13 What is a Reference?

An APA reference is a way to list sources in APA style. It includes the author, date, title, and the source. A reference list appears on a separate page at the end of a paper and includes an alphabetized list of all sources cited. This helps readers find and check the sources used in your work.

Each reference includes key elements referred to as the Four W’s:

Author	Date	Title	Source Location
Who?	When?	What?	Where?

Asking these 4 questions helps identify the key elements needed for a reference list citation (there are five slides).

You’re not expected to memorize APA guidelines. Instead, use available resources (APA Quickguide and this tutorial) to help guide you. Over time you will become more comfortable with creating citations yourself.

Using APA resources to help create a reference citation is like using a recipe. The ingredients are the key pieces of information about a source (4Ws). If you’re missing an ingredient, leave it out or substitute it.

Following a recipe’s directions is like following a citation example. If you follow the directions and add the ingredients at the right point, then your recipe (i.e. your citation) will turn out!

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