APA formats explained (again) and TURNITIN for checking plagiarism on Canvas ONLINE

 

MLA and APA formats for papers

• MLA is for English papers. 
• APA is for Psych or medical papers, or for certain business formats.

MLA has a Works Cited page.

APA has a Reference page.

If you USE the source in the paper, list it. If not...DON'T list it.

MLA works cited page sources are NOT numbered.

APA bibliography page sources ARE numbered.

• In-text citations should back up an idea being explained or presented.

=========================

In-text formats (the easy way):

• Try to use as much of an intro for the source to lead into the quote itself. 

1. If an author's name is available, use it to emphasize the value of the source.
2. If the source itself is identifiable (book, magazine, web site), illustrate that too, along with the relevant info.
3. If ENOUGH "intro" is offered, that's fine. It should still match the Works Cited (or Bibliography) listing.

Example: 
In his online article "Inside the College Classroom," Mitchell Lopate, instructor at Brookdale Community College, illustrates several techniques for "the art of effective writing by any student who wants to improve his or her grade."

If NO intro is provided and the quote itself is made, put the author's name (IF AVAILABLE) AFTER the quote: 

     "College students need more work on research papers" (Lopate).

=========================

No author?
 but the article title is available?

Same as above, but put the 
article title in quotes AFTERWARD:

•     "College students need more work in research papers" ("Campus Writing").
• ----------------------------------------------

Is the source in a printed/hard copy format?

If it's in print, the page number itself follows the author, but NO comma between name and page #: 

• "College students need more work on research papers" (Lopate 13).

**APA is a bit different; this is where you use the comma if it's a print source:

    "College students need more work..." (Lopate, 13.)

In-text citation formats done the EASY way

(This is also found on the APA/MLA in-text page, but as a back-up reference, here's the main idea): 

How to cite a source in the body of your assignment/research paper

•    When an idea/info is FIRST used or referenced as an example/detail to back up facts or concepts, give full credit to the author (if available; job title if valid; place of employment if it’s a Big One), source (what was it?)
* Use signal words to indicate presentation of ideas; authority of source

In a Time magazine essay, Michael Stone, Director of Alabama Educational Administrative Services advocates that “Today’s college students need more basics in English composition than ever before.”

•    Paraphrasing or rewording 
•    Optional: reword or rephrase an idea, but give credit to the source/author as before.

In a Time magazine essay, Michael Stone, Director of Alabama Educational Administrative Services, validates the importance of a strong background in English composition basics in order for today’s college students to be successful.

–    Same idea, but without quotes. Still shows source.
======================
•    Once an author has been “introduced,” next time, just use last name with action verb

• Additionally, Stone also called for the requirement of more emphasis on research and cross-curriculum projects to develop student awareness of writing in a college environment.

-------------------------------------

• Refer to a website by the article title and source:
• An article from an Odessa College website,  “Chompzilla Eats Grammar Errors,” breaks down the various choices of punctuation.

• Magazine or newspaper: name them!
• A Time magazine article by Janis Tanner, “The Growing Awareness of Indigo Children,” brings up the topic of a new generation of youngsters and parental understanding.

======================

In-text citation/direct quote II

•    No signal phrase or action verb used; author named before elsewhere in the paper?
•    COPY WORDS EXACTLY, and put the author’s name/ “article title” in parenthesis behind it.

• For example, it is noted that “most attorneys are well prepared by our state college programs” (Furman 21).

–    (note that the quotation marks only cover the exact words used and that the citation itself is the end. Number refers to the page if a print source)
====================
 
•    In-text citation; multiple works by one author; no signal/action verb
Need to indicate which source it comes from:

  “Many senior members of law firms have demanded tougher writing standards for new members” (Furman, Judiciary Journal 39). 

-----------------------------

“It appears that newly graduating attorneys will be required to show better English grades and results on their transcripts” (Furman, “Literary Legal Loopholes” 44). 

MLA documentation and citation In-Text format

    MLA = English class
   APA = Psych class
   Turabian = History class
   Chicago = Economics

Part I - Sources for citations
 
•    Direct quotes and “re-worded ideas” from sources; show authority and validation of  thesis with examples of comments, data, facts
•    Printed source: books, magazines, journals, newspapers; may also be found online
•    Online: personal and professional sites
•    Direct: interviews – ask instructors for ideas!
========================
Part II - Works Cited, Reference, or Bibliography pages (MLA, APA, Turabian)
•   Separate from rest of paper
•   Not counted for overall page total
•    Recipe of all sources USED/quoted
•    Alphabetical order by author/article title
• Double-spaced and 2nd-line indented
     **APA format uses "References" page instead of "Works Cited
 ========================
Part III: how to cite - a source online!

http://citationmachine.net can help. Use this also for APA, Turabian, and Chicago style formats. (APA for psychology, Turabian for history, Chicago for economics.)

------------------------------------ 

What/when to cite?
•    Focus on “IS THIS IDEA WELL KNOWN TO THE *PUBLIC?” (Not just *you!) if not, don’t cite. If yes, then cite.
•    Specific relevant facts, details, ideas that are unique to the topic of the paper.
•    Direct quotes from sources/ideas of others.
•    Paraphrased/reworded concepts
•    An academic “legal right to steal ideas—just show it.”
       Beware: quotes need connections to ideas!
•    A quote must have some relevance to an idea. It has to be “attached to” or referencing something already established: a fact, a concept, an idea.
•    It should have significance that creates an established value which validates or endorses your thesis concept or the theme of the paper!