APA Referencing and In-text Citations

Purpose of Citations and References

• Academic, scientific, and research-based papers require crediting original sources when using their ideas, words, or thoughts through paraphrasing or direct quoting.
• A reference list entry identifies the original source.
• An in-text citation links the specific material within the paper to the corresponding entry in the reference list at the end of the document.

The Four Elements of a Reference

• To be correct and complete, a reference list entry must include four elements:
  • Author
  • Date
  • Title
  • Source

In-Text Citation Components

• Every in-text citation contains at least two elements:
  • Author
  • Date
• These two elements allow readers to easily locate the source in the reference list as they are the first items listed.
• A third element, the source locator, is added for specific references:
  • Paragraph numbers (e.g., paragraph $9$) for online articles.
  • Timestamps for YouTube videos or podcasts.

Paraphrasing vs. Direct Quotations

• Paraphrasing: Expressing an author's ideas in your own words. This should constitute approximately $98\%$ of citable material.
• Direct Quotes: Using an author's words verbatim. This must be used sparingly, and the text must remain exactly as found.

Citation Delivery Options

• Parenthetical Citation: All citation elements are enclosed in parentheses at the end of the material.
• Narrative Citation: Elements are incorporated into the sentence structure.
  • The author's last name is part of the sentence, followed by the date in parentheses.
  • For direct quotes in a narrative format, the source locator is placed at the end of the sentence in parentheses to maintain sentence flow.
• Direct quotes must always be enclosed in double quotation marks.