The task of learning and applying proper APA style is not an easy task. The difficulty students have when learning APA has been noted by numerous educators. According to Ault (1991), “Writing APA-style journal articles or research reports is a complicated task for undergraduates because they are creating and organizing the prose while trying to follow format conventions” (p. 45). Students are trying to apply the knowledge of how to write the text of a research paper in addition to following the citation format; many times this causes errors in both the text and citations of the paper. Franz and Spitzer (2006) note “students often express frustration with formatting a manuscript according to predetermined guidelines, which can become the focus …show more content…
Better understanding comes from better technique. Direct instruction in APA along with resource and practice seem to be most impactful. Luttrell, Bufkin, Eastman and Miller (2010) have proved it by implementing workshop in scientific writing helped students gain efficiency with APA Style. It will give significant effect in student writing. The ability to write is clearly one method by which students can demonstrate habits of mind and critical thinking skills (Lawrence, Serdikoff, Zinn, & Baker, 2008). Writing ability can serve as an index of other cognitive functions, so it should be no surprise that writing ability may serve as a proxy measure for thinking like a psychologist or measuring a psychological ‘habit of mind’. For example, Furnham (2010) concluded on the basis of a series of studies that proofreading for errors and omissions is positively correlated with verbal reasoning; specifically, the measures of general knowledge and vocabulary within the framework of crystallized intelligence.
Common APA Citation Errors.
As stated by the authors of APA (2010), “Incorrect grammar and careless construction of sentences distract the reader, introduce ambiguity and generally communication” (p. 77). From that, it is important for students to write with discipline by avoid APA errors. To deliver quality manuscript, grammatical errors, APA Style errors and citation errors are the most common error committed by authors. It can be seen from recent studied by Onwuegbuzie (2017) and Mandernach, Zafonte and Taylor (2016).
Student’s
APA (American Psychological Association) style is primarily used in the social science disciplines. It is formatted like MLA, and shows many similarities, but is unique in several key points.
...Academic Writing. Ed. Gerald Graff. 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print.
MLA, in which this essay has been written, is most commonly used in the study of literature and humanities. This is because of a variety of factors within the format that allow the author to display their information in a fashion that seamlessly flows. APA, unlike MLA, labels when the topic or subject
Several people have trouble writing college level essays and believe that they are unable to improve their writing skills. In “the Inspired Writer vs. The Real Writer,” Sarah Allen argues how no one is born naturally good at writing. Sarah Allen also states how even professional writers have trouble with the task of writing. Others, such as Lennie Irvin, agree. In Irvin’s article “What is ‘Academic’ Writing?” states how there are misconceptions about writing. Furthermore, Mike Bunn’s article “How to Read Like a Writer” shows ways on how one can improve their writing skills. Allen, Bunn, and Irvin are correct to say how no one is born naturally good writers. Now that we know this, we should find ways to help improve our writing skills, and
I now understand how to format a paper and the importance of an outline. English 111 has helped me see the difference in the quality of papers I wrote in high school compared to the quality paper expected in college. When writing my Argumentative Essay I put much more effort into my outline than I did for any other paper in this class. Writing an outline improved my paper in ways I did not take advantage of on earlier assignments. Before this class I never spent time on an outline and considered outlines a waste of time. I now see how helpful an outline can be and plan to use one for papers going forward. The skill area I most improved on from our midterm project has been citations. I have utilized the “Cite It” link from the James Library for MLA style on both of my final papers for this class. The guide provided through the James Library gave many examples which helped me visually see the difference in what was expected. By using this resource I not only improved on MLA format for our class, but also improved upon the APA format for my Sociology
All I had ever known was MLA so it was quite a shock when I found out I would have to learn how to cite in APA. The first thing I did when I found out how we were going to cite our papers was go to Easybib to have the website to it for me. Turns out Easybib wants you to pay them if you want your sources cited in APA format. Once I found that out I scoured the web to find a website that could do it for me. I could not find a dependable site anywhere so I had to go look in the english book on how to cite. When I got to the section on citing sources in my book I realized that this is where I should have went right from the start. The book had every type of citation you would ever have to use. But even after I found out how to properly cite my sources, it was still another question for me
llowing APA format and style. Correct the citations as needed to also follow APA guidelines.
When I was first accepted into the AP Language & Composition course, I felt overwhelmed. I had always received above average grades in all subject areas, but because this was an AP course I was unsure if my English skills were up to par. During the summer, my anxiety about the course increased. I began to feel that my writing skills were inferior to the skills of my peers’. Before this course, I did not have a developed writing voice or style. I had little knowledge of what phrases or words to avoid using in writing. I started to wonder if I truly belonged in an AP course. After having completed this course, I have a better grasp of the English language and have acquired skills that have improved my writing.
In any AP class, writing is at the very core. Expressing ideas in a clear and concise way is vital in the real world. AP Language, for example, requires students to read a passage and write in a limited amount of time. Usually, students are required to form an analysis based on the rhetorical appeals written by the author. A 9 on a timed writing is a coveted honor that is earned through beautiful writing.
English 1302 has presented the tools to learn new skills that will be beneficial in upcoming English courses I will be taking. The first of these is learning how to write in APA format. Until taking this course, I had only been taught how to write a
Grammar and punctuation is another importance in academic writing. Having inappropriate punctuation, grammar and spelling will cause other staff nurses to have a difficult time to analyse your notes and documents. Proper punc...
APA formatting is a type of format in which factual information is provided in an easy to follow, credible, universally known research paper. This format is one of the most used research paper formats in applied sciences, nursing, business, and social sciences. APA format it also very similar to other commonly used formats, however slightly different, while providing similar challenges to others.
More research and instruction in the basic information arena is needed in this area. If there was a reliable printed book pertaining to APA formatting that I could purchase would assist me as I continue to wade through this
Writing is an important part of everyone’s life, whether we use it in school, in the workplace, as a hobby or in personal communication. It is important to have this skill because it helps us as writers to express feelings and thoughts to other people in a reasonably permanent form. Formal writing forms like essays, research papers, and articles stimulates critically thinking. This helps the writer to learn how to interpret the world around him/her in a meaningful way. In college, professors motivate students to write in a formal, coherent manner, without losing their own voice in the process. Improving your writing skills is important, in every English class that’s the main teaching point; to help students improve their writing skills. Throughout my college experience I have acknowledge that
During the course of this semester; the variety of writing styles and essays assigned to me in my communication skills class encouraged the development of my writing skills, as well as provided me with more self-assurance in my abilities. My writing, research, and presentation abilities enhanced through practice, determination, and the understanding I gained during this course. With every single writing assignment, I learned new innovative approaches and skills, which enhanced my abilities to improve my thoughts logically, enabling me to write more clearly, and to organize my papers more effectively. At the beginning of this semester; despite the fact that I already knew the terminology MAP: message, audience, purpose; I never really understood the significance of MAP. For this reason, my writing lacked clarity, organization, and my writings appeared less focused on the topics. As a result my research papers and essays did not flow as smoothly from one passage to the next. Furthermore, I was unaccustomed with the precise procedures used when writing an essay. For instance, my previous classes before college, although requiring a reference page, did not require me to include proper citations in my writings. After evaluating the quality of my writing toward the end of the semester, I recognized vast improvements in several areas of my writing. By concentrating on the beginning stages of my writings, I could distinguish ahead of time my audience and my message. As a result, my essays are clear, and I remain on topic. In addition to that using transition phrases efficiently also helps my writing to flow smoothly. The proper use of transitions makes my writings easy to follow from one topic to the next. I also learned that pre-writing...