APA/MLA writing style

[flacat22]

For recent college students....someone help me with this I just cant get it. It wasnt around when I made my first pass through college and now its the gold standard. Any help with helpful websites, books, etc would be appreciated.

[Will Lavender]

Diana Hacker's book A Writer's Reference is the handiest writing guide I've ever seen.

She also has a website. I think it's dianahacker.com, but I'm not sure how much information it has.

The New Century Handbook is another good MLA guide that I've used.

If you're using APA, I don't recommend The APA Handbook. Very difficult to use. Bulky. Antiquated. Pretty much sucks.

If you're using MLA (and really, even if you're using APA), you can give me a PM and I'll try to get back to you sometime tonight. This is, I'm sad to say, my one and only area of expertise. I actually get paid to work out MLA/APA problems. I'll help you any way I can if it's something that you don't need a reference book for.

[Buddah]

Most professors or all i have had, like MLA style.. they are several websites you can go to

[Will Lavender]

Here's a link to Purdue's famous Owl site.

Not sure how helpful this will be, but it's widely used.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html

[Will Lavender]

Buddah wrote: Most professors or all i have had, like APA style.. they are several websites you can go to
Depends on what kind of class you take. Humanities classes use MLA. Science classes use APA.

[flacat22]

Thanks guys, I turned the paper in today but with the previous papers I havent gotten any feedback from the professors as to whether or not I am using the APA format correctly. Guess Im missing the old composition classes cause I really get lost when I get to the reference page and Ive only used internet articles, etc. Maybe since I havent heard anything negative (including the grades) I can assume that Im doing it right...?

Will can I send you my latest paper and if you wouldnt mind can you tell me how bad Ive butchered the APA format (I got a 95, IM sure based on content alone)?

Here are a few sites Ive attempted to learn from:
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/apa/
http://www.apastyle.org/

[Buddah]

Will Lavender wrote: Buddah wrote: Most professors or all i have had, like APA style.. they are several websites you can go to
Depends on what kind of class you take. Humanities classes use MLA. Science classes use APA.



Do you forsee me taking science classes, will ? :P:dude: Phyiscal Sciences , not social sciences.

[Will Lavender]

Buddah wrote: Will Lavender wrote: Buddah wrote: Most professors or all i have had, like APA style.. they are several websites you can go to
Depends on what kind of class you take. Humanities classes use MLA. Science classes use APA.



Do you forsee me taking science classes, will ? :P:dude: Phyiscal Sciences , not social sciences.

I don't know. If you're anything like me, and I'm assuming you are, then you suck at anything that involves numbers or logic. :shock: I basically had to have my wife lead me like an idiot through basic chemistry in college.

Social sciences, BTW, use APA as well. I know that because I just now, three minutes ago, sent a paper for my Ph.D. to my faculty advisor in Oregon. It was in APA and had mostly to do with sociology. It was a monster. I thought I controlled the first part pretty well; I got a little Hunter Thompsonish on the second part, however.

For the record, I hate APA.

[Buddah]

yea, i am pretty horrible at physical science, and yes i terrible at anything involves numbers or logic, even simple things like using a gas pump;) but yea, i hear you there.

APA is used, but it has been rare for any professors that i have had to require APA, most require MLA, but a few would accept either... I got them mixed up initally ( dyslexia )

BTW: Good Luck on your PHD:thumbup

[bleedbluelady]

Okaaay, I'm willing to admit my ignorance along with my age. What in the heck are you all talking about? :?:?

[Littlemeyer]

bleedbluelady wrote: Okaaay, I'm willing to admit my ignorance along with my age. What in the heck are you all talking about? :?:?


APA and MLA are different formats to use when writing papers using outside sources. If you quote a few lines from a book or something, after the sentence or paragraph you'll indicate that with something like this...(Williams, 88)...where 'Williams' is the author, and 88 is the page number. At the end of the paper will be a 'works cited' page, where you'll list all the various books/articles/web pages, etc., that were used to compile your paper. The 'Williams' book will appear, with more information, such as publisher, date, and so forth. The format that will appear in is the "MLA" or the "APA" that they are referring to.

WOW, I haven't had an English class in a long time. Thats a horrible description, but maybe it will help a little!?!

And I could be completely wrong too....HELP Mr. Lavender!

[Buddah]

bleedbluelady wrote:
Okaaay, I'm willing to admit my ignorance along with my age.Â* What in the heck are you all talking about? :?:?

:dude: guidelines that professors require when your writing research papers or any type of formal paper in college/higher academia.

i won't go into the differences, but that's what it is in a nut shell. it can be a huge pain in the a## sometimes. If you don't quote your sources on both your works cited page and in the body of your paper, i have known of people who have went before the honor court and accused of plargism for such things, even if they cited the source in the body of their paper. It's serious stuff..

[flacat22]

Will gave me some great pointers and offered several resources where I can learn the systems better for my next paper. Thanks Will, I truly appreciate the advice!!!!:thumbup