APA style and citations for dummies - Joe Giampalmi 2021

Rehearsing: preparing sources
Preparing for conflict: source engagement
Practicing safe cites: writing and citing sources

Preparing sources for engagement is like preparing for a trip to the beach. The planning and effort to get there are worth the reward upon arrival. Source preparation includes the following:

· Summarizing each source and paraphrasing highlights

· Determining the use of each source (or parts of sources) as background, evidence, or refutation

· Identifying the development position of sources used as evidence

· Selecting quotations that produce an impact

The most crucial preparation of sources involves analyzing source summaries for similarities, contrasts, and common patterns. An analysis of sources on the topic of government-supported tuition for higher education looks like this:

· Phillips (2018) and Brennan (2019) endorse government-supported plans that include one year of national service following graduation.

· Franklin (2017) and Hicks (2019) support plans requiring that a student be in the top 5 percent of high school class ranking to qualify.

· Stillwell (2019) disagrees with a government-sponsored plan, but supports a loan forgiveness plan in return for one year of working in selected public service fields.

· Auburn (2019) and Smith (2020) propose government-sponsored tuition at selected state universities.

· Only Franklin (2017) supports a plan that doesn’t require students to “give back.”

· Harkins (2019) and Slovak (2020) oppose any plan that provides tuition for students from families with income above $40,000.

The following sections offer you tools for preparing sources for use in your research writing (summarizing, paraphrasing, and quotations) and then citing those sources in your research.

Refer to Table 11-2 as you read the following sections to get a better picture of when to summarize, when to paraphrase, and when to quote sources.

TABLE 11-2 Guidelines for summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting

Using signal phrases

Signal phrases, like a GPS, determine the direction and purpose of a source. They also distinguish your words from the source’s words and alert you that a citation is needed. Signal phrases introduce summaries, paraphrases, and quotations — strategies that build your argument and integrate your critical thinking.

To generate successful signal phrases and source references, do the following:

· Begin your signal phrase sentence with the author’s last name in narrative style. Barrett …

· Follow the author’s name with the citation date in parentheses. Barrett (2021) …

· Follow the citation date with relevant biographical information. Barrett (2021), an industry leader in wind power, …

· Follow any biographical information with the appropriate signal phrase. Barrett (2021), an industry leader in wind power, supports …

· Follow the signal phrase with the reference to the source. Barrett (2021), an industry leader in wind power, supports gradually transitioning to wind farms as a pilot for assessing wind as an alternate form of energy.

Many professors prefer to begin signal phrases with the narrative form citation style (see Chapter 10) because doing so identifies the author’s name at the beginning of the sentence and clarifies that you, the student, are talking about the researcher. The citation in parentheses that follows shows your professor that you understand citations. Generally, you should avoid preceding the author’s name with a wordy phrase such as “According to …”

Author credentials add credibility to your research, especially when no in-text background is included. An author outlier statement may require that you research the author’s background. Credentials may be relevant, for example, when affiliations may represent a conflict of interest.

Here are some sample signal-phrase sentences that include author-credential information following the name and citation:

· Jones (2020), the chief financial officer at a large retail chain, agrees with cost-of-living wage increases.

· Murphy (2019), a well-known advocate of hybrid transportation, opposes sharing hybrid technology with competitors.

· Clark (2020), a CEO in the soft drink industry, denies the sustained harmful effects of decades of sugar-water drinks.

· Goodwin (2020), a nationally renowned educator, supports pre-K education for all children.

· Caldwell (2018), a nationally known philanthropist, questions public funding to support professional sports stadiums.

Here are some source references in citation style:

· The economic value of a college education exceeds one million dollars over a lifetime (Whitcom, 2019).

· The healing power in music has been verified in numerous studies (Williams, 2015).

· Financial security over a lifetime is the result of more saving than investing (Barbaro, 2018).

· Lifetime success results from average intelligence and above-average work habits (Glassman, 2017).

Examples of signal phrases include the following:

Post in your work area a copy of your research question to ensure you maintain your focus.

Summarizing and citing correctly

Summaries are like reservoirs; they capture large quantities of information that sustain the life of your argument. They’re a staple strategy for converting large quantities of information (books, studies, chapters, and multiple ideas) into a manageable format that contributes to the development of an argument.

A chapter summary for a Sanson (2021) book analyzing Greek life on campus looks like this:

Sanson (2021) supports restructuring Greek life on campuses because it adds value to the college social experience, supports the local community, and provides lifetime career networking opportunities. She strongly believes that the rushing process and alcohol abuse associated with Greek life needs a new model. Sanson cites local newspaper stories in a number of college towns that describe incidents of hazing and criminal neglect that were affiliated with campus fraternities and sororities. She recounts two incidents that resulted in deaths. She offers a plan for restructuring Greek life on campuses and restoring their traditional service values (pp. 240—280).

Sanson’s summary cites evidence to argue the value of Greek life organizations and the need to restructure them within the context of hazing incidents. Information in the summary could also be used to argue against continuation of Greek life organizations. The narrative style citation begins with the author’s name followed by the citation date in parentheses. The end of the summary includes the page number citation in parentheses inside the end punctuation.

Paraphrasing and citing correctly

Paraphrasing, expressing a source’s words in your own words, is your go-to tool for referencing sources. It allows you the flexibility to take (with citing) as much source reference as needed and to easily insert it into your text. Here’s an example of paraphrased evidence to support restructuring educational funding:

Lockland (2017) recommends eliminating educational funding on the local level because “local economically deprived school districts contribute to educationally deprived school programs.” He cites a pattern of poorer school districts lacking programs in the arts, advanced sciences, and foreign languages. Lockland suggests replacing the local property taxes model with a combination of increased state and federal funding. He recognizes that the shift from local property tax would result in increased state taxes, but says that “investments in education today yield economic benefits tomorrow” (pp. 84—85).

Lockland’s paraphrase outlines a plan to replace the local property tax model to support public education. The paraphrase and two partial quotes in this example add impact to his plan. The narrative style citation begins with the author’s name, followed by the citation in parentheses. The end of the paraphrase identifies the page number citation in parentheses inside the end punctuation. Page number citations are optional with paraphrasing.

Correct use of paraphrasing (with citing) is the key to avoiding plagiarism. Study paraphrasing in your research reading and apply it in your research writing.

APA identifies page numbers with paraphrases optional, but many professors prefer page numbers as good research practice. Ask professors’ preferences for page numbers with paraphrases.

Quoting and citing correctly

Use quotations of a few sentences or shorter to highlight memorable information that creates reader impact that would be unachievable by using a summary or paraphrasing. To avoid quotations that appear as popups, the quotations need a lead-in sentence and a follow-up sentence.

Here’s an example of a few quotations highlighting the decision to fight the British and start the American Revolutionary War:

Many American colonists were undecided about starting a war with the mighty British Empire, so a Virginian statesman provided the encouragement. “Gentlemen may cry, ’Peace, Peace’ but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!… The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!… Is life so dear, or peach so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (Weigand, 2020, p. 326). Patrick Henry’s speech on March 23, 1775, convinced an audience, which included George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, to take arms against the British — and the rest is history.

The dramatic and historical quotation contains more impact than the paraphrase, “Patrick Henry convinced the American colonists to fight against the British.” Note the lead-in sentence, which sets up the quotation: “Many American colonists were undecided …” and the follow-up sentence: “Patrick Henry’s speech …”

Journalists, using the quotation strategy, “Don’t bury a quote,” begin a paragraph with a quotation. Here’s an example:

“Nothing important happened today,” journaled King George III on July 4, 1776 (Weigand, 2020, p 327).

Sometimes, no news is more dramatic than fake news.