Introduction to APA Style
Most classes in psychology will require you to write your papers in APA style, which is a writing style described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (which was just released in its fifth edition). APA style describes rules for the preparation of manuscripts for writers and students in psychology. These rules cover areas such as the content and organization of a manuscript, writing style, references, and how to prepare a manuscript for publication. APA style breaks papers up into sections, which helps you to present information clearly and also allows readers to quickly find and process the information they need.
Who Uses APA Style?
APA style is also used in many other disciplines such as Sociology, Business, Economics, Nursing, Social Work, and Criminology. As a result, the Publication Manual is available at several libraries on the Purdue University campus (Consumer and Family Sciences Library; Engineering Library; Hicks Undergraduate Library; Humanities, Social Science, and Education Library; Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Services Library; and Psychological Sciences Library) either in the reference section or on reserve. The basic information that you will need to write your papers can be found in this manual. However, if your question is not addressed on this manual, if you are writing a complex document such as a thesis or lengthy manuscript, or if you have detailed questions, you should refer to http://www.apastyle.org.
Why Use APA Style?
Abiding by the rules of APA style makes it easier for others to understand your writing. Your reader will be able to find what they are looking for, follow your writing more easily, and your communication will be more clearly understood. If you go on to publish your writing, the tasks of editors and publishers are simplified when everyone uses the same format. Using APA style also provides you with a model for