Using APA Referencing in Practice
Writing academic papers will require a referencing style; Michael has touched on the use of Chicago, MLA and APA in the past but in this post I'm going to explain and outline the APA referencing system.
APA stands for the American Psychological Association and their referencing style is very common. I'll cover off UK and US referencing styles in future posts so don't think I'm singling APA out for special attention.
The APA system is broken into two main parts:
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In-text citations
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A reference list
What is the Difference Between Editing and Proofreading?
Proofreading is a final check on your work to ensure accuracy, correction of grammatical errors and general presentation are within the specifications you have been given.
Editing is much more than this as it combines proofreading together with revisions that should improve the flow and structure of your work to maximise the impact of the piece.
Some may disagree as Nabakov (he of Lolita fame) once said "By editor I suppose you mean proofreader." Indeed, editing is often referred to as the "butcher's trade".
Editing requires a thorough grasp of English whereas proofreading requires an ability to simply spell. It is also fair to say that editing requires the exercise of the little grey cells to a far greater extent as they will be actively considering the subject matter and how well the piece will communicate with the prospective reader. This contrasts with simple proofreading which is a more mechanical process.
The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of Great Article Writing
I know I covered the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How the last time. But, haven’t you got it yet? There is always more involved than what I let on in my first post on any topic. In fact, entire books have been written about article writing. Entire college courses teach it. So, one simple post isn’t going to cover everything.
Articles that get in depth are what people want to read. Don’t simply answer the questions and move on to other questions. Get in depth information that goes deeper than anyone else writing on that topic. Otherwise, you are simply telling people what they already know.
Example:
Frederick Dominguez and his kids were lost for three days in the mountains of Northern California because they ventured out there to cut down a Christmas tree. They were found on Wednesday by a California Highway Patrol helicopter crew.
If you visit any news site or look in any newspaper where this story is told, you will find this information. Does it answer the six critical questions? Yes.
Who – Frederick Dominguez and his kids.
What – were lost and have been found.
When – Wednesday.
Where – mountains of Northern California.
Why – looking for a Christmas tree.
How – California Highway Patrol helicopter crew.
But if you can find this story anywhere, why would anyone read yours? It makes all the difference in the world that the mother of the children had no idea they were missing until she realized her youngest child didn’t go to school on Monday. It makes all the difference in the world that a new snow storm was about to come and the search was about to be aborted. It makes all the difference in the world that people like Cory Stahl who owns a pest control business shut his business down so that all the employees could help with the search.
There are plenty of answers to those six basic questions. Keep digging. Dig deeper. Make sure you have as much information as you can and discount nothing. Any bit of information can make your article more interesting than the others. That’s the essence of great article writing.
MLA Versus APA Style
Writing professionally, you run into things you may not have seen in awhile. The world is getting so informal and unprofessional that some of the old things go flying out the window. It takes a minute to catch up on concepts you learned years ago and get ready to apply them today.
The difference between MLA and APA is just one of those things. In fact, you just might at this moment be thinking what in the world they even are. Some of you might have a faint memory that they are documentation guidelines. But, you might not be able to remember much more than that.
If you have any kind of document to present in whatever venue you need, whether your boss needs a research journal or your professor needs an essay, you have guidelines to follow. They may have given you some guidelines on their own. But, you also have a style that your paper needs to conform to upon presentation. That style could either be MLA or APA.
MLA Style
Give Credit Where Credit is Due: Plagiarism Isn’t Even Cool
I was teaching English to high school freshmen and sophomores a few years ago when something threw me by surprise. Students were still trying to plagiarize. I had to sit one student down in particular and write the definition of plagiarism on the back of his paper so that we both knew it had been taught to him.
Later on in that same year, another paper I had asked him to write was completely copied from the Internet. I found half the paper on one website while the vice principal found the rest of it on another. I sat the student down and explained to him why his paper failed.
The next thing I knew, I was in a meeting with his mother, his father and my principal. Luckily, I had that earlier paper with the definition of plagiarism written on the back of it. While I was being questioned about my teaching methods, I simply pulled out the paper and slid it across the desk.
Wanna Study in the UK?
The UK is actually made up of four separate countries – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. When you arrive in the UK, you're assured of warm welcome and high levels of personal and academic support. If you are not sure whether you want to head to the UK for higher education, these are the reasons why you should go ahead.
An educational system that speaks for itself
UK education is respected throughout the world for its quality and consistently high standards. UK Universities and colleges provide a research-active environment, with the opportunity to learn from their academic mentors. It allows you to think for yourself and become independent (that’s important). It encourages skills which are in demand, and this is what attracts organizations from all over the globe (that’s important too). The unique quality assurance system that education in the UK gives you ensures accountability in all areas.
A home away from home
The added attraction of the UK is that outside the lecture hall it offers a very varied cultural and social life. It is also a safe and welcoming place for international visitors. Studying here allows you to meet students from all over the world and each student makes a unique contribution to the life of the institution, both academically and culturally.
Value for money
International education is a long-term investment. Considering the quality and international recognition of British qualifications, studying in the UK is excellent value for money. Tuition fees and living expenses are the two important factors to consider when selecting a college/University. These vary from one part of the UK to another. Students are attracted to the south, especially London, although the costs of living in the north are much lower than in the South of England. There are scholarships available for students as well, and it is also worth mentioning that there are many benefits available to international students that can make life in the UK more affordable:
Student Writing Advice: What You Need to do to Write Better
It is essential for student writers to maintain a schedule when they are enrolled in a college/university course that involves writing. You should set aside time to research and write everyday, I know it sounds strange but it'll help, otherwise what generally happens is commotion and drastic things happend when you're about to submit your paper (it gets worse when it's your dissertation/thesis!). Far too many students (and I was always one of them) to finish their work the night before submission, making a mess in the presentation of the document and causing numerous 'slip-ups' in their written material.
Did you ever wonder why your lecturer/professor gives you assignments three months in advance? Its to give you time to pace out your research and writing, make a plan for the particular essay or report and then execute it. Successful writers always plan their schedule before starting to write; most writers do not believe in an outline before the actual writing, but an outline in the form of a list of points to cover, or in fact, a mental image of a finished paper.
Dissertation – A Breakdown
Below are a few short tips to help you when beginning your dissertation. More detailed information on writing in academia can be found in Supaproofread’s academic centre.
1) Choose your topic carefully
Choosing a topic that genuinely interests you will be advantageous, as this will be what you will have to work with over the next couple of months. In considering a topic, you will have to keep in mind the degree of novelty – either involving personal research, novel experimentation, or its treatment, will become very important in making the work genuine.
2) Your advisor should not screw up
This means you have to work with an advisor who you can access and who will respond to your needs regarding your work. A good advisor is the key to a good dissertation and you should be firm enough to kick him in his/her butt if he/she is not cooperative enough.
3) Research well
Make an effort to find out the latest information regarding your topic. Let the project be a way to educate yourself and use as many sources as you can find. Be the investigative journalist and question everything around you. Read into books, newspapers, local magazines and every scrap of information that you can find.
Top 10 Beginner writing Tips
1) As a writer you need to be very clear in your mind about what you want to write about. If the concept and purpose of your intended material is steady and clear in your mind, then conveying it becomes simpler.
2) The second most important aspect in writing, is lucidity of thought and expression. No one is going to have the patience to read your work if it’s something that doesn’t make a lot of sense. We cannot go on rambling now, can we? The stream of consciousness method ought to be left alone to the professionals in this field. For beginners, lucidity is the key. Let it be your mantra, have – lucidity – lucidity – you get the drift.
3) Checking out your facts and information when writing on any topic is a must, as you don’t want to look a little (well, a lot!) silly. The material could be read by thousands, so a blooper in any information would get spotted straight away and reported! Believe me, if you’re not going to sell yourself, attract positive attention and gain a prominent reputation as a writer, if you don’t watch those mistakes (did you spot that one?), then you should look for a different avenue.