Walden nursing APA paper referencing guide
Title of Your Paper, Centered, and Using Both Upper and Lowercase Letters
Your Name Here
Walden University
Instructor’s Name
Course Title and Number
Date
Center the Title of Your Paper Here
This guide serves as a template for all your assignments at Walden University, unless instructed otherwise by your instructor. It is recommended to carefully read and print a copy of this guide for reference while creating your assignments. As a bachelor’s level student, your assignment requirements may differ from those of graduate students, as you will primarily be writing essays with introductory and concluding paragraphs, a clear purpose, and logically organized paragraphs for developing your ideas. An effective introductory paragraph should focus on a specific topic or problem, summarize existing discussions on the topic, and present a new and significant argument or perspective. Ensure that your introduction engages the reader, expresses the purpose of the paper, and includes a thesis statement, which typically appears as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. A strong thesis statement acts as a roadmap for your readers, guiding them through the highlights of your topic. For assistance in creating a focused thesis statement, refer to the provided resource.
While this template generally follows APA formatting, there are significant exceptions. Certain features required for long manuscripts or dissertations are unnecessary for relatively brief assignments. For instance, you are not required to include an abstract or table of contents unless specified by your instructor. Additionally, note that APA style allows for the use of first-person singular pronouns (I, me, my) when referring to yourself as the singular author of the essay. However, first-person plural pronouns (we, us, our) should only be used when referring to yourself and a group of authors writing the assignment.
Consider the visual appearance of your paragraphs on the page throughout your paper. The indentation and length of a paragraph convey a message to the reader, indicating a concise or extensively developed idea. The opening and closing sentences of a paragraph hold particular significance. The opening sentence, known as the topic sentence, should provide a roadmap for the paragraph’s content. For a comprehensive understanding of how to write effective topic sentences, refer to the provided information on topic sentences. Utilize the positions of both the opening and closing sentences to emphasize and guide your reader.
The topic sentence of a paragraph serves as a natural opportunity to transition the reader from one idea to another. It can function as both a topic statement and a transition device, indicating the direction of the section. You can also use single words or phrases to connect your ideas. Transitional expressions like “also,” “in addition,” “moreover,” “therefore,” “similarly,” “in contrast,” “although,” or “however” act as glue or signposts, clarifying the relationships between your ideas. It is your responsibility as the author to demonstrate the logical organization of your ideas, ensuring a smooth flow for the reader. As I discuss organization, this sentence becomes a bridge to the next paragraph.
Headings can be used to indicate organization to your reader, although they are not required for many assignments. If your paper exceeds five pages or if headings would enhance the clarity of a complex paper, consult the provided information on headings for correct formatting of different levels. However, remember that headings alone do not fulfill the purpose of your writing. Using a heading like “Conclusion” while introducing new ideas in subsequent paragraphs is misleading and confusing for the reader.
At Walden, your writing should reflect standard edited English. It should appear grammatically correct, formal, and suited for silent reading. While spoken language naturally includes contractions, slang, repetition, and various interpersonal oral signals, these elements are generally inappropriate for formal writing. APA style specifically prohibits the use of contractions and informal slang. Write in your authentic voice while adhering to the formal standards of academic writing. Take the time to read your writing aloud or consult grammar sources to ensure that your sentences are clear, free of contractions, bullets, and bold type. Engage your reader with well-developed, detailed, and specific ideas instead of vague generalizations. Anticipate the questions your reader might have and provide comprehensive answers.
To develop your ideas, support them with references to course materials or evidence-based sources discovered during your studies. Referring to authors of required readings or experts cited in videos provides a context for your ideas based on published research in your field. When citing an author or expert, either paraphrase their ideas or quote their language, followed by an in-text citation. For quoting material that is 40 words or longer, create a block quote. Make sure to provide complete reference information for all cited sources in the reference list for further investigation by the reader.
Continuity is essential in guiding your reader through your ideas. Punctuation marks contribute to continuity by indicating relationships between ideas and mirroring the pauses, inflections, and pacing found in speech. Transitional expressions and logical sentence connections help maintain continuity from the opening sentence to the conclusion. Each paragraph should have a unified topic, and it can be helpful to write one to two words highlighting the main idea beside each paragraph. Review each sentence to ensure it reflects the main idea. Vary your sentence structures to maintain reader interest. Practice and time will help you create assignments that are professional in appearance and effectively convey your ideas.
Program tools are available to assist in creating professionally formatted documents. For MS Word 2007 users, navigate to “File,” then “Word Options,” and select various components from the Grammar and Style settings under “Proofing.” Use the spell check feature by going to “Review” and selecting “ABC Spelling.” Green squiggly lines indicate potential grammatical errors, while red squiggly lines indicate potential spelling errors. Right-click on a line to view the error message. For a more comprehensive grammar review, consider using Grammarly, an automated grammar checker.
Before submitting your work, ensure that you have fully addressed the assignment. In your concluding paragraph, provide a concise summary of key ideas or offer an idea that extends beyond the implications of the topic. The conclusion should leave the reader with a satisfying sense of completion.
References
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Beach, L. R. (2006). Leadership and the art of change: A practical guide to organizational transformation. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication.
Clark, R. E. (1994). Media will never influence learning. Educational Technology Research and Development, 42(2), 21-29.
Constantine, S. (2006). Correction in the countryside: Convict labour in rural Germany 1871-German History, 24(1), 39-61. doi:10.1191/0266355406gh362oa
Intrigue, A., & Allure, P. (2006). An article without a DOI number. Journal of Citing Correctly, 99(3), 331-355. Retrieved from http://www.journalofcitingcorrectly.com
Jones, P., & Boozer, C. (2001). No DOI and no journal homepage? Old Journal That Does Not Have Its Own Homepage, 4(3), 34-44. Retrieved from Academic Search Premiere database.
Knowles, M. (1998). The adult learner. Woburn, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2006). Introduction to scholarly writing: Purpose, audience
, and evidence [DVD]. In Series Title. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Name of program [Video webcast]. Retrieved from http://www.courseurl.com.
Malborne, C. (2006, June 29). Re: Environmental responsibility [Online discussion group]. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn? CourseID=2321812&Survey=1&47=2565415&ClientNodeID=404183&coursenav=0&bhcd2=1149711503.
