The American Psychological Association

(APA) provides a method for source

documentation that is used in most social
sciences courses. The social sciences place
emphasis on the date a work was created, so
most APA citation involves recording the date
of a particular work in the physical text. The
date is usually placed immediately after the
authors name in the References page at
the end of an essay.

Essays following the APA style of formatting
typically include a title page, abstract, main
body, and references.

APA uses a title page.
The title page contains the following
information, centered:
the title of the paper (centered, no more than 12
words)
May take up one or two lines
Your name (first name, middle initial, last name)
institutional affiliation (where research was
conducted)

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/
560/01/


Create a title page for your annotated
bibliography
The page header at the top of every page
contains the TITLE OF YOUR PAPER on the
left hand side in all capital letters. This
page header is usually a shortened version
of the essays title and cannot exceed 50
characters including spacing and
punctuation.

Create a an APA style header for your
title page
APA adds to MLA style by including an author
name(s), page number(s), and date. The date is
generally provided parenthetically whenever the
authors name is given while page numbers
always appear at the end of the sentence. The
date is important in social science because it
helps demonstrate the relevance (newness) of
the work being cited.
Example (Author named in a signal phrase):
Philosopher Stephen C. Pepper (1961) refers to
this phenomenon as a cumulative collaboration
of evidence (p. 49).
Example (Author not named in a signal phrase):
This phenomenon is best referred to as a
cumulative collaboration of evidence (Pepper,
1961, p. 49).


Example (unknown page number): This
phenomenon is best referred to as a
cumulative collaboration of evidence:
(Pepper, 1961,Evidence and Corroboration
section, para. 22).
However, if only referring to an idea but not
directly quoting the material, only make
reference to the author and year of
publication and not the page number in
the in-text citation.
1. The student is quoting from page 26 of an
article by Peter Greasley published in 2000.
a. Greasley (2000) pointed out that clients who
seek out mediums are so inclined to find the
sessions impressive that few can blame
them for leaving the consultation expressing
unequivocal satisfaction. (p. 26).
b. Greasley (2000) pointed out that clients who
seek out mediums are so inclined to find the
sessions impressive that few can blame
them for leaving the consultation expressing
unequivocal satisfaction (p. 26).
1. The student is quoting from page 26 of an
article by Peter Greasley published in 2000.
b. Greasley (2000) pointed out that clients
who seek out mediums are so inclined to find
the sessions impressive that few can blame
them for leaving the consultation expressing
unequivocal satisfaction (p. 26).
In APA style, the period comes after the
parenthetical citation.
2. The student is summarizing information from
page 176 of a 1980 book with two authors,
Marks and Kammann.
a. The psychological phenomenon known as
selective exposure occurs when people
choose source material and authorities that
reflect what they already believe (Marks &
Kammann, 1980, p. 176).
b. The psychological phenomenon known as
selective exposure occurs when people
choose source material and authorities that
reflect what they already believe (Marks and
Kammann, 1980, p. 176).


2. The student is summarizing information
from page 176 of a 1980 book with two
authors, Marks and Kammann.
a. The psychological phenomenon known as
selective exposure occurs when people
choose source material and authorities
that reflect what they already believe
(Marks & Kammann, 1980, p. 176).
In an APA parenthetical citation for a work
with two authors, an ampersand (&) is
placed between the authors names.


3. The student is quoting from page 29 of an
article published in 2000 by Paul Kurtz.
a. Kurtz has observed that science has been
investigating our ability to communicate with
the dad for at least 150 years and it has
attempted to discover empirical evidence in
support of the claim (2000, p. 29).
b. Kurtz (2000) has observed that science has
been investigating our ability to
communicate with the dad for at least 150
years and it has attempted to discover
empirical evidence in support of the claim
(p. 29).


3. The student is quoting from page 29 of an
article published in 2000 by Paul Kurtz.
b. Kurtz (2000) has observed that science
has been investigating our ability to
communicate with the dad for at least 150
years and it has attempted to discover
empirical evidence in support of the claim
(p. 29).
In APA style, when the authors name is given
in a signal phrase, the name is followed by
the date in parentheses.


4. The student is summarizing information from a
2001 article by Gary E. R. Schwartz, Linda G. S.
Russek, Lonnie A. Nelson, and Christopher
Barnetsen. This is the first citation of the source
in the paper.
a. Schwartz et al. (2001) insisted that the study
had eliminated fraud and coincidence as
possible explanations for the success of the
mediums tested.
b. Schwartz, Russek, Nelson, and Barentsen
(2001) insisted that the study had eliminated
fraud and coincidence as possible
explanations for the success of the mediums
tested.


4. The student is summarizing information from a
2001 article by Gary E. R. Schwartz, Linda G. S.
Russek, Lonnie A. Nelson, and Christopher
Barnetsen. This is the first citation of the source
in the paper.
b. Schwartz, Russek, Nelson, and Barentsen
(2001) insisted that the study had eliminated
fraud and coincidence as possible explanations
for the success of the mediums tested.
In APA style for a work with three to five authors,
the signal phrase includes all the authors last
names the first time the source is cited. For
subsequent citations of the source, et al. is
used after the first authors name.


5. The student is quoting from page 27 of an article
by two authors, Wiseman and OKeeffe, that was
published in 2001.
a. According to Wiseman and OKeeffe (2001). The
Schwartz et al. studies suffered from severe
methodological problems, namely: (1) the
potential for judging bias, (2) the use of an
inappropriate control group, and (3) inadequate
safeguards against sensory leakage (p. 27).
b. According to Wiseman & OKeeffe (2001). The
Schwartz et al. studies suffered from severe
methodological problems, namely: (1) the
potential for judging bias, (2) the use of an
inappropriate control group, and (3) inadequate
safeguards against sensory leakage (p. 27).


5. The student is quoting from page 27 of an
article by two authors, Wiseman and OKeeffe,
that was published in 2001.
a. According to Wiseman and OKeeffe (2001).
The Schwartz et al. studies suffered from
severe methodological problems, namely: (1)
the potential for judging bias, (2) the use of
an inappropriate control group, and (3)
inadequate safeguards against sensory
leakage (p. 27).
In APA style, the word and joins two authors
names in a signal phrase; the ampersand (&)
is used in a parenthetical citation.

6. The student is quoting from page 52 of a 2001 article,
Talking to the Dead, by Leon Jaroff. The list of
references contains another article, The Man Who
Loves to Bust Quacks, also written by Jaroff and also
published in 2001.
a. Jaroff (2001b) claimed that the medium used a
sophisticated form of the game Twenty Questions,
during which the subject, anxious to hear from the
dead, seldom realizes that he, not the medium or the
departed, is supplying the answers (p. 52).
b. Jaroff (2001) claimed that the medium used a
sophisticated form of the game Twenty Questions,
during which the subject, anxious to hear from the
dead, seldom realizes that he, not the medium or the
departed, is supplying the answers (Talking to the
Dead, p. 52).

6. The student is quoting from page 52 of a 2001 article,
Talking to the Dead, by Leon Jaroff. The list of
references contains another article, The Man Who
Loves to Bust Quacks, also written by Jaroff and also
published in 2001.
a. Jaroff (2001b) claimed that the medium used a
sophisticated form of the game Twenty Questions,
during which the subject, anxious to hear from the
dead, seldom realizes that he, not the medium or the
departed, is supplying the answers (p. 52).
In APA style, two or more works by the same author in the
same year are listed alphabetically by the first word of
the title (other than A, An, or The) in the list of
references. A lowercase letter is added to the year, with
a for the first and b for the second reference by the
author in that year. The lowercase letter is also used
with the year in the in-text citation.
7. The student is quoting from paragraph 1 of a 1998
online article by Travis Dacolias. The article has
numbered paragraphs but no page numbers.
a. Dacolias (1998) noted, Cold reading is a
technique used by tarot card readers, psychics,
palm readers, astrologers, and even con men to
get people to believe that the cold reader knows
all about them, even though they have never
met (para. 1).
b. Dacolias (1998) noted, Cold reading is a
technique used by tarot card readers, psychics,
palm readers, astrologers, and even con men to
get people to believe that the cold reader knows
all about them, even though they have never
met.

7. The student is quoting from paragraph 1 of a
1998 online article by Travis Dacolias. The
article has numbered paragraphs but no
page numbers.
a. Dacolias (1998) noted, Cold reading is a
technique used by tarot card readers,
psychics, palm readers, astrologers, and
even con men to get people to believe that
the cold reader knows all about them, even
though they have never met (para. 1).
In APA style, when an electronic source has
numbered paragraphs but not page
numbers, the parenthetical citation includes
the abbreviation para. and the paragraph
number.
7. The student is quoting from paragraph 1 of a
1998 online article by Travis Dacolias. The
article has numbered paragraphs but no
page numbers.
a. Dacolias (1998) noted, Cold reading is a
technique used by tarot card readers,
psychics, palm readers, astrologers, and
even con men to get people to believe that
the cold reader knows all about them, even
though they have never met (para. 1).
In APA style, when an electronic source has
numbered paragraphs but not page
numbers, the parenthetical citation includes
the abbreviation para. and the paragraph
number.
8. The student is summarizing information from
an undated online article by Ray Hyman. The
article has no paragraph or page numbers.
a. Hyman pointed out that no medium has ever
managed to demonstrate psychic abilities
under controlled laboratory conditions, even
though large cash prizes have been offered
to anyone who succeeds.
b. Hyman (n.d.) pointed out that no medium has
ever managed to demonstrate psychic
abilities under controlled laboratory
conditions, even though large cash prizes
have been offered to anyone who succeeds.
8. The student is summarizing information
from an undated online article by Ray
Hyman. The article has no paragraph or
page numbers.
b. Hyman (n.d.) pointed out that no medium
has ever managed to demonstrate psychic
abilities under controlled laboratory
conditions, even though large cash prizes
have been offered to anyone who succeeds.
For a source without a date, the abbreviation
n.d. is used in the parenthetical citation.
9. The student is quoting from page 12 of a 2000 report by the
National Science Board. No individual author is given. The
entry in the list of references begins like this: National Science
Board.
a. The National Science Board (2000) cautioned that believers
in paranormal phenomena are dangerously distanced from
reality: Their beliefs may indicate an absence of critical
thinking skills necessary not only for informed decision
making in the voting booth and other civic venues (for
example, jury duty), but also for making wise choices
needed for everyday living (p. 12).
b. The National Science Board cautioned that believers in
paranormal phenomena are dangerously distanced from
reality: Their beliefs may indicate an absence of critical
thinking skills necessary not only for informed decision
making in the voting booth and other civic venues (for
example, jury duty), but also for making wise choices
needed for everyday living (Anonymous, 2000, p. 12).
9. The student is quoting from page 12 of a 2000 report by the
National Science Board. No individual author is given. The
entry in the list of references begins like this: National Science
Board.
a. The National Science Board (2000) cautioned that believers
in paranormal phenomena are dangerously distanced from
reality: Their beliefs may indicate an absence of critical
thinking skills necessary not only for informed decision
making in the voting booth and other civic venues (for
example, jury duty), but also for making wise choices
needed for everyday living (p. 12).
The National Science Board is listed as the author in the
reference list, so it appears with the date in the signal phrase.
Anonymous is not used in this case.
Unknown Author and Unknown Date: If no author or date is given,
use the title in your attributive tag or the first word or two of
the title in the parentheses and use the abbreviation "n.d."
(for "no date").
In the rare case the "Anonymous" is used for the author, treat it as
the author's name (Anonymous, 2001). In the reference list,
use the name Anonymous as the author.
10. The student is summarizing information that
begins on page 29 and continues on page 30 in a
2000 article by Paul Kurtz. The student provides a
page reference for this summary because the
article is long.
a. Kurtz (2000) argued that mediums claiming to
communicate with the dead were aided at the
end of the twentieth century by mass media
exposure and a credulous American public (pp.
29-30).
b. Kurtz (2000) argued that mediums claiming to
communicate with the dead were aided at the
end of the twentieth century by mass media
exposure and a credulous American public (pp.
29+).


10. The student is summarizing information that
begins on page 29 and continues on page 30
in a 2000 article by Paul Kurtz. The student
provides a page reference for this summary
because the article is long.
a. Kurtz (2000) argued that mediums claiming to
communicate with the dead were aided at
the end of the twentieth century by mass
media exposure and a credulous American
public (pp. 29-30).
When information is taken from more than one
consecutive page in the source, the range of
pages is given.

The last page is titled References not
Works Cited. It is centered at the top of
the page. Do not bold, underline, or use
quotation marks.
Only the first word of a title is capitalized.
Also capitalize the first word after a dash or
colon.
Do not italicize, underline, or put quotes
around the titles of shorter works such as
journal articles or essays in edited
collections.

Italicize titles of longer works such as books
and journals.
Books: author name, publication year, work
title, publication city, and publisher
If you are citing an article from a database
that is available in other places, such as a
journal or magazine, include the homepage's
URL. You may have to do a web search of the
article's title, author, etc. to find the URL.

For articles that are easily located, do not
provide database information. If the article is
difficult to locate, then you can provide
database information

www.crossref.org/guestquery/
While the APA manual provides many
examples of how to cite common types of
sources, it does not provide rules on how to
cite all types of sources. Therefore, if you
have a source that APA does not include,
APA suggests that you find the example
that is most similar to your source and use
that format.
Use sources to create a references page
for an essay titled Zombie Apocalypse

Create a parenthetical for each source
Baldwin, G. R. (2007). World war z
and the end of religion as we
know it. Cross Currents, 57(3),
412-425.

Coombs, M. (2012). Unraveling the undead: Our
obsession with zombies, from the Congo to
Hollywood. The American Conservative,
11(2), 40-42.

Dhar, M. (2013). Survive a zombie
apocalypse? Just do the math. NBC
News.com. Retrieved from
www.nbcnews.com/science/survive-
zombie-apocalypse-just-do-math-
6C10803298

Pastor, P. (2013). The zombie apocalypse:
Why are we fascinated with the
walking dead who want to eat us?
Christianity Today, 57(1), 80.

(Last name, year, p. #)

1. (Baldwin, 2007, p. 420)
2. (Coombs, 2012, p. 41)
3. (Dhar, 2013, para. 7)
What happens if there is not a date available?
(author, n.d., p. #)
4. (Pastor, 2013, p. 80).
What happens if an attributive tag is used?
According to Paul Pastor (2013), The dead know
where you are and they are hungry (p. 80).
If no page number, put n.p. or paragraph #