Research Guides: MLA & APA help: APA resources

APA Word document template

Download this APA-formatted Microsoft Word document template. Save it, erase the existing text, and type your text right into the template. Learn how to format a paper in APA format by reading the contents of the template. The References page has been formatted with hanging indents.

This template was approved by the CCC Nursing department (01/2016).

APA Word document template
Word doc template to download and type into. Includes tips on how to format a paper in APA. Last updated Jan. 2016.

APA Google Document template
Google Doc template to save a copy of and type into. This template is "View Only" - not editable. To edit it, save a copy to your Google Drive. Includes tips on how to format a paper in APA. Last updated March 2018.

APA Pages document template
Pages document template to download and type into. Includes tips on how to format a paper in APA. Last updated Oct. 2016.

APA checklist

APA checklist
The APA checklist lets you check (literally, check off on a list) that correct APA formatting is included in your research paper. Super useful! Created by Sue Pesznecker; approved by CCC's Nursing program; last updated Feb. 2018.

APA manual

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.) by APA
Call Number: BF76.7 .P83 2010
Publication Date: 2010

APA in-text citation basics

Use the author-date method of in-text citation.
- Example: Botflies drop down out of trees and burrow into the scalps of unsuspecting hosts (Johnson, 2016).
When directly quoting material from a source, include a page number in your in-text reference.
- Example: The subject stated she was unaware of the "adorable little community of botflies" living in her scalp (Johnson, 2016, p. 274).
All sources cited in-text must have corresponding entries on the References page at the end of your paper.

APA reference page basics

Each complete APA reference citation is comprised of four fields: 1) author, 2) publication date, 3) title, and 4) publisher information. Below is an APA reference citation for an article, broken up into the four fields.
Each field ends with a period. Commas and other punctuation marks may appear within each field.
The first two fields, author and date, determine how the source is cited in the body of the paper.
- Pro Tip: Create the reference page citation before citing the source in your text.

For more examples and explanations, select APA References Examples below.

APA References Examples
APA 6 References examples. Last updated Jan. 2019.

APA paper formatting basics

Typed, double-spaced paragraphs.
1" margins on all sides.
Font: Times New Roman, size 12.
Include a page header (also known as the "running head") at the top of every page.
APA papers are broken up into sections. Check with your instructor for his/her expectations.

Learn more at the Purdue OWL, or contact the CCC Writing Center.

APA video tutorials

The basics of APA style (APA Style Blog)
"This tutorial is designed for those who have no previous knowledge of APA Style. It shows users how to structure and format their work, recommends ways to reduce bias in language, identifies how to avoid charges of plagiarism, shows how to cite references in text, and provides selected reference examples" (APA Style Blog). This tutorial will take you ~30 minutes to complete.
APA style (Purdue OWL)
Learn about the basics of APA formatting and reference lists, and creating common types of reference entries. These video tutorials will take you ~25 minutes to complete.

1-credit APA class available

The English department offers an APA style course. It’s a one-credit online course that begins in Week Three. The course was developed for nursing students, but is also appropriate for students in other disciplines who need to develop APA formatting and style skills. The course is offered every term.

Registration information:

WR 199-01
Intro. to APA Style and Documentation
Instructor: Susan Pesznecker
susanpz@clackamas.edu
One credit