Uuuuugh, APA!

ElizabethAnatom · Mar 24, 2015

It's really not that horrible. I can send you my ready-made APA template but don't know how to upload files here. But regardless, I usually just go to https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/. Take some time to read it and you'll be goo.d NO prob!

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 24, 2015

Ayyiyi... I feel a million years old. I'm thinking "Why not just get the APA handbook and read it instead of getting a program that may or may not produce the result you want?"
Is it obsolete to read about the nuts and bolts and try to assemble them on your own? Or in this brave new online world, is it all about choosing the right program?

It's just SO easy. Don't need to think about it. It does it for you. I've been using a program for 5 years worth of college papers, and I've never had it NOT give me the results I wanted. I've never had a paper returned for improper APA formatting.

Farawyn · Mar 25, 2015

Thanks all.

AZBlueBell · Mar 25, 2015

That's interesting. Because other than the particular way you must cite your references, I find no difference in writing a paper in APA format than I do any other format. Maybe you're overthinking it?

I was thinking this too. To me it's just a way of citing and format of the paper but nothing else. I use a citation machine for free online, just plug in the info and it formats it and then I can copy paste the citation. Is just easier and faster then typing it all out in order myself and having to double and triple check to make sure I did it right the first time.

Farawyn · Mar 25, 2015

But how do you know where to put the actual cite? That's where I get stuck.

I really think it is anxiety.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 25, 2015

But how do you know where to put the actual cite? That's where I get stuck.
I really think it is anxiety.

Right after the cited statement. In other words, if you're stating something that's factual that might require "proof" you will want to offer a cite. Here's an example from a paper I'm currently working on:

In a women's care clinic where a high percentage of the patients are obstetric, identifying asymptomatic bacteriuria is of particular importance, as untreated bacteriuria is associated with preterm delivery, low birthweight infants, and pyelonephritis requiring hospitalization (Lumbiganon, Laopaiboon, & Thinkhamrop, 2010).

Now, with that one, I just KNEW based on clinical experience, that bacteriuria causes all those problems in pregnant women. But I still need to prove it, and show that I didn't just pull that fact out of my butt.

And another - this one was trickier, because it's several different statistical cites. So do you put a cite after every stat, or at the end? I opted to do one cite, at the end:

In a study of 127 laboratories nationwide conducted by the College of American Pathologists, it was found, in analyzing over 14,000 urine specimens, the median institution had a contamination rate of 15.0%. Laboratories performing in the 90^th percentile had a contamination rate of less than 1%. Lowest-performing laboratories, or those within the 10^th percentile, had a contamination rate of 41.7% (Bekeris, Jones, Walsh, & Wagar, 2008).

It's easier to know with statistics and numbers that it needs a citation. Because I would have no way of knowing those stats unless I read them in an article.

Also want to mention, I almost NEVER use direct quotes. It's just easier, for me, to paraphrase and not have to go through the added hassle of citing a direct quote.

Farawyn · Mar 26, 2015

Right after the cited statement. In other words, if you're stating something that's factual that might require "proof" you will want to offer a cite. Here's an example from a paper I'm currently working on:
Now, with that one, I just KNEW based on clinical experience, that bacteriuria causes all those problems in pregnant women. But I still need to prove it, and show that I didn't just pull that fact out of my butt.
And another - this one was trickier, because it's several different statistical cites. So do you put a cite after every stat, or at the end? I opted to do one cite, at the end:
It's easier to know with statistics and numbers that it needs a citation. Because I would have no way of knowing those stats unless I read them in an article.
Also want to mention, I almost NEVER use direct quotes. It's just easier, for me, to paraphrase and not have to go through the added hassle of citing a direct quote.

This is IT. This is exactly my problem. There's stuff I just KNOW, but then I have to find out HOW I know it.

Okay. Moving forward.

Thanks, klone. You and everyone else have been such a great help. I hope. :blink:

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Apr 3, 2015

OP, for your online discussions....do the "post" in APA style then copy and paste the completed posting including your references into the discussion post section. Does that make sense?

"No, I have the book. PERRLA is okay for papers, but for online discussions I really need to understand how it works."

Andoo · Apr 4, 2015

For APA 6th edition I utilize Microsoft Words' -> References -> Style: APA 6th edition. This will help for your reference list, within in-text citation afterwards you should come to learn the basics using the current APA book. In addition to this you need to understand some of the rules as well. For example in the title of the article you should only capitalize first words, countries, word after the use of a " : ", among others. eg. "The ordinary Canadian monopoly: Loonies exist". For Journal names, it should always be capitalized. eg. "Palliative Care Nursing"

For example knowing that with two authors, you can only use (John & Jeorge, 2010) and not (John et al., 2010) for following citations (because you need to have more than 2 authors to use et al. After more than 5 authors, you can use et al right away, instead of writing out all of the authors.

I suggest OWL Purdue, APA book and using the Microsoft Words APA 6th edition style.

One last night, when creating the reference list, don't forget to do double spacing, 12 font, times new roman, and remove space after paragraph (new line or whatever it is) :)

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Apr 12, 2015

Sadly, I have PERRLA. And I still keep messing it up. I either want to cite everything, or I go on these long tangents from lots of info I've read and then end up going back to look for where I read them.

I have to keep very detailed notes during the reading and research phase. Usually I read PDFs or online rather than printing, and cut and paste the portion that I need to cite into word documents (one for each subsection) so that I don't miss any citations. It is easy to lose track of sources once you start synthesizing and distilling what the sources say (especially if it is an integrated review of literature).

I make sure to utilize the APA heading system to help keep me (as well as the reader) keep track of the logical flow of writing (Center bold, flush left bold, and so on).

Are you losing points based on not following the rubrics? As an instructor, now, I have to follow a rubric for grading papers (I just graded 49 papers!!). Students vary widely in their ability to follow the directions on the rubric as well as ability to follow the APA in-text citation rules as well as that of the title and reference page. The Purdue OWL has been much more helpful than the APA 6th edition text, because it is easier to find the information on the site.

Do you have a campus writing resource center, librarian, or other such help? Or is there another student with whom you could pair up to read/proofread each other's papers?

I hope these ideas are helpful.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Apr 12, 2015

This is IT. This is exactly my problem. There's stuff I just KNOW, but then I have to find out HOW I know it.

Are you talking about stuff like "what percentage of people have diabetes? I know it's a lot" or "how much does dialysis cost per person per year? I think it's like 83 grand?" I just go to CDC or ADA website or google the fact from a reputable source to get the figure I need and then cite it that way. The epidemiological ones are easy...for other stuff like seminal articles I keep a binder and a flashdrive of articles to refer to if I know I will be referring to it again.