This document provides guidance on creating reference lists and in-text citations using APA format. It explains that citations acknowledge the intellectual property of others and avoid plagiarism. It describes the basic components of citations such as author, date, title and source. Examples are given for citing different sources like books, journal articles, websites and images. Tools for creating citations like Citation Machine and Microsoft Word's References feature are also mentioned. The document stresses collecting source information as research is done and citing direct quotes, paraphrases and summaries in the text.

1. Reference Lists and Citations
A Student‟s Beginning Guide to APA
Format
Western Canada High School
Ms. Prentice 2013

2. What is a “citation”?
 To cite means to note or refer to something.
 A citation is a reference, or a mention.
 When we do research, it is important to
refer to or mention where we found our
information.
Scholarship is a collaborative endeavour. We
need to acknowledge the work we build our
understandings
upon.

3. Why do I need to worry about
this?
Plagiarism occurs when
we take someone else‟s
words or ideas and claim
them as our own.
Plagiarism is like stealing
someone‟s words and
ideas…
AND STEALING IS
WRONG!
We want to develop habits of ethical scholarship by
respecting the intellectual and creative property of
others.

4. Plagiarism and Your Learning
 In your academic work, it is important to be
ethical in your use of intellectual property. Give
credit where credit is due.
 You can borrow someone‟s words and ideas, but
make sure you GIVE THEM CREDIT by citing
the source.
 Remember: your teachers can recognize
plagiarism quite easily. Plagiarizing can have
serious consequences – so make sure to avoid it!

5. Why Create a Reference List
 Give credit where credit is due.
 Guide others to the research.
 Give credibility to your work.
 Demonstrate ethical scholarship

6. Step 1: Collect information for your
reference list
 Every time you do research, you should create a
reference list for your project.
 Your reference list identifies the information sources
you used in creating your project.
 For each source, you MUST identify:
1.
2.
3.
WHO is the author
WHAT is the title
WHEN it was published (and if the source is digital,
when you found it)
4.

WHERE it was published (and if the source is digital,
where you found it)
DON‟T wait until the end of your research to do this;
record the information as you go along.

7. Basic Reference/Citation
Format (APA):
Who (When). What. Where.
NOTE: There are many different citation styles; APA
is one of the most common. MLA and Chicago are
also popular styles. Make sure you know what style
your teacher wants you to use, and use it
consistently.

8. BOOK:
Author last name and first initial. (year of
publication). Book title. City of Publication:
Publisher.
Example:
Young, N. (2012). The virtual self: How our digital
lives are altering the world around us. Toronto, ON:
McClelland & Stewart.

9. Chapter in a BOOK:
Author last name and first initial. (year of
publication). Chapter title. In Editor’s last name and
initial (ED.). Book title (Chapter page numbers). City
of Publication: Publisher.
Example:
Frauenheim, E. (2013). Bad apple: Could the era of
exploitation outsourcing be near its end? In Cromie,
J., Zott, L. (Eds.). Outsourcing (pp. 28-31).
Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.

10. Periodical or Journal Article:
Author last name and first initial. (year of
publication). Article title. Journal Title, volume
(issue), article page numbers.
Example:
Valenza, J. (2006). They might be gurus. TeacherLibrarian, 34(1), 18-26.

11. WEB SITE:
Author (web site publication). Web page title.
Retrieved Month Day Year from: URL.
Example:
Lamb, A. (2003 October). Bridge Building. Retrieved
February 27, 2007 from: http://www.42explore.com.htm.

12. Video:
Author (Date of publication). Video title [Video file].
Retrieved from: URL.
Example:
MacArthur Foundation (2010). Rethinking learning: The 21st
century learner [Video File]. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0xa98cy-Rw.

13. IMAGES:
Creator's last name, first initial. (Role of creator).
(Year of creation). Title of image or description of
image. [Type of work]. Retrieved from URL/database
Example:
Salgado, J.F. (Photographer). (2010). Up close and
personal with the very large telescope. [Digital
image]. Retrieved from
http://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1049a
Information and example taken from Simon Fraser University Library (2012). Finding and Using Online Images. Retrieved
from http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/publication-types/online-images#citing

14. Tools to Help with Creating
Reference Citations
Many academic resources – for example,
resources in the Online Reference Centre or the
Gale Virtual Reference Library – will have
citation help tools. These resources will create a
citation for you. All you need to do is copy and
paste it into your reference list.
* Make sure the citation help is consistent with
your format: APA? MLA? Chicago?

15. Tools to Help with Creating
Reference Citations
Microsoft Word’s References tool can help you
to more accurately generate citations.
See this tutorial for help on using this handy
tool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcMqrs2plZ
E

16. Online Tools to Help with
Referencing
Citation Machine
NoodleTools
BibMe
Find handy „cheat sheets‟ in the
WCHS Library, in Area 2 Computers.
For examples, and a good general guide, visit the Purdue OWL:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/

17. Step 2: Citing in Your Essay or
Project: In-text citations
In addition to creating a reference
list, you should credit your sources
within your essay or project. We
call this „in-text citation.‟ It‟s a bit
trickier.

18. Do I have
to cite
everything?
Facts that are widely known, or
information & judgments considered
“common knowledge”
Do NOT have to be documented.

19. Examples of common knowledge:
World War I began in 1914 is common
knowledge.
Smoking is linked to lung cancer is common
knowledge.
Ottawa is the capital of Canada is common
knowledge.
If you see a fact
in three or more sources,
and you are fairly certain
your readers already know this information,
it is likely to be
“common knowledge.”
• If you are discussing your own experiences,
observations, ideas or reactions you don‟t need
to make a citation.

20. What should I cite?
• Facts that might be unfamiliar to your
reader (such as statistics or specific
historical information) should be cited.
• Ideas or interpretations that are not your
own should be cited (even if you agree with
the idea or interpretation).
• Cite direct quotes
• Cite anything you paraphrase or
summarize
If you aren’t sure if you should cite something, err on the
side of caution and cite.
Generally speaking: if the thinking isn’t yours, cite it (even
if the words are yours).

21. Paraphrasing & Summarizing
Paraphrasing means putting someone else‟s
thoughts in your own words. When you
paraphrase, you must credit the original author.
Summarizing means taking the main idea or
ideas of one author or several authors and
putting them briefly in your own words. When
you summarize others, you must credit them.

22. Example of Paraphrasing
To paraphrase, you have to use your own words and
change the structure of the sentences.
Original:
Kenyans enjoy many sports and activities. Soccer is the most
popular team sport in Kenya. Many people belong to soccer
teams in their cities and towns. Track-and-field activities such
as running and high jumping are very popular. Many Kenyan
runners compete in races around the world. The best have
won medals in the Olympics.
Paraphrased:
Sports such as soccer, running and high jumping are popular
in Kenya. Kenyan runners compete internationally, and some
have won Olympic medals. Soccer is a popular team sport,
and many Kenyans play on soccer teams in their communities
(Bartell, 2011, p. 20).

23. Example of Summarizing
Summaries are much shorter than the original source,
and only include the main ideas. The summary should be
in your own words.
Original:
Every year, Nigerians and people from around the world
look forward to the Argungu Fishing festival. The four-day
events began as a way to bring neighbouring villages
together in peace. During the first three days of the
festival, people enjoy a motor rally, canoes races, and a
fair. People dance to traditional music and watch many
different sporting events. The fishing competition happens
on the last day of the festival. Thousands line up along the
banks of the Sokoto River with nets to catch fish.
Summary:
The Augungu Fishing Festival is an important Nigerian
holiday. This festival is an opportunity for people to come
together and enjoy many activities. The final event of the

24. Quoting
Quotations are someone else’s words, copied exactly
from the source material. Quotations need to be in
quotation marks, and must be credited.
Original:
Goalkeepers have to make important decisions during a
game. These decisions may affect whether the game is a
win, loss or draw for their team.
Quotation:
Goalkeepers have to make important decisions during a
game. These decisions may affect whether the game is a
win, loss or draw for their team (Gifford, 2008, p. 20).
“
”

25. Remember…take accurate
notes:
Include any direct quotes or unique phrases
in quotation marks or mark with a big Q and
make sure the speaker‟s /writer‟s name is
identified.
Make sure you note a paraphrase with the
writer‟s name and mark it with a big P
Include page numbers and source references
so you can go back and check for accuracy
as you write.