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APA Style Guide

APA Overview

APA (American Psychological Association) Style is a set of guidelines for formatting your paper and citing the sources you use. Using APA Style can help you ensure your "ideas flow logically, sources are credited appropriately, and papers are organized predictably and consistently." 

This guide will introduce you to the basics of APA Style. If you have a question about anything covered in this guide, please contact a CSCC librarian. If you have a question about APA Style that is not covered in this guide, please consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association or your instructor. 

Four Reasons to Cite Your Sources

1. Giving credit where it is due is the right thing to do. 

2. Citing sources strengthens your position by showing you have consulted the experts.

3. Citations help interested readers find more information about your topic. 

4. Effective use of citations will help you avoid plagiarism. 

For more information on why we cite, please watch the video below. 

explanation of citation

Source: Oviatt Library

"Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, ideas, or images of another as your own; it denies authors or creators of content the credit they are due. Whether deliberate or unintentional, plagiarism violates ethical standards in scholarship" (APA, 2020, p. 254).


Plagiarism at CSCC
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.  Students involved in academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class.  In addition to other disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular institutional procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an “F” or a zero for the exercise or examination, or to assign an “F” in the course. Cleveland State Policy 2:06:00:00

Plagiarism: How To Avoid It

 

Source: APA Style Guide