This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. || Contact Cynthia Russell with questions or comments. || Return to the informatics WebQuest homepage.Remember those 2-3 journal articles and 2-3 web resources, all relevant and of high quality, that are to be prepared in APA format? Here are some tips for making sure that you will receive full points for correctly formatting those materials!
Your APA Publication Manual (5th edition) will be your tried and true companion during your educational program. In virtually every course you'll be using the manual. But it's really not one of those things that you sit down and read from cover to cover. It's really one of those resources that you use when you need it. In this case, you need it for Chapter 4: Reference List. It's in this chapter where you learn, or review, how to correctly format references that you use in your papers. In the case of your webquest, you need to be particularly concerned with how to format journal articles and how to format web resources.
Tips on Where to Look for Some Items that You'll likely Need in your WebQuest Referencing:
4.03: APA Style - see the list of acceptable abbreviations on p. 217? Use those! For example, don't write out the word "Editors" ... just use the abbreviation: Ed.
4.03: Publishers' locations - see the list of cities that don't require a state abbreviation or a country on p. 217? Don't use a state abbreviation or a country if the city is well known for publishing (and is located in that list). For example, don't use New York, NY ... just use New York.
4.03: Abbreviations for states and territories - see the list of abbreviations on p. 218? Use those! For instance, don't write Memphis, Tennessee ... just use Memphis,TN.
4.07: General Forms - this is a very brief (and not all inclusive) list of some commonly used reference forms. But then there are numerous specific rules, in sections 4.08-4.14) about how to properly document (in APA format) the various components of a reference, including:
4.15: Retrieval Information: Electronic Sources - pay particular attention to this section on p. 231 of the APA manual. There are examples of how to reference electronic sources, like web resources. The referencing of web resources is quite different than the referencing of journal (periodical) articles. A key difference is the requirement for documenting not only WHERE you found the resource but also the DATE you accessed the resource and retrieved it.
Now, for a really helpful APA tutorial, see the excellent work by Kevin Schoepp, entitled The APA Interactive Tutorial, located at http://www.kevinschoepp.ca/APAtutorial/contents.htm. While the entire tutorial would make an excellent review for you, make sure to focus on Section #2: The Reference List. You'll find some interactive exercises that will test your knowledge of APA, as well as some great information about APA style.
You really DO need to know APA style. Learning it early on in your program and using it faithfully will serve you well as you proceed through your educational program!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. || Contact Cynthia Russell with questions or comments. || Return to the informatics WebQuest homepage.