A Handy-Dandy Tips Sheet: How to Master the APA Citation Style

Manuscript Structure and Content:

Title Page: Papers are double-spaced. A capitalized running head and a page number are in the
title pages header. Only use the phrase Running head: on the first page; after the title page,
only the truncated, capitalized title and the page number are in the header. Center the title of the
paper, your name, and the name of your university. The following is a compressed title page.
Additional options and notes are in brackets.
Running head: ORGANIZATION OF APA RESEARCH
PAPERS
1
[1/2 page space]
Organization of APA Research Papers for Students at Indiana Wesleyan
University
Name
University Affiliation
[Professors Name, Class Title, Due Date]
Reference Page: References are listed alphabetically by authors last name and double-spaced.
The first line of each citation is flush with the left margin; all subsequent lines have a hanging
indent. The following is a compressed, short reference page.
ORGANIZATION OF APA RESEARCH
PAPERS
10
References
Johnson, H.H., Torcivia, J.M., & Poprick, M.A. (1968). Effects of source
credibility on relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,
9, 179-183.
Johnson, H.H., & Watkins, T.A. (1971). The effects of message repetitions on
immediate and delayed attitude change. Psychonomic Science, 22, 101-103.
doi:10.1037/h0021250
Documenting Sources:
In-text Citations: All information that is not your own must be cited within the text of a paper.
In-text citation differs based on the way the information is presented. If the author of the work
quoted/cited is mentioned in your text, only the date is needed for the parenthetical citation. If
not, both the authors name and date are required in parenthesis. Punctuation always comes after
the parenthesis.
Type of
citation
One work by
one author
One work by
two authors
One work by

First citation in
text

Subsequent
citations in text

Parenthetical
format, first
citation

Parenthetical
format,
subsequent
citations

Walker (2007)

Walker (2007)

(Walker, 2007)

(Walker, 2007)

Walker and Allen

(2004)
Bradley,

Walker and Allen

(2004)
Bradley et al.

(Walker & Allen,

2004)
(Bradley,

(Walker & Allen,

2004)
(Bradley et al.,

three to five
authors
One work by
six or more
authors
Groups

Ramirez, and Soo

(1999)

(1999)

Ramirez, & Soo,

1999)

1999)

Wasserstein et
al. (2005)

Wasserstein et
al. (2005)

(Wasserstein et
al., 2005)

(Wasserstein et
al., 2005)

NIMH (2003)

(National
Institute of Mental
Health [NIMH],
2003)

(NIMH, 2003)

National Institute
of Mental Health
(NIMH, 2003)

Reference Page Citations:

Books: The type of citation will depend on the amount of the book referenced. Entire books are
referenced without chapters, where individual chapters are sourced with the book. Although
citation machines can generate a book citation, general format knowledge is helpful. Citation
type and additional information is included in brackets.
Author, A.A. (year). Title of book. Location: Publisher. [Entire book citation]
Author, A.A. (year). Title of book. [Type of version]. Retrieved from http://www.xxxxx OR doi:
xx.xxxxxxx. [Print book found in an electronic format.]
Author, A.A. (year). Title of book. Retrieved from http://www.xxxxx OR doi: xx.xxxxxxx. [No
print copy available].
Author, A.A. (year). Title of chapter. In Title of book (pp. x-xx). Location: Publisher. [Book
chapter with no editor.]
Author, A.A. (year). Title of chapter. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C. Editor (Eds.), Title of
book (pp.x-xx). Location: Publisher. [Book chapter with editor]
Periodicals/Journals: Include the digital object identifier (DOI) in the reference if one is
assigned. If a DOI is not provided and you retrieved the content online, include the homepage
URL for the journal, newsletter, or magazine in the reference.
Author, A.A., Author, B.B., & Author, C.C. (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, xx, pp-pp.
doi:xx.xxxxxxx [Journal article with DOI]
Title of newspaper article. (year, month). Title of Newspaper. Retrieved from
http://www.xxxxxxx [Newspaper article without a credited author]
Bible: The Bible is not placed in the citation page. Rather, it is cited as a classical work in the
body of the writing. The first time it is cited, include the version used (e.g. New King James)
followed by the
Helpful Websites:
Son of Citation Machine: This website will organize a MLA/APA reference list and generate
references in either style.
http://citationmachine.net/

APA Style: A website of the American Psychological Association, APA Style has overviews for
learning APA formatting in tutorial form.
http://www.apastyle.org/
The Purdue Online Writing Lab: Purdues Online Writing Lab offers general writing help for
structure, content, clarity, diction, and grammar. The website also has complete explanations and
examples of papers documented in APA.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
Please note: The APA Citation Style is a guide only. While you should adhere to the guidelines,
you should also follow your professors preferences for formatting.
Information taken from the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association,
6th ed. and Purdue OWL website.