[toc]
mastering reference lists a concise guide
Concise Guide to APA Style: 7th Edition (OFFICIAL)
Page 248 Review
Understanding Reference Lists: A Detailed Commentary
This excerpt delves into the intricacies of constructing reference lists, crucial for academic integrity and clarity.
It provides guidelines on formatting book and report references, handling multi-volume works, and incorporating bracketed descriptions for non-traditional sources.
Let’s dissect these elements for a deeper understanding.
Formatting Book and Report References
The initial focus is on the proper formatting of book and report references.
The passage emphasizes the importance of including additional information within parentheses after the title for identification and retrieval.
As stated, “For book and report references, enclose in parentheses after the title any additional information given in the publication for its identification and retrieval (e.g., edition, report number, volume number).” This information, however, should not be italicized.
For example, “Nursing: A concept-based approach to learning (2nd ed., Vol. 1).” The example clearly demonstrates the placement and formatting of edition and volume numbers.
Separating edition and volume information with a comma is also highlighted: “If both edition and volume information are included, separate them with a comma, placing the edition number first.”
Handling Multi-Volume Works
The text addresses the complexities of citing multi-volume works.
The distinction between a numbered volume with its own title and a general multi-volume work is crucial. “If a numbered volume has its own title, the volume number and title are included as part of the main title, rather than in parentheses.” This ensures accurate representation of the specific work being cited within the larger collection.
The text explicitly refers to Chapter 10, Examples 30 and 45 for concrete demonstrations of this rule.
Series and Multi-volume Works
The excerpt also addresses the inclusion of series titles.
For books that are part of a multi-volume work, the series title should be included: “For a book that is part of a multivolume work, such as a handbook comprising three volumes, include the series title in the reference list entry.”, again referring to Chapter 10, Example 30 for more illustrations.
However, for popular book series like Harry Potter, the series title is generally omitted: “When a book is part of a series of conceptually related but separate works (e.g., popular book series such as Harry Potter or the Chronicles of Narnia), include only the book title, not the series title, in the reference.” The rationale behind this is to avoid potential confusion, given the varying degrees of prominence of the series name.
Bracketed Descriptions: Identifying Non-Traditional Sources
A significant portion of the excerpt focuses on the use of bracketed descriptions.
These descriptions are employed to identify works that fall outside the realm of traditional peer-reviewed academic literature.
The passage explicitly states: “To help identify works outside the peer-reviewed academic literature (i.e., works other than articles, books, reports, etc.), provide a description of the work in square brackets after the title before the period.” The purpose is to aid readers in identifying and retrieving the work.
Examples provided include audiobooks, gray literature (press releases), audiovisual works (films, YouTube videos, photographs), software and mobile apps, data sets, manuscripts in preparation, and dissertations and theses.
The passage provides a clear instruction: “The description aids readers in identifying and retrieving the work.” The examples listed are diverse: “Examples of works that include bracketed descriptions are some audiobooks, gray literature (e.g., press releases), audiovisual works (e.g., films, YouTube videos, photographs), software and mobile apps, data sets, manuscripts in preparation, and dissertations and theses.” This broad categorization underscores the importance of identifying the source type for less conventional materials.
Punctuation and Final Touches
The passage also briefly touches upon punctuation rules for titles. “Finish the title element with a period.
However, if the title ends with a question mark or exclamation point, that punctuation mark replaces the period.” This simple rule ensures consistency and clarity in the reference list.
In-Text Citations
The text provides cross-references for the format of titles in text, refering to Section 5.7: “See Section 5.7 for how to format titles that appear in the text.”
Conclusion
In essence, this excerpt provides a concise guide to creating accurate and informative reference lists.
By adhering to these guidelines, researchers and writers can ensure that their sources are properly credited and easily accessible to readers.
The emphasis on bracketed descriptions, in particular, highlights the importance of acknowledging the diverse range of sources used in contemporary research and writing.
The detailed instructions and examples make this a valuable resource for anyone seeking to master the art of citation.
Buy full ebook for only $18: https://www.lulu.com/shop/american-psychological-association/concise-guide-to-apa-style-7th-edition-official/ebook/product-rmzpq54.html?page=1&pageSize=4
Mastering Reference Lists A Concise Guide
Read more: Creating Effective Figures: A Guide to Visual Data