asa format example essay

Guide to ASA Format and ASA Citation

In the realm of sociology, the ASA format, also known as manuscript format, holds significant sway. For sociology students, having a grasp of ASA citation, often provided by seasoned essay writers, is invaluable. So, let's first delve into the ASA definition to understand its importance better.

What Is ASA

ASA is a citation style used in the field of sociology. ASA, as an abbreviation, stands for the “American Sociological Association”. ASA format citation is mostly used by scholars, academics, and students of sociology in their manuscripts or articles that they submit to the sociology department or field of sociology overall. If the ASA citation format is not used correctly, it might put the work in the position of being discredited or, perhaps, it might lead to its acknowledgements being postponed along with its writer’s career development.

While using ASA citation format, it is necessary to pay close attention to the certain parts of the paper the format affects, such as the title page, abstract, heading format, in-text citations, reference list, and its formatting specifics.

ASA citation style bears a close resemblance to the widely used APA style. The biggest similarity is that both styles use parenthetical references. These appear at the end of the paper in the “References” section. MLA style papers, for instance, call that section “Works Cited” and format it in a different way. Another noticeable feature of the ASA citation format is its emphasis on the date. It always follows the author’s name.

If you are a student of computer science, you should definitely know what the IEEE format is.

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Basics of ASA Citation

There are a few general formatting requirements from the ASA Style Guide that need to be applied when using the ASA citation format.

ASA Title Page

The title page is the first thing one sees when picking up a paper. It is your job to make it look sharp and to create it in accordance with all of the rules so that it looks presentable and professional.

The ASA citation format title page usually contains the following information:

• ASA header, which is also the full title of the work
• Names and institutions of the writers
• A total word count
• Address of the author, or one who receives communication and feedback regarding the work
• Credits or acknowledgments of all contributors or sponsors
• Grants/funding of the research or the paper

ASA Abstract

The abstract appears on a separate page between the title page and the beginning of the essay. It usually contains about 150-200 words. If an abstract page is included, it often lists several keywords that help identify the essay’s main points of study.

Subheadings

The ASA citation format uses subheadings to organize body paragraphs. They do not serve to simply name the paragraphs of the document; using “Introduction” in a subheading wouldn’t be a great choice.

There are three levels of subheadings. Subheadings in ASA formatting are always left-aligned and are never written in the bold letters. Note that the editing style of the following subheadings correspond with the way they should appear in the text:

• FIRST-LEVEL SUBHEADING
• Letters in caps signify the first-level subheading
• Do not use bold font
• Do not begin with a heading such as Introduction
• Second-Level Subheading
• Title case (the first letter of each word is capitalized except for articles and prepositions)
• Third-level subheading
• Only first word is capitalized
• Should be followed by a period
• Should be indented in the beginning of the paragraph

General ASA Citation Rules

There are a few simple rules when it comes to the ASA writing style:

• This type of work avoids using the first-person, unless instructed otherwise.
• Since the paper will be heavily referenced, it is best to avoid giving opinions—unless the essay is argumentative.
• The writing must be straightforward and written in the active voice. Jargon, common expressions, slang, and superlatives are always best avoided.
• Words like ”percent” and “verses” are always spelled and not abbreviated, unless they appear as data in tables or graphs.
• Gendered terms are only used if they are crucial in the specific analysis. Otherwise, avoid using references such as “mankind” and instead use non-gendered terms such as “humanity” or “the global population”, etc.
• Racial and ethnic stereotyping is another thing to be cautious of. Be specific when describing a race or ethnicity. Use Japanese instead of Asian; Mexican instead of Latino.
• If the text requires acronym usage, provide the full name with the acronym in parentheses. After this, you can stick to the acronym: (first time) Based on a report conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)... (later in the text) The CIA report concludes…

ASA In-Text Citations

How and when to use in-text citations.

The ASA citation format is similar to APA when it comes to in-text citations and they are used when presenting information from any source. The general rule for American Sociological Association citations is to state the last name of the author and the initial publishing date of the referenced material. Here are some in-text citation examples:

• If the author's name is in the sentence, simply include the year:

ASA in text citation example: When Vasari (1550) studied the renaissance painters…

• If not - put the author’s last name inside the parentheses:

ASA in text citation example: When the renaissance painters were studied (Vasari 1550)...

• When citing reprinted work with several publish dates, list the first date and then the most recent one, separated with a slash.

ASA in text citation example: (Reed and Christgau 1978/2013)

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ASA Citation for Multiple Authors

Below are a few examples of using ASA in-text citations for multiple authors.

• For two, write both their surnames, followed by the year of publication.

ASA citation example:

(Bockris and Malanga 2003)

• For three or more, include all last names in the first citation. In later citations, include the first name and ‘et al.’ along with the year of publication.

ASA citation example: (Breton, Magritte, and Dali 1961) — first citation (Breton et al. 1961) — later citations

• If the work does not provide the writer’s name, give enough information to find the work in the reference list.

ASA citation example: (U.S. Department of Justice 1977:82)

• For multiple citations, separate the references with a semicolon and place them sequentially.

ASA citation example: (Rutt 1950; Smith 1952) (Kenway et al. 1934; Stewart 1981)

• For a citation of reprinted work that had been published earlier and was released again, include both years of publication. First the earliest, followed by a slash and the later year.

ASA citation example: (Smith and Greyjoy 1995/2019)

• For unpublished work that is to be published soon, use forthcoming in lieu of a date. If the date has not been determined, use n.d.

ASA citation example: Cramer (n.d.) conducted research on interracial relationships of the twentieth century.

Citing Quotes

Short quotations in the body of the text should have quotation marks. Quotations of more than 40 words are called block quotations and should be offset from the rest of the text with a single space. When using block quotes in ASA citation format, omit quotation marks. The works are cited as usual, although besides the year of the publication, the page number should also be included. The year is separated from the pagination with a semicolon.

Example: In his studies, Newton (1704:21) discovered that…

ASA Reference Page

The ASA citation reference page should start with the word REFERENCES. All references are double-spaced and are placed using a hanging indent. Capitalize the first letter of everything except for prepositions, articles, and conjunctions—although you should capitalize them if they are in the beginning of the reference’s title or subtitle. References are listed in alphabetical order based on the authors’ last names.

• First and middle names are included for all authors unless they used initials in the publication.
• If the author repeats, still include their full name on all the references. In that case, arrange the work in chronological order from oldest to newest.
• If the same author is in both a single-authored reference as the first author and in a multi-authored reference, you should place single-authored references first.
• When you are including multiple works by the same author(s) from the same year, include letters after the year and list all of the references from one author alphabetically.
• Make sure to include all of the authors of the publications. You may not use et al in the REFERENCES section.

The ASA reference page looks similar to APA with a few deviations. Here is how to cite the most common types of references, like writers of our graduate paper writing service do:

How to Cite Books: Author [Last, First]. Year of Publication. Title (italicized). Place of Publishing: Publisher.

Example of an ASA reference: James, Henry. 2003. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Barns & Noble Books.

How to Cite E-Books: Author [Last, First]. Year of Publication. Title (italicized). Place of Publishing: Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year {link}.

Example of an ASA reference: James, Henry. 2003. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Penguin Books Kindle Version. Retrieved January 18, 2017. {link}

How to Cite a Journal Article: Author [Last, First]. Year of Publication. "Title (italicized).” Journal Name issue #: inclusive page numbers.

Example of an ASA reference: Feekins, Bo. 2008. “Chasing Tree Frogs.” National Geographic #182. 6-10

How to Cite a Magazine Article: Author [Last, First]. Year of Pub. "Title (italicized).” Magazine Name, Month Year, pp. Inclusive page numbers.

Example of an ASA reference: Geary, Rachel. 2012. “The Issue with Mastery Learning.” New York Times, April 2002. Pp. 15-23.

How to Cite a Web Page ASA Style: Author [Last, First]. Date of Publishing. Title. Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year {link}.

Example of an ASA reference: Lee, Bruce. 03.09.2004. Birth of a Nation. History.com. Retrieved 18.01.2017. {link}

Footnotes and Endnotes

Footnotes and endnotes come into play when you need to expand the text, add or explain information from the table, or cite materials with limited access.

Endnotes are more likely than footnotes to be used. It is better to choose whether you will be using endnotes or footnotes in your ASA format paper and then use one or the other consistently throughout the paper. Each entry should not exceed 100 words. They are usually placed at the bottom of the page that the reference is on.

Footnotes appear on the same page as the material being underlined or expanded upon. They should be numbered in the order they appear using Arabic numerals.

Endnotes are listed at the end of the paper after the ‘References’ section. Both footnotes and endnotes are numbered for the ASA citation. There must always be some harmony in how they are utilized.

For example: If you use footnotes to define difficult vocabulary in the text, do not do the same thing in endnotes. Avoid mixing them up to give the paper stronger continuity.

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Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use ASA Style Formatting in Your Essay

ASA Paper Example

Now that we have covered all of the details for ASA paper formatting, let’s look at an example to get some practical experience and a better understanding of ASA format citation from our economics essay writing service.

You can also read more about APA or other essay writing format in the article prepared by our experts. Rest assured that your essay is in good hands of coursework writing services .

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Is Chicago and ASA the Same?

Is asa and mla the same, is harvard and asa the same.

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ASA Citation Guide (6th Ed.)

• In-text Citations
• Reference List
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About These Examples

The links in this section of the guide provide examples of how to cite sources in a paper, both in-text and in a reference list.  

Sample Papers & Templates

The examples below demonstrate formatting requirements in accordance with ASA (6th ed.). 

Note:  Some course assignments may require separate formatting. If unsure, check with your instructor.

ASA Paper Template

The TriCollege Libraries' ASA Sample Paper (Word)  can be used as a paper template.  

Annotated Bibliography Example

Visit the Formatting section of this guide.

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ASA Style Guide

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Citation Management Tools

• RefWorks RefWorks "an online research management, writing and collaboration tool -- is designed to help researchers easily gather, manage, store and share all types of information, as well as generate citations and bibliographies."
• Zotero Zotero is a free, open-source research tool that helps you collect, organize, and analyze research and share it in a variety of ways.

In addition to creating citations, the format of the paper is also important. Consider the following and view examples on how to format title pages and the References page. Be sure to check with your Professor for specific formats. 

The title page should include the following:

• A running head (shortened title)
• The full title of the article
• The author(s) full name and institution (if more than one author, put on separate lines)
• The word count

Title Page Example

Running Head: Shortened Title

Full Title of the Article: Capitalize Subtitle After Colon

Author Full Name Institution

Word Count=1,234

NOTE: Speak with your Professor to confirm formatting of the title page; They may wish to use a different format. 

Reference Page

• The reference page should start on it's own page.
• References should be the title of the page. 
• The reference list should be double spaced. 
• References should be listed alphabetically by the first author's last name. 
• The first line of each citation should be flush with the margin and all consecutive lines should be indented. 

Reference Page Example

                                                                        References

Bender, Wolfgang. 1991. Sweet Mother . Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Golash-Boza, Tanya Maria. 2014. Race and Racisms: A Critical Approach . 1st ed. New York:         Oxford University Press.​

Nerburn, Kent. 2002. Neither Wolf, Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder. Novato,         ​California: New World Library.

Persell, Caroline, Kathryn M. Hodges Pfeiffer, and Ali Syed. 2008. "How Sociological Leaders Teach:         Some Key Principles." Teaching Sociology 36(2):         108-24. Doi: 10.1177/0092055X0803600202

Additional Formatting & Style Information

• In-text:  (ASA 2019)
• Reference list: ASA (American Soc..) 2018. The American Sociological Association... 
• Access dates for online resources do not need to be included in citation except when web content has no publish date or when an access date can help identify which version of a source the author consulted. 
• If no date can be found for a source, use n.d.  for the citation.
• Include the state abbreviation in a citation only if city is unclear. 
• Page numbers less than 100, use all digits. Example: (42-55).
• Page ranges starting with 100 or multiples of 100, use all digits. Example (100-108, 1300-1325).
• Page ranges such as 101-109 (201-209 etc), use changed part only. Examples: (202-5; 209-10).
• Page ranges such as 110-199 (210-299 etc) use 2 digits unless more are needed. Examples: (421-28; 596-628; 1151-59; 1394-414). 
• Use block quotes if the quote includes 50 words or more. Begin the quote as a separate, indented paragraph with NO quotation marks.
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ASA Citation Format - American Sociological Association

• Introduction to ASA Citation Format
• In-Text Citation Format
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American Sociological Association (ASA) Style Guide

The American Sociological Association published its first style guide in 1997 to formalize publication standards for sociological research and writing.  It is the authoritative reference for writing, submitting, editing, and copyediting manuscripts for ASA journals and other publications following ASA's unique format. 

In 2019, the ASA released the sixth edition of the style guide, which features guidelines for the most common situations encountered by authors and editors. New features include reference formatting and additional information on grammar, as well as expanded information on the use of electronic, digital, and social media sources ( ASA, 2019 ). 

The ASA Style Guide is published in print version only. However, they have put many of their general guidelines online. To access information on ASA citations, you may:

• Refer to the print copy we keep at King Library , available for use for two hours at a time from the first floor reserves desk;
• Use an online writing tutorial such as the one managed by Purdue's Online Writing Lab ; 
• Refer to the fundamentals on this subject guide, using the links on the left to navigate. 
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Citation Style Guide

Asa Citation Guide

Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023

ASA Citation & Format - A Complete Guide

By: John K.

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Sep 24, 2019

ASA citation format is specifically used by sociologists to credit other people’s ideas, work, and theories that have been used in the paper.

Like other  citation styles , ASA Citation also varies as it depends on the original source material.

ASA (American Sociological Association) is used by authors preparing manuscripts for various publications in ASA journals.

Like other style formats, ASA format citation varies depending on the original source material included in the paper.

Below is an ASA manual of style guide, 5th edition, to help the students who are instructed to follow the ASA style in their research paper.

On this Page

What is ASA Format & ASA Citation?

Students in the field of sociology need to collect and compile information from multiple sources. So they are required to add the information into their own articles or manuscripts that they want to submit.

Failing to properly cite the work not only will discredit the author but will also affect their grade.

Depending upon the material that is referenced in an article, the citation method may differ.

Although, the fact that there are citation machines and generators available to automate the process of citation.

We do not recommend you to use these online citation machines as they can badly affect your overall academic grades.

Manuscript Formatting

The manuscript formatting dictates the following things:

Add a new page that includes the manuscript’s title, names of the authors and the name of the institutions, a running head with a shortened title, title footnote, and a word count (it includes footnotes and references also).

Place an abstract on a new page, followed by the cover or title page.

No need to mention the author in the abstract.

The length of the abstract should be one paragraph long (around 200 words).

On the same page, add two to three words to help in identifying the main theme of the manuscript.

Text Formatting

It is important that all the text in the document be Arial Font, and the size should be 12-points.

The text should be double spaced or as specified by the instructor.

Margins for the paper should be 1 ¼ inch on all sides.

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The manuscript’s first page should begin from the title after that, add a new page followed by the title or cover page and abstract.

Subheadings

It is very important to include subheadings in the paper as they are a great way to organize the whole manuscript.

Usually, three levels of headings are sufficient.

First-level head

• Avoid using a bold font.
• Avoid starting the manuscript with a heading.
• The first-level heads are all in caps and should be left-justified.

Second-level head

• Left justify and italicize.
• Use title case.

Third-level head

• The head's first word should be in caps.

Endnotes and Footnotes

These are used in the paper to cite material that is not entirely available.

Endnotes are used frequently as compared to footnotes.

As a handy rule, use both throughout the text of the manuscript but do not mix them.

In the text, whichever is used, endnotes or footnotes, should be numbered with Arabic numerals.

Page Numbering

All the pages should be numbered (1, 2, 3...), beginning with the title page.

Tables and Figures

Mark all tables with consecutive numbers.

Mark all figures with consecutive numbers.

Include each table and figure on a new page or a separate section with a descriptive title where the manuscript ends.

ASA In-Text Citation

ASA in-text citations are inserted near the source and enclose the author name and the publication year in parenthesis.

Include full in-text citations when a paraphrase or quote is referred to in the paper from another source.

Citations in the text include the last name of the author followed by publication year.

When quoting the words of the author directly, or referring to a specific speech, include the page numbers in the citation.

If the author’s name is mentioned in the paper, then the name includes the year in parenthesis.

When Jellin (1959) studied…

When the name of the author is not mentioned in the text included in the paper, mention the last name of the author with a year of publication in parenthesis.

To assure the continuing viability (Gouldner 1963)...

Using Quotes

Quotations in the text are required to be placed in quotation marks.

For block quotes, there is no need to add quotation marks. Pagination to follow the publication year after a colon.

There should be no space between the color and the page number.

Multiple Authors

To join two authors, enclose their last names.

(Bailey and Martin 1965)

To join three authors, provide their last name in the first citation and first names with the subsequent citations, and it should end with et al. followed by the date.

For the first citation:

(Alex, Mark, and Jonas 1952)...

For the later citations:

(Alex et al. 1972)

When to add the four authors, provide the last name of the author and include et al.

(Gibson et al. 1972)

Author Name Not known

For the authorship, provide less identification required from the start to its complete reference.

(U.S. Census Bureau 1963:117)

Multiple Citations

Use semicolons to distinguish a reference series and either shows them chronologically or alphabetize.

(Burgess 1962; Marwell et al. 1951)

Cite a Reprinted Work

In case the work cited is rereleased, then include the earliest date followed by the recent date and separate them by a forward slash.

(Stark and Finke 2005/1992)

Citing Unpublished Work

For research papers that are not published yet, cite the scheduled date (if there is any). If the date is not mentioned then use N.d

Jonas (N.d.) elaborates on the effects of mutual understanding.

Reference Page Format

All the cited references should be listed.

Double-space all the references in the manuscript.

List down all the references alphabetically by keeping in mind the author's last name. Make proper use of hanging intentions.

Use 6 hyphens then a period to show in place of the name in case the authorship is repeated.

Include letters to differentiate the work by the same author (e.g. 1882a, 1882b, 1883c). After that, list down the references for the author and the publication year in alphabetical order. But, do not add social media posts to the References list.

For books use italics.

For periodic titles, use italics.

If the date is not mentioned, use “N.d.” in place of that. Add city and place name for the place of publication using the abbreviations of the US Postal Code. (Include the name of the country for foreign cities).

Different Reference Formats

Following are the commonly used ASA style citation formats.

Book - One Author

Invert the name of the author so that the last name appears first. The title of the book should be in caps as well as italicized.

Please remember that abbreviation is only required when you know the city name.

The word volume number will also be in caps and abbreviated. But not italicized.

Book Name is in italics.

Last, First Name of Author. Publication Year. Name of the Book. Location of Publisher. Name of City, State Abbreviation/Publisher’s Country Name, State and Province Postal Code: Publisher’s Name.

Book - Multiple Authors

If there are two or more authors, invert only the first.

Do not invert the name of the author after the name of the first author. Distinguish the name of authors with commas, include the word, and before the final name.

Last, First Name of Author and Author's First Last Name. Year.  Name of the Book . Name of the City, State Abb./Publisher's Country Name: Publisher's Name.

Electronic Book

Invert the author's name.

The book's title should be in italics.

Last. First Name of Author. Year.  Title of the Book . City Name, the Name of the State Abbreviation/Publisher Country: Name of Publisher. Date (URL).

Chapter In a Book

Put the title of a chapter in quotes.

Include Pp. and page numbers to specify from where the text is taken from the volume.

Title of the Book in italics.

Do not invert the name of the editors. Use their name initials instead of first and middle names.

Last, First Name of Author. Year. "Chapter Title." Pp. page numbers in  Book Title , edited by First. Middle Name Initial. Last Name. City, State Abbreviation/Publisher Country: Name of Publisher.

Multi-Volume Works

Invert the author’s name, so the last name appears first.

Make sure that the title is in italics.

Author's Last Name, First Name. Publication Year. Series Name. Vol. Number,  Volume Title . City, State Abb./Publisher Country: Name of Publisher.

 Journal

Make sure the title of the journal article is in italics.

It ends with the volume and issue number.

Last Name of the Author, First Name. Year. "Title."  Journal Title  Volume #(issue number): page numbers.

Magazine Article

Magazine name should be in italics.

Last, First Name of Author. Year. " Magazine Title. " Name of Magazine, Month Year, pp. page numbers.

NewsPaper Article

Invert the name of the author.

NewsPaper name should be in italics, and date should be in the format of Month space Day comma Year.

Last, First Name of Author. Year. " NewsPaper Title. " Name of the Newspaper, Date of Publication, p. or pp. Page numbers inclusive.

Internet Site

The date should be in the format of Month space Day comma Year.

Corporate Author's Last, First Name. Publication Date. "Site Title." Retrieved Date (URL).

Report Published Online

The report title should be in italics.

The retrieved date should be in the format of Month space Day comma Year.

Last, First Name of Author. Publication Date. Report Title . Sponsoring Organization (if there is any). Sponsoring Organization Location: Name of the Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year (URL).

Please note that fonts, citations, formatting, and punctuation are all important. Make sure the italics are in the right place and correct use of commas and periods throughout the headed references.

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ASA Format Example

Here is a detailed sample of the ASA format to help you understand the whole process even better.

ASA FORMAT SAMPLE

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is asa citation the same as apa.

No, though they both look similar in many ways, they are entirely different from each other. Both of them are used for different fields and include different details in their citations.

What does ASA stand for in citations?

ASA style is introduced by the American Sociological Association, and it is used for citing and referencing in sociological; papers.

Do I have to cite every sentence in ASA?

If you are using multiple sources, then yes, you will have to cite them every time you refer to them.

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John K. is a professional writer and author with many publications to his name. He has a Ph.D. in the field of management sciences, making him an expert on the subject matter. John is highly sought after for his insights and knowledge, and he regularly delivers keynote speeches and conducts workshops on various topics related to writing and publishing. He is also a regular contributor to various online publications.

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ASA Style and Format

Who uses asa.

• In-Text Citations

Subject Guide

The American Sociological Association (ASA) Style Guide is used primarily by scholars submitting articles to ASA journals, as well as sociology students writing research papers, theses, and dissertations.

This guide will help you format your manuscript and form proper citations. For detailed information about elements of style, including punctuation, biased language, and word usage and spelling, consult the most recent edition of the Style Guide.

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• Subjects: Sociology
• Tags: american sociological association , citations , formatting , style guides

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ASA Style Guide, 5th Edition: ASA Style Guide

• ASA Style Guide
• Reference format

Introduction

SOCIOLOGY: ASA Style Guide 5th edition  

The American Sociological Association Style Guide is intended for authors who are preparing manuscripts for publication in ASA journals. This handout is intended for students who are instructed to use "ASA style" when writing research papers. 

• ASA Quick Guide A quick style guide from ASA
• ASA Research Paper Template PDF A research paper template for ASA style guide in PDF format
• ASA Research Paper Template A MS Word document that you can modify for your own work.

A quick guide is also available at the Purdue OWL Writing Lab webpage

Manuscript Format

• All text (including footnotes, references, and endnote) must be doubled spaced .
• Text must be in 12-point Times New Roman (Times is also acceptable)
• Block quotes may be single-spaced . 
• Margins must be at least 1.25 inches on all four sides
• A separate title page including title of paper, author(s) and institution(s) of author(s) (list vertically if more than one author).
• If required, on a separate page provide a short (150-200 word) abstract headed with the title.
• Begin the text of the paper on a separate page headed with the title of the paper.

Citing within your text

Basic form for citations in the text includes the last name of the author(s) and year of publication. Include page number when you quote directly from the work or refer to specific passages.

  If you are including the author’s name in your text, follow it with the publication year in parentheses: Jelin (1977) indicates similar patterns for women in Argentina.  If you are referring to an idea or theory but not citing the author  in the text, enclose the last name and year in parentheses: Women also migrate to become involved in petty trade (Arizpe 1978)... If citing two or more works by the same author: According to William J. Wilson (1978, 1987) race and class play a significant role in today's society.   If citing works by several authors: After the Civil Rights movement a growing number of racial/ethnic scholars such as Almaguer (1975), Barrera (1978), and Takaki (1979) challenged...  or  The subjects of this study seemed to perform their duties as determined by the institutional arrangements within which they worked (Watson, Kumar, and Michaelsen 1993; Cox, Lobel, and McLoed 1991; Fitzgerald 1993). 

For three or more authors, give all last names in the first citation in the text; afterwards use the first name and et al.: (Holland, Holt, Levi, and Beckett 1983)  thereafter (Holland et al. 1989) or Holland, Holt, Levi, and Beckett (1983) stated...   thereafter Holland et al. (1989) refer to...

Pagination follows the year of publication after a colon, with no space between the colon and the page number : ...Arizpe (1978:71) Quotations in the text that begin and end with quotation marks, the citation follows the end quote mark and precedes the period: "In 1999, however, the data were reported by more specific job types which showed that technologically oriented jobs paid better" (Hildenbrand 1999:47). or Cox stated, "The essence of the issue is reality vs. perception" (1993:132), as noted earlier.

Machine-readable data files, cite authorship and date: ....(Pew Research Center 2011).

Quotations in Text Always begin and end a quotation with quotations marks; the author, date, and/or page numbers follow the end-quote and precede the period:

Wright and Jacobs (1994) found that "the variation in men's earnings relative to their peers in the labor force was not reliable predictor of men's...flight from feminizing occupations" (p. 531).

One study found that "the variation in men's earnings relative to their peers in the labor force was not reliable predictor of men's...flight from feminizing occupations" (Wright and Jacobs 1994:531).

Block Quotations These are set off in a separate, indented paragraph and should be used for longer quotations (generally, 50 words or more). Block quotations should not be enclosed in quotation marks.

As stated by Wright and Jacobs (1994):

The variation in men's earnings relative to their peers in the labor force was not reliable predictor of men's attrition. This finding is inconsistent with the prediction that declines in earnings are responsible for male flight from feminizing occupations. (P. 531)

Note: The "P" for "page" is capitalized when the page number is cited alone in a block quote without author and date information.

taken from the ASA Style Guide (2010:25)

ASA Tutorial

This guide was authored by Kathryn Blackmer Reyes at San Jose State University, borrowed and edited with permission by Terri Smith, Taft College Library, February 23, 2017.

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Direct Quotations & Paraphrasing in ASA

ASA style follows the author-date format used by The Chicago Manual of Style for in-text citations. After a quotation or reference, add parentheses containing the author's last name and the year of publication of the work being cited. The page number may also be noted following a colon.

Example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" (Seuss 2007:7).

If you use more than one work by the same author published in the same year, use the letters a, b, etc., after the year.

Example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" (Seuss 2007a:7).

If a reference list includes more than one author with the same last name, add the first initials to in-text citations.

Example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" (D. Seuss 2007:7).

If two or more authors wrote the work, see the "Basic ASA Citations" table below.

If using the author's name in your text, do not include it in the parentheses.

Example: In his scholarly study, Dr. Seuss (2007) observed that "the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog."

If no author name is available, use the first few words of the reference list entry (usually the title) and the year. Use quotation marks around titles of articles or web pages and italicize titles of books, periodicals, or reports. Treat in-text citations to legal materials such as court cases, statutes, and legislation the same as works with no author.

Example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" ( Fox in Socks 2007:12).

For additional examples, see section 4.3.1, pages 55-58 in the ASA's Style Guide (2022).

Basic ASA Citations

See American Sociological Association  Style Guide  (2022) for more information.

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ASA Citations: American Sociological Association

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What is a literature review?

• A literature review is a critical, analytical summary and synthesis of the current knowledge of a topic. As a researcher, you collect the available literature on a topic, and then select the literature that is most relevant for your purpose. Your written literature review summarizes and analyses the themes, topics, methods, and results of that literature in order to inform the reader about the history and current status of research on that topic.

What purpose does a literature review serve?

• The literature review informs the reader of the researcher's knowledge of the relevant research already conducted on the topic under discussion, and places the author's current study in context of previous studies.
• As part of a senior project, the literature review points out the current issues and questions concerning a topic. By relating the your research to a knowledge gap in the existing literature, you should demonstrate how his or her proposed research will contribute to expanding knowledge in that field.

Take a look at our Literature Review Guide for more information. 

• SAMPLE: Literature Review in ASA This is a sample literature review from a professional journal that publishes in ASA style. ***Lit review begins on page 384 and ends on page 387. DATA AND METHODS section is NOT part of the lit review.
• Literature Review Matrix (Excel Doc) Excel file that can be edited to suit your needs.
• Literature Review Matrix (PDF) Source: McLean, Lindsey. "Literature Review." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2015. https://www.projectcora.org/assignment/literature-review.
• Academic Writer (formerly APA Style Central) This link opens in a new window This resource has templates available for literature reviews and other types of papers.
• Sample Literature Reviews: Univ. of West Florida Literature review guide from the University of West Florida library guides.
• Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) Sample literature review in APA from Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL)

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

In-Text (Citation) References

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

General Formatting

Cite the last name of the author and year of publication.

Include page numbers within the citation when directly quoting the authors’ words, paraphrasing a passage, or referring to specific passages.

If the author's name is used in the text, put the date in parentheses immediately afterwards.

If the author's name is not in the text, enclose last name and year in parentheses.

Using Quotes

Short quotations in the body of the manuscript should be surrounded by quotation marks.

Block quotations (direct quotations of more than 40 words) should be offset from the main text and may be single-spaced. Do not include quotation marks with block quotes.

Pagination follows the year of publication after a colon (note that in the in-text citation, there is no space between the colon and the page number).

Multiple Authors

For joint authors, give both last names.

For three authors, give all last names in the first citation in the text; in subsequent citations, use the first name and et al.     

For four or more authors, use the first author's last name plus et al. in all citations.

Name of Author Unknown

For institutional authorship, supply the minimum identification needed from the beginning of the complete reference to find it in the reference list.

Multiple Citations

Separate a series of references with a semicolon and either alphabetize or place them in chronological order, but be consistent throughout the manuscript.

Citing a Reprinted Work

If the work being cited was published earlier and then re-released, list the earliest date first and then the most recent date, separate these with a slash.

Citing Unpublished Work

For unpublished papers, cite the date, or, if scheduled to be published soon, use  forthcoming  in lieu of a date. If no date is given, use N.d.

For archival sources, use abbreviations when possible.

APA Cover Page

Apa essay generator.

When you do essay writing examples , the main thing to always take notice is what kind of format you are going to be using. Since there are a lot of types of format essays, you also have to be careful which type to use. The most common being APA format essay and MLA format essay.

1. APA Format Essay Example

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2. Creating an APA Essay Template

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3. APA Essay Documentation Style

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4. Sample Essay APA 6th Edition

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5. Format Essay Using APA Style Guidelines

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6. Sample APA Essay Formatted Research Paper

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7. APA Essay Checklist

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8. Types of APA Essay Papers Literature Review

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9. Reflective APA Essay in Education

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10. Expository APA Essay Paper Template

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11. Formatting APA Essay Report

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What Is an APA Essay?

An APA format essay is a type of writing format designed for writing essays. APA essay formats differ from other formats as an APA essay format follows a strict outline format when writing short report essays , reports , or other documents.

How to Use APA Essay Format

Writing an essay using the APA essay format can be complicated to study or use. However, there are guidelines that show a specific and clearer way to use the APA essay  outline examples format. Here are the following simple guidelines when writing an APA essay format.

Step 1: The One Inch Margin of Your Paper

It is basic knowledge when writing an essay that you need to place an inch margin on all sides of your paper. The one inch margin does not only work for essay writing , but it is also for APA formats and MLA format essay . Unless stated otherwise, a one inch margin is appropriate.

Step 2: All Texts Including the Heading Has to Be Double Spaced

When you use the APA essay outline format, all your texts that you wrote on the paper, and this includes your heading has to be in double space. This is the strict format for an APA essay. Any and all texts must be double spaced, no more no less.

Step 3: Professional Papers Include a Paper Title and Page Number

If you are writing a professional paper such as an essay, or a thesis paper using the APA essay format, it must include the paper’s title and the page number. The page number is commonly found below on the center. However, it can also be on the lower left corner of the page.

Step 4: Double Check the Format before Writing Your Essay

An important factor to making your APA format essay is to follow the exact format before making the essay. Not only does it take some time to get all the formats correctly and in order, it is also important to follow them to a tee. When you start writing the whole essay, following the correct formats as before will be easier.

What is an APA essay format?

An APA essay format is one of the many formats used for writing out an essay. An APA essay format is a kind of outline format that focuses on APA essay writing. The outline format is the universal format that is designed to make your journals, essays, and other academic writing under APA.

How many inches does an APA essay format margin?

The inches for the margin may differ, unless stated otherwise. But the most basic is an inch on all the sides of your paper. However, when you write your essay, the indention is different. It is not based on inches but on double spacing.

When writing an essay, a journal, an academic paper, or even a research paper, often than not it is usually an APA outline format that is used. For academic essays or professional essays, APA essay format is the format to be used. Be careful and follow the format to a tee.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Write an APA essay on the effects of online learning on students' academic performance

Describe in an APA essay how social media influences public opinion

A Tale of John Smith and Pocahontas

This essay about the relationship between John Smith and Pocahontas explores their historic encounter in early 17th-century Virginia. It examines their roles in bridging cultural divides between English settlers and the Powhatan tribe, emphasizing themes of diplomacy, cultural exchange, and historical interpretation. The narrative reflects on their legacy in shaping early American history and popular perceptions, illustrating the complexities of colonization and the enduring impact of cross-cultural interactions. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges and possibilities inherent in early colonial encounters, influencing narratives of exploration and mutual understanding in the New World.

How it works

In the early 17th century, amidst the backdrop of European exploration and Native American cultures, the encounter between John Smith and Pocahontas emerged as a captivating narrative of cultural exchange and diplomacy. Their story, often romanticized and debated, offers insights into the complexities of early American history.

John Smith, a bold English explorer, arrived in Virginia in 1607 as part of the Jamestown expedition, seeking new opportunities and resources on behalf of the Virginia Company. His encounters with the local Powhatan tribe, ruled by Chief Powhatan, would shape his destiny and intertwine with that of Pocahontas, the chief’s young daughter.

Pocahontas, known for her curiosity and intelligence, played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the Powhatan people and the English settlers. Her interactions with Smith, including the famous incident of saving him from execution, symbolize a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect amidst unfamiliar and often tense circumstances.

Their relationship, however, remains a subject of historical interpretation. While some accounts portray a romantic connection between Smith and Pocahontas, others suggest a more diplomatic and strategic alliance. Regardless of the nature of their bond, their story highlights the early attempts at cultural understanding and negotiation in the New World.

The legacy of John Smith and Pocahontas extends beyond their personal interactions. It reflects broader themes of colonization, identity, and the clash of civilizations. Their tale has been immortalized in literature, art, and popular culture, shaping perceptions of early American history and the relationships between Europeans and Native Americans.

Today, the story of John Smith and Pocahontas continues to captivate scholars and enthusiasts alike, prompting reflections on the complexities of cross-cultural encounters and the enduring impact of historical narratives. It serves as a reminder of the diverse perspectives that shape our understanding of the past and the ongoing journey towards reconciliation and mutual respect.

In conclusion, the narrative of John Smith and Pocahontas transcends its historical roots to embody themes of exploration, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. Their story, while often romanticized, remains a testament to the complexities of early American history and the enduring legacy of those who navigated unfamiliar worlds with courage and curiosity.

Cite this page

A Tale of John Smith and Pocahontas. (2024, Jul 21). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/a-tale-of-john-smith-and-pocahontas/

"A Tale of John Smith and Pocahontas." PapersOwl.com , 21 Jul 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/a-tale-of-john-smith-and-pocahontas/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). A Tale of John Smith and Pocahontas . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/a-tale-of-john-smith-and-pocahontas/ [Accessed: 26 Jul. 2024]

"A Tale of John Smith and Pocahontas." PapersOwl.com, Jul 21, 2024. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/a-tale-of-john-smith-and-pocahontas/

"A Tale of John Smith and Pocahontas," PapersOwl.com , 21-Jul-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/a-tale-of-john-smith-and-pocahontas/. [Accessed: 26-Jul-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). A Tale of John Smith and Pocahontas . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/a-tale-of-john-smith-and-pocahontas/ [Accessed: 26-Jul-2024]

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