Diction (Word Choice)

Diction refers to an author's word choice. The APA manual stresses the importance of proper word choice because your academic writing should be as precise as possible. Follow the word choice guidelines in these handouts to make sure you are communicating in a clear, precise manner.

How and When to Cite in a Paper

Citations have the same three elements regardless of source: author, publication year, and page or paragraph number. The page or paragraph number where you find information is required for all quotations but is optional for paraphrased information. Citations in your paper are necessary to provide credit to the proper sources; failure to cite properly could result in plagiarism Some good guidelines for citing your work are to cite anything that includes actual statistics or figures (i.e., "50% of the population believes..."). It is not necessary to cite common knowledge (i.e., you do not need to cite that the Earth is round). You will credit a source in each sentence that references material from a source

What is APA or APA Style?

What is APA Style? The American Psychological Association (APA) developed a set of standards that writers in the social sciences follow to create consistency throughout publications. These rules address: • Crediting sources • Document formatting • Writing style and organization APA's guidelines assist readers in recognizing a writer's ideas and information, rather than having to adjust to inconsistent formatting. In this way, APA allows writers to express themselves clearly and easily to readers. Most universities and colleges use APA, relying on the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. However, some undergraduate and master's students may use the 3rd edition of Robert Perrin's Pocket Guide to APA Style. Why APA Style? When you are writing as a student, you are entering into a new writing community just as you would need to learn the customs and rules of any new country you visit, you need to learn the customs and rules of academic writing. These guidelines will be different than guidelines for writing in other environments (such as letters to friends, e-mails to coworkers, or writing for blogs). The academic community has its own rules. These standards help writers: • Improve clarity • Avoid distracting the reader • Indicate sources for evidence • Provide uniform formatting To learn more about transitioning into academic writing, view " Remember that it’s your job as the author to engage your readers, and inconsistencies in formatting and citations distract the reader from the content of your writing. By using APA style, you allow your readers to focus on the ideas you are presenting, offering a familiar format to discuss your new ideas.

prewriting

Writing is a process, not an event. Taking the time to prepare for your writing will help make the writing process smooth and efficient. Follow these steps to ensure that your page does not stay blank for long.  All of prewriting resources should be used simultaneously—you will often find yourself switching back and forth between brainstorming, critical reading, organizing, and fighting off writer’s block as you begin a new assignment. - See more at: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/325.htm#sthash.rMk6mGWP.dpuf

Writing is a process, not an event. Taking the time to prepare for your writing will help make the writing process smooth and efficient. Follow these steps to ensure that your page does not stay blank for long.  All of prewriting resources should be used simultaneously—you will often find yourself switching back and forth between brainstorming, critical reading, organizing, and fighting off writer’s block as you begin a new assignment. - See more at: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/325.htm#sthash.rMk6mGWP.dpuf