use the title of the source.
According to Essays in Education, “students often had
difficulty using APA style" (1998, p. 199).
Formatting Long Quotes
Place direct quotations that are more than 40 words in a free-standing
block; omit quotation marks.
Begin the quotation on a new line, indented .5 inches from the left margin.
Type the entire quotation on the new margin. Indent the first line of any
subsequent paragraph within the quotation .5 inches from the new margin.
Maintain double-spacing throughout.
The source information comes after the closing punctuation mark.
Example:
Jones's (1998) study found the following:
Students often had difficulty using APA style,
especially when it was their first time citing sources.
This difficulty could be attributed to the fact that many
students failed to purchase a style manual or to ask
their teacher for help. (p. 199)
Formatting a Summary or Paraphrase
• You only have to reference the author and year of publication
in your in-text citation.
According to Jones (1998), APA style is a difficult citation
format for first-time learners.
Or,
According to Jones, APA style is a difficult citation
format for first-time learners (1998).
APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time
learners (Jones, 1998).
Creating a Reference List
• Type References at the top of the last page of your
project. Center it. Do not bold. (See References
handout)
• Entries should all be double-spaced and in
alphabetical order.
• Flush left the first line of the entry and apply hanging
indents to subsequent lines. (See References
handout)
How Do I Format My Sources in the Reference
List?
1. Identify the type of source. Is it a journal? A book? A
webpage?
2. Find a sample of the source that you need.
3. Write down all the source’s information that you
have. (author, publication date, title of document,
pages, etc.)
How Do I Format My Sources in the Reference
List?
4. Format your reference according to the sample you
found in step 2.
*If you are missing any of the information that is included in
the sample, that is okay. Simply omit it from your reference
and continue.
Jones, A. (1998). Essays in education. Literacy Journal,
(10)3, 40-66. doi: fajfj82400anf7.
No issue #:
Jones, A. (1998). Essays in education. Literacy Journal, 3,
40-66. doi: fajfj82400anf7.