Katrina G. FiggettPotomac Falls High School

November 2006

What is MLA Format?

Described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

Used in Psychology and other sciences

Covers: content organization writing style references

What is Different about APA Format?

Write to a strict format Simple sentence structure Use third person Never use the words “proof”

or “proves”, instead use phrases such as “the evidence supports…”

General Layout

Typed and double-spaced Margins of 1” on all sides Title page Number pages in top right corner

preceded by a running head (a shortened form of the title)

Page numbering begins with the title page

Use only one space after punctuation marks

Title Page

Header Page number Title – centered in

middle of page Author’s name Place of research

The title page is always page 1, and the pages are numbered sequentially.If the paper is to be published, the running head (a shortened form of the title), is stated on the title page as shown.

Teenage Anxiety 1

Running Head: TEENAGE ANXIETY

Teenage Anxiety and Peer Pressure

John A. Doe

Potomac Falls High School

The title page must contain the following information:

Sections for a Science Report Title page

Abstract

Introduction

Method

Results

Discussion

References

Why use APA Format?

Consistency Cross-

referencing Credibility Accountability Avoids

plagiarism

Parenthetical Citations

Quoting words not your own, i.e. repeating word for word in quotation marks

Summarizing facts from another source Paraphrasing a source

Use When:

Provide: Author’s last name and year of

publication in the text

Full citation information in the Works Cited list

Parenthetical Citation Examples

Monroe (1996) states that “phobics need to learn

about their mental health problem”.

Or

Before they use self help methods “phobics

need to learn about their mental health problem”

(Monroe, 1996).

Handling Citations in Text If there are two authors cite both names

for every referenceBrown and Smith (2005) found

or in a recent study (Brown & Smith, 2005)

If there are more than two, cite them all for the first reference and then use the first author followed by et al.

Brown, Smith and Davis (2006) foundthen

Brown et al. (2006) found

If there are more than six, cite only the first followed by et al.

Handling Citations in Text

If you reference a work more than once within a paragraph do not include the year in the parenthetical citation as long as the work cannot be confused with any other If the source has no author use an abbreviated form of the title i.e. “Bridges and Borders Diversity in America” cite as (“Bridges and Borders,” 1994)If you are citing from a specific part of a book remember to include the chapter or page number after the date (Brown & Smith, 2006, p.324)

Reference Page

Separate page

Titled – References

First line of entry flush with the margin – subsequent lines indented

Double spaced

Alphabetize by the first word in each entry – usually author’s last name

Reference Page

Author(s) [ Last name, initials, and, last

name, initials]. (Year of publication).

Title: Subtitle. Place of Publication:

Publisher.

Monograph

Monroe, J. (1996). Phobias: Everything you

wanted to know, but were afraid to ask.

Springfield, N.J.: Enslow.

Reference PageArticle on Website

Author [last name, initials]. (Date of .Publication). Title of

article.Title of periodical, volume number (issue

number). Retrieved month day, year, from http://web

address.

Benson, P.L., & Roehlkepartain, E. (1993, March).

Youth violence in middle America. Midwest forum, 3(1).

Retrieved February 24, 2004, from http://www.ncrel.

org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/drugfree/3-1youth.htm

Reference Page

Online Databases

Follow the format appropriate for the work retrieved

Add a retrieval statement giving the date and the name of the databaseRetrieved month day, year,

from (name of) database

References

Leary, M. (2004,July/August). Get over

yourself! Psychology Today, 37, 62-65.

Periodical

Author(s). (Year, month,day of publication)

Title of article. Title of periodical,

volume number, pages.

Where to Find More Information

• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed.

• OWL website: http://owl.english.purdue.edu

• www.dianahacker.com• www.apastyle.org• APA crib sheet

Bibliography

Baron, A. (2003). Bud’s easy research paper computer

manual (5th ed.). (2001). Larchmont, NY: Lawrence

House Publishers

Publication Manual of the American Psychological

Association (5th ed.). (2001). Washington, DC:

American Psychological Association.

Purdue University. (2004). Using American

Psychological Association (APA) format (updated

to 5th edition). Retrieved February 24, 2006 from

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r

_apa.html.