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APA 7th Edition Guide

This guide provides an overview of the APA citation style and provides students with basic information to begin learning and applying this style in their academic writing.

Creating a Reference for eTextbooks and Course Materials

eTextbook Reference

References are composed of four elements:

Author. (Date). Title. Source.

Use the chart below to identify the pieces of information needed to create a reference for an e-textbook.

Note: Each element of the reference ends with a period except URLs or DOIs.

Format for an eTextbook Reference
Author. (Date). Title. Source
      Publisher Name

DOI or URL

Note: End reference with DOI
or URL (i.e. Vital Source). If
no DOI and from a library
database, end the reference
with the permalink.

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B.

OR

Editor, E. E. (Ed.).

(2020). Title of book.

Title of book (3rd ed.).
Publisher name.

https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxxxxx.xx

OR

https://www.wwwwww.www

OR

Permalink

Note. Adapted from Reference Examples, Textual Works, section 10.1 in the Publication Manual (7th ed.) (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 321).

Textbook
Reference In-Text Citation

Author Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial., & Author Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Year). E-textbook title: Subtitle (Number ed.). Publisher. https://URL

Grant, K. B., & Ray, J. A. (2018). Home, school, and community collaboration: Culturally responsive family engagement (4th ed.).  Sage. https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781506365725/cfi/6/2!/4/2/2@0:0

(Grant & Ray, 2018).

OR

Grant and Ray (2018) discuss...

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

eBook Reference

References are composed of four elements:

Author. (Date). Title. Source.

Use the chart below to identify the pieces of information needed to create a reference for an eBook.

Note: Each element of the reference ends with a period except URLs or DOIs.

Format for an eBook Reference
Author. (Date). Title. Source
      Publisher Name

DOI or URL

Note: End reference with DOI.
 If no DOI and from a library
database, end reference
with the permalink.

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B.

OR

Editor, E. E. (Ed.).

OR

Group Author.

(2020). Title of book.

Title of book (3rd ed.).
Publisher name.

https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxxxxx.xx

OR

Permalink

Book from the Online Library
Reference In-Text Citation

eBook

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Year). Book title: Subtitle. Publisher. http://URL OR Permalink

Lau, J. Y. F.  (2011). An introduction to critical thinking and creativity: Think more, think better. Wiley. https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/an-introduction-to/9780470195093/OEBPS/c01.htm

(Lau, 2011).

 

OR

 

Lau (2011) describes...

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Course Content Reference

References are composed of four elements:

Author. (Date). TitleSource.

Use the chart below to identify the pieces of information needed to create a reference for course content.

Note: Each element of the reference ends with a period except URLs.

Format for Course Content Reference
Author. (Date). Title. Source

Author, A. A.

OR

Rasmussen University.

(2020). Module xx: Title of lesson [Lesson content]. LMS Name.

(i.e., BlackBoard Ultra)

https://www.wwwwww.www

Note. Adapted from Reference Examples, Audiovisual Media Works, section 10.11 in the Publication Manual (7th ed.) (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 347).

Rasmussen University Online Course Content
Reference In-Text Citation

Rasmussen University. (Year). Module number: Title of lesson [Lesson content]. LMS Name. https://URL

Rasmussen University. (2021). Module 05: Management skills [Lesson content]. BlackBoard Ultra. https://learning.rasmussen.edu/ultra/course

(Rasmussen University, 2022).

OR

In module 05, the Rasmussen University (2022) lesson describes...

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Live Lecture Reference

References are composed of four elements:

Author. (Date). TitleSource.

Use the chart below to identify the pieces of information needed to create a reference for a course lecture.

Note: Each element of the reference ends with a period except URLs.

Format for Live Lecture Archive Reference
Author. (Date). Title. Source

Author, A. A.

(2022, Month Day). Module XX: Title of lecture [Lecture recording]. Institution Name.

https://www.wwwwww.www

Note. Adapted from Reference Examples, Audiovisual Media, section 10.11 in the Publication Manual (7th ed.) (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 342).

Online Lecture Archive
Reference In-Text Citation

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Year, Month Day). Module number: Title of lecture [Lecture recording]. Name of Institution. https://URL

DeStefano, T. E. (2021, July15). Module 02: Industrialized countries and its democracies [Lecture recording]. Rasmussen University. http://rasmussen.webex.com/rasmussen.ldr.php?RCID

(DeStefano, 2021).

OR

In the lecture, Professor DeStefano (2021), described...

NOTE: Citing information gathered while listening to a lecture as it is being delivered-- and is not recorded-- would be considered a "personal communication" because it would be unrecoverable.  Personal Communications are only cited in the text using this format:

Narrative Citation: ...A. Author (personal communication, Month Day, Year)...

Parenthetical citation: (A. Author, personal communication, Month Day, Year).

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Course PowerPoint Reference

References are composed of four elements:

Author. (Date). TitleSource.

Use the chart below to identify the pieces of information needed to create a reference for a PowerPoint presentation embedded in a course.

Note: Each element of the reference ends with a period except URLs.

Format for Course Content Reference
Author. (Date). Title. Source

Author, A. A.

OR

Rasmussen University.

(2020, Month Day).

OR

(n.d.).

Module xx: Title of lecture [PowerPoint slides]. LMS Name.

 

https://www.wwwwww.www

Note. Adapted from Reference Examples, Visual Works, section 10.14 in the Publication Manual (7th ed.) (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 347).

PowerPoint Slides Posted in Online Class
Reference In-Text Citation

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Year, Month Day). Module number: Title of PowerPoint presentation [PowerPoint slides]. LMS Name. https://URL

Schumar, J. F. (2021, August 10). Module 01: Introduction to the respiratory system [PowerPoint slides]. BlackBoard Ultra. https://learning.rasmussen.edu/ultra/course

(Schumar, 2021).

OR

In the PowerPoint slides, Schumar (2021) displayed...

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000