This will normally refer to the research and writing pattern used by researchers and writers in the social sciences.
This will mainly dwell on the format for citing both printed and non-print sources.
Academia holds that the research and writing process is not an easy process.
As such, materials in writing a complete research paper can be copied from others sources.
Once this is done, the researcher or writer is required to duly acknowledge the sources from which these materials came from.
Keep in mind that the previous researchers and writers have done much in coming out with their work.
You need to give them credence for their sacrifice.
Ahead of starting the write-up, you should check to know what citation style is applicable to your paper.
You can find information about this from your teachers or even from the library.
The requirements of an APA citation are very exhaustive.
It may sometimes be impossible for the whole requirements to be learned by heart.
Therefore, it is of interest to the student to get an APA citation handbook for personal reference.
This can be gotten from the library or from a bookshop.
The APA citation style will take the following into consideration: You may either have to make reference to printed sources or non-print sources.
When making allusion to books, you should refer to that book through the last name of the author.
This last name will have to appear in brackets.
This will be applicable for the first time the reference is made within that same work.
If you are required to make a second allusion to the same author, the name of the author is left out and only the date of publication will be alluded to.
You may also be required to make reference to a book with multiple volumes.
In such a case, the reader must be able to know the precise page from which the alluded material is coming from.
This will also be applicable for the first time reference.
Once this reference is made for the second time, the name of the author will not be included.
Only the title of the book is will be referred to and the page number will be placed in brackets.
If you have to represent any form of borrowed material as it is, you will have to shuffle up the material five spaces into the page.
This will be followed by the author's name, the year of publication and the page number.
All these will also be enclosed in brackets.
Once the quotation is indented, there is no need for quotation marks.
But this will only be applicable if the alluded material exceeds forty words.
If the material does not go beyond forty words, the quotation is not indented and quotation marks are used.
APA format citation is simply to let the readers know that the sources you make mention of in your term paper is authentic.
You also have a duty to lead the inquisitive readers to that source if they want to read further.