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Physical Therapist Assistant: APA Citation Style, 7th Edition

This guide provides a one-stop, comprehensive place to go for all of your information needs.

Are you new to APA Style? Start here.

The American Psychological Association (APA) Style is a method for formatting research papers and giving appropriate credit to the resources you use. APA also establishes writing standards and helps you prepare your work for possible publication. Following a common structure makes it easier for your readers to follow the ideas expressed in your paper. 

Font

  • Use the same font throughout your paper.
  • A variety of font options are permitted. 

Margins

  • 1-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).

Line spacing

  • Double-space the entire paper. 

Page numbers

  • Insert page numbers in the top right corner of every page.  

Order of pages

  • Title page (page 1)
  • Text (starts on a new page after the title page)
  • References (start on a new page after the end of the text)
  • Check with your professor for additional requirements, such as tables, figures, or appendices. 

APA Style uses the author-date citation system. A brief in-text citation directs readers to your references page.

You should use an in-text citation for any ideas or information that is not your own or not common knowledge. You can:

  • paraphrase - put information in your own words
  • quote - copy/paste directly from a source 

In-text citations can be:

The References page provides full citations for all the sources you cited in your paper. 

The format of the citation will vary. In general, every citation includes:

Book

Additional Resources

Citation Builder

Use cautiously. Double-check results. You may need to make corrections.

ZoteroBib is a free, web-based tool that helps create in-text citations and reference page citations.

Are you transitioning from 6th to 7th Edition? Start here.

Word Template

Handouts

Additional handouts on avoiding plagiarism, abbreviations, numbers, and more: APA Handouts. 

Need help?

 


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How to make an appointment with a Writing Tutor

  1. Visit https://mdc.mywconline.net.
  2. Register for an account using the MDC email.
  3. Once the account is created, log in.
  4. Click on a white square for the desired appointment date, time, and tutor.
  5. A new window will pop up asking for information about the course, professor, and assignment.
  6. Make sure to choose your file to download /attach your paper.  (*If you haven't completed your paper at the time of making the appointment, you can always attach it later. To do so, click on your appointment slot and select “Edit Appointment” and choose your file to attach. It takes PDF and Word documents.)
  7. Click Create Appointment at the bottom of the window.
  8. You should receive a confirmation email for the appointment.
  9. At the designated date and time, visit https://libraryguides.mdc.edu/BbLTutoring to meet with the tutor.