MLA Citation Format

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Jayalaxmi — No Comments ↓

One of the most important parts of writing a research paper is the documenting of the resources used. Accurate documentation is necessary to avoid any question of plagiarism. The vehicles for providing this documentation are the use of in-text citations (or parenthetical references) at the point in the paper where the information is presented and the creation of a works cited page at the end of the paper listing all of the resources used in the paper.

In-Text Citations

Must match the author or title words of the corresponding entry in the works cited list.
Should identify the location of the borrowed information within the source, i.e. page or paragraph numbers, if available. If no page or paragraph numbers are provided, as in many electronic documents, do not include a parenthetical reference (see example under If the source does not have page numbers…).

Placement of parenthetical reference

Put the citation where a pause would naturally occur (preferably at the end of a sentence), as near as possible to the material documented.
If using the author‟s name in the sentence, put only the page or paragraph number in the parentheses.

In-Text Citation Examples

Citing an entire work but not quoting any particular words – include the name of the person being referenced in the text; all other info is in the works cited entry.

Gilbert and Gubar broke new ground on the subject.

But Anthony Hunt has offered another view.

Citing the work of a single author – include the author’s last name and the page number(s) in the parentheses, no punctuation between them.

Loneliness is inversely related to communication competence.

If the author’s name is used in the text – no need to repeat it in the parentheses

Brian Taves suggests some interesting conclusions regarding the philosophy and politics of the adventure film.

If the source does not have page numbers, such as an electronic resource – include paragraph number(s) with the appropriate abbreviation (par. or pars.) if the paragraphs are numbered and put a comma after the author‟s name. Do not count paragraphs yourself if your source lacks numbering; cite it as an entire work.

“The debut of Julius Caesar proclaimed Shakespeare‟s Globe a theater of courage and ideas” . [Author, numbered paragraph]

According to Sohmer, “The debut of Julius Caesar proclaimed Shakespeare‟s Globe a theater of courage and ideas”. [Author is already in sentence, only numbered paragraph in parentheses]

According to Sohmer “The debut of Julius Caesar proclaimed Shakespeare‟s Globe a theater of courage and ideas.”
[There are no parentheses if there are no page numbers or no numbered paragraphs, as in many electronic documents]

If there are 2 or 3 authors – use “and” not “&”
(Gilbert and Gubar) or (Rabkin, Greenberg, and Olander) or (Smith and Jones)

If there are more than 3 authors – You may follow the method for 3 authors if you want to list them all or you may use the first author and add et al. (No punctuation between author and et al.)

(Rabkin, Greenberg, Smith, Jones, and Olander) or (Rabkin et al.)

If there is no author – use the full title (if brief) or a shortened version of the title that corresponds with the entry in the works cited list. Use quotation marks to signify that it is a title.

A recent editorial called Ralph Ellison “a writer of universal reach” (“Death”). [Shortened title, no numbered paragraphs]

A recent editorial called Ralph Ellison “a writer of universal reach” (“Death of a Writer,”). [Full title, numbered paragraphs]

Citing a work by a corporate author – use the corporate name or a shortened form if the name is long; if there are similar entries in the works cited list use as much of the title as will make the source known to the reader.

(Public Agenda Foundation) or (Natl. Research Council) or (United Nations) or
(United Nations. Economic Commission for Africa) if there are other UN Commissions cited.

Citing a Legal Source – use the abbreviation or title in text that you use in the works cited.

Oliver Brown challenged the Topeka Board of Education on this (Brown v. Board of Educ.).

If quoting a phrase – put the citation after the quotation marks.

Winters‟s mumbling performs a “labor of disarticulation” (Litvak ).

In the late Renaissance, Machiavelli contended that human beings were by nature “ungrateful” and “mutable”, and Montaigne thought them “miserable and puny”.

If the quote constitutes fewer than 5 lines in your paper – set it off with quotation marks and incorporate it into the text of the paper, as with the shorter phrase, with the reference following.

If the quote exceeds 4 lines in your paper – omit the quotation marks and indent the quote one inch from your left-hand margin. Put the parenthetical reference immediately after the quote.

Tagged with: In-Text Citation, MLA Citation, MLA Citation Format, MLA Format, MLA Style, Modern Language Association, parenthetical reference
Posted in MLA Format, MLA Style, Writing

Writing an Empirical Paper in APA Style

Posted on May 9, 2013 by eonadmin — No Comments ↓

A lab report is a writeup of an experiment and has the same components as a published research study.

Using APA Style

Manuscripts submitted for publication in American Psychological Association (APA) journals must use APA style, as described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, commonly referred to as the “APA Manual”. Many instructors relax these formatting requirements for writing assignments, but most require students to at least cite references in APA format.

Organization of APA-Style Papers

Lab reports have eight sections

Title Page
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
References
Tables and Figures

General Requirements

Spacing: Double-space all text

Margins: APA specifies 1-inch margins all around (top, bottom, left, right).

Pagination: Use your word processor’s header function to put page numbers in the upper-right-hand corner one inch from the right-hand edge of the page. Start with the title page and go all the way through. Figures placed at the end of the lab report are not numbered.

Running Header: Also often used only in formal APA style, this is a short descriptive title that appears at the top of every page in the published journal. In a manuscript, it appears on every page (including the title page), flush left, in uppercase letters, on the same line as the page number.

Headings: Headings are the titles of each of the sections of the research report. Center headings of all major sections, using upper and lower case (Abstract, Method, etc.). The heading for the introduction is the title of the paper, not the word “Introduction”. Headings for subsections (subheadings) of the paper are bolded and flush with the left margin, with text beginning on the next line. Subheadings are used mainly in the methods section. For descriptions of how to do further subdivisions, see the APA Manual.

Tables and Figures: For student papers, either place these at the end of the paper (formal APA style) or incorporate them into the text; ask your instructor.

How To Proceed

The hypotheses, methods and results are the easiest to write because they are the most concrete, so you may want to write these first. The introduction and discussion are often written next. The title and abstract usually come last.
Make sure that all the sections are well integrated. Start by finding your hypotheses in the introduction and making sure that they are clearly stated. Then see whether each hypothesis is addressed, usually in the same order, in the Results and Discussion.
Pay attention to scientific terminology. Scientific reports don’t sound like essays or news stories. They are more condensed and use more precise language. For example, we cannot “prove” theories in science (we give supporting evidence or fail to find such evidence). Similarly, avoid adverbs (e.g., “really”, “very”, “surprisingly”); they are not quantitative and therefore add no information. See also our handout, Style Points for Scientific Writing.
Check tables and figures (graphs) for accuracy and captions for specificity.
Check for spelling and typographical errors. Don’t rely only on spell checkers; they often miss errors (e.g., affect/effect, its/it’s).
Proofread. Ask at least one other person to read what you have written; they will catch things that you miss.

Tagged with: American Psychological Association, APA format, APA Manual, APA Style, captions, Empirical Paper, Manuscripts, Proofread, proofreading, running header, Scientific report, Scientific Writing, spell checker, typographical errors, writing
Posted in Writing

Basic facts of APA writing style

Posted on May 3, 2013 by eonadmin — No Comments ↓

Always double space, including the text of your paper, quotations, notes, and the reference page.
Leave margins of at least one-inch at the top, bottom, right, and left of every page.
Use parenthetical citations to acknowledge direct quotations, indirect quotations, and/or any ideas you have borrowed from another person.
Use a reference page for reference to parenthetical citations.
Within the text of your paper, underline titles of books, plays, pamphlets, periodicals, films, television programs, and recordings; place in quotation marks titles of articles, essays in anthologies, book chapters, and lectures.
Number pages in the upper right hand corner. Include a running head.

Tagged with: APA, APA writing style, reference page, writing style
Posted in Writing

Guidelines to format a manuscript

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Jayalaxmi — No Comments ↓

If you submit manuscripts to publishers or agents, you have probably come across the demand that you use “standard manuscript format” (or “SMF”) for your submissions. However, it isn’t always spelled out what this actually means. Generally speaking, the term indicates that you should format your document with the following guidelines in mind:

Type your document, don’t write it.
Use a single, clear font, 12 point size. The best to use is Courier or Courier New. At the very least, ensure you use a 12 point, serif font and not something like Arial.
Use clear black text on a white background.
If you are printing out your submission (rather than submitting it electronically), use good quality plain white paper and print on only one side of each sheet.
Include your name and contact information at the top left of the first page. Put an accurate word count at the top right. Put the title half-way down the page, centred, with “by Your Name” underneath. Start the story beneath that.
If you write under a pseudonym, put that beneath the title but your real name in the top left of the first page.
Put your name, story title and the page number as a right-justified header on every subsequent page, in the format Name/Title/Page Number. Generally, you can also just use a key word from your title and not repeat the whole thing on each page.
Left-justify your paragraphs. Right margins should be “ragged”.
Ensure there is at least a 1 inch (2 centimetre) margin all the way around your text. This is to allow annotation to be written onto a printed copy.
Use double spacing for all your text.
Don’t insert extra lines between your paragraphs.
Indent the first line of each paragraph by about 1/2 inch (1 centimetre).
If you want to indicate a blank line, place a blank line, then a line with the # character in the middle of it, then another blank line.
Don’t use bold or italic fonts or any other unusual formatting. To emphasise a piece of text you should underline it.
Put the word “End” after your text, centred on its own line.
If you are submitting on paper, don’t staple your pages together. Package them up well so that they won’t get damaged and send them off.

It’s always worth checking the exact requirements of any market you submit to, but if they don’t specify any formatting requirements, or just say “standard manuscript format”, follow these guidelines. This will make a good impression and help mark you out as a serious, professional writer.

Tagged with: format a manuscript, formatting guidelines, formatting service, professional writer, Right margins, standard manuscript format
Posted in Formatting, Manuscript format

Tips for editing a manuscript efficiently

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Jayalaxmi — No Comments ↓

Editing manuscript needs careful study and critical assessment. Editing can be done on a number of levels as described below.

Subject matter

Ensure that everything that the assignment needs has been completed.
Ensure that all the claims made in the paper are accurate.
Ensure that all the claims are consistent and are supported with sufficient proof.
Clarify whether the paper is presenting an argument. If yes, then ensure that the argument is complete.
Ensure that all the data and information provided in the paper is significant to the assignment and/or writing objective.

General Structure

The paper should have a suitable introduction and conclusion.
The thesis should be evidently stated in the introduction section.
Each and every paragraph of the paper should be associated to the thesis.
Ensure that the paragraphs are arranged in a consistent order with a smooth flow between them.
In order to check the overall structure of the paper, an outline of the paper can be made after finishing the first draft.

Paragraph Organisation

Each paragraph should have a clear and concise topic sentence.
Ensure that every paragraph provides adequate details about the concerned topic.
Check that there are no irrelevant or misplaced sentences in any of the paragraphs.

Clarity

Define and give adequate details about any important term that might seem unclear to the readers.
Ensure that the meaning of each sentence is clear and understandable.
Check and ensure that each and every pronoun (he/she, it/they, who/which, this/that, etc.) is clear to what it refers to.
Choose the correct/appropriate words and phrases to convey your ideas.
Avoid using difficult and complex words that aren’t part of your normal vocabulary since they may be misused, thereby destroying the sentence meaning.

Style and Method

Check and ensure that the tone (formal/informal/persuasive) used is apt and proper.
Vary the length and structure of the sentences in the paper.
Avoid the overuse of passive voice in the paper.
Avoid the use of superfluous words and phrases, such as ‘there is’, ‘there are’, ‘due to the fact that’, etc.

Citations

Quotes, paraphrases, facts and information taken from different sources should be cited appropriately.
Ensure that the citations are in the proper format.

By following the above given tips on editing manuscript, you can learn to make considerable modifications and corrections in the subject-matter and wording of your paper. Tips on editing manuscript provide the basic guidelines and strategies to identify the patterns of error and correcting them effectively. After identifying the patterns of error, one can develop methods for spotting and correcting further occurrences of that pattern.

Tagged with: Citations, Clarity, developmental editing, General Structure, Paragraph Organisation, proofreading, structural editing, Style and Method, Subject matter, writing
Posted in Editing

MLA Citation Format

Writing an Empirical Paper in APA Style

Basic facts of APA writing style

Guidelines to format a manuscript

Tips for editing a manuscript efficiently

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