LSW Social Studies

APA Format for Citations

Research Paper

You are expected to cite your sources for your research paper in two different places:

1. within the text (body of your paper)             

2. on the “reference” page (on a separate page after your paper)

CITATIONS WITHIN TEXT: 

-Please cite all sources within research papers as PARANTHETICAL CITATIONS.

This means that you will put ( ) around each source that you use in your paper.

The ( ) go AT THE END OF A SENTENCE BEFORE THE PERIOD.

-To cite a BOOK (or another source that supplies the author’s last name):  

For a direct or near direct quote…

(author’s last name, publication year, pg.#(s) used) –note: don’t list “pg” or “page”, just the actual  #(s)

Example: Lincoln Southwest High School is located at 7001 South 14th Street (Johnson, 2007, 14). 

*When directly quoting information that is FOUR lines or longer,

SINGLE SPACE the quote and indent both sides 0.5 margins.

If you are citing a general theme, idea…

(author’s last name, publication year)

Example: The Korean War is known as “The Forgotten War” (Adams, 2006).

-To cite a MAGAZINE, NEWSPAPER, JOURNAL (or another similar source):

(author’s last name, publication year)

Examples: - Lincoln Southwest High School is projecting an enrollment of 1,875 students for the 2005-2006 school year (Lee, 2005).

-To cite a WEBSITE:

              (title of article italicized) –note: if there is no title of article listed, cite the title of organization

Example:  In 2004, the top three vacation destinations in the U.S. were Chicago, New York City, and Hawaii (Top Vacation Spots).

What should I site? 

-You should site ALL material that is not your own individual thoughts or “common knowledge.” 

-If you have a doubt on if it should be cited or not, CITE IT!!!!             

What is considered “common knowledge”?

-“Common knowledge” would be information that is widely known by most people. 

Example:  The first ten Amendments of the U.S. Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights.

Example:  Lincoln is the state capital of Nebraska.

(there is no need to cite information such as this because it is commonly known and found written in a wide variety of sources).

Again, if you have a doubt on if it should be cited or not, CITE IT!!!!