This document provides a 7-step guide for using direct quotations in APA style citations and references. The steps include: choosing a relevant quote, writing an introductory sentence, attaching a signal phrase, writing an in-text citation, including a follow up sentence, putting it all together cohesively, and listing the full reference in the reference list. An example demonstrating the full process is included.

1. USING DIRECT
QUOTATIONS
A Guide to Selecting, Integrating, and Citing in APA Style (7th ed.)

2. Step 1: Choose and Copy a Quotation
The most important part of the
process is finding a quote that
effectively supports your
position, idea, or statement.
When copying a quotation, be
sure you double-check the
accuracy of the wording.
**Note the page number and
year of publication. This will
help save time when creating
your in-text citation.

3. Step 2: Write a Sentence to Introduce
the Quotation
Why does a writer need to introduce a quote?
Introducing the quotation puts the quotation
into context and helps the reader understand
why the quote is being included.
What is the position that will be supported by the
quotation?
Example: There are several maxims in Franklin’s
“Way to Wealth” that reflect what one needs to
do in order to achieve the American Dream.
Now write a complete sentence that clearly
explains the example you will provide.
Example: One principle that is repeated
throughout the essay is the idea that a person
must not waste time.

4. Step 3:
Attach a
Signal
Phrase to the
Quotation
A signal phrase helps ease the reader
into your chosen quotation. It does
not need to be complex; a few words
or orient the reader will suffice.
Signal Phrase: Franklin demonstrates
this idea when he writes,
Quotation: “But dost thou love life, then
do not squander time, for that’s the
stuff life is made of”

5. Step 4: Write Your Sentence and Add an
In-text Citation
In-text citations for our textbook
are as follows:
(author last name, original year of
publication/date of textbook
publication, p. # on which your
quote appears)
Franklin demonstrates this idea
when he writes, “But dost thou love
life, then do not squander time, for
that’s the stuff life is made of”
(Franklin, 1758/2023, p. 188).

6. Step 5: Follow Up Your Quote with a
Sentence
• After providing the support for your idea, remind your readers of your original point.
Remind
• Franklin demonstrates this idea when he writes, “But dost thou love life, then do not
squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of” (Franklin, 1758/2023, p. 188).
Signal Phrase
and Quotation:
• This shows that one must not waste time being idle to live a successful and happy
life.
Follow-Up
Sentence:

7. Step 6: Put It
All Together
There are several maxims in Franklin’s “Way to
Wealth” that reflect what one needs to do in order to
achieve the American Dream. Franklin demonstrates
this idea when he writes, “But dost thou love life, then
do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made
of” (Franklin, 1758/2023, p. 188). This shows that one
must not waste time being idle to live a successful
and happy life.

8. Step 7: Include a Reference Citation
The format used for reference citations for APA 7th edition is as follows:
Author, A.A., & B.B. (Year of textbook publication). Title. In A. Editor & B. Editor
(Eds.), Title of book (edition, Vol. #, inclusive page numbers). Norton. (original year
of publication).
Franklin, B. (2023). The way to wealth. In R.S. Levine, G. Avilez, M.A. Elliott, S.M. Gustafson,
A. Hungerford, & L. Siraganian (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of American literature
(Shorter 10th ed., Vol. 1. pp. 188-194). Norton. (Original work published 1758)

9. The Finished Product
There are several maxims in Franklin’s “Way to Wealth” that reflect what one needs to do in order
to achieve the American Dream. Franklin demonstrates this idea when he writes, “But dost thou
love life, then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of” (Franklin, 1758/2023, p.
188). This shows that one must not waste time being idle to live a successful and happy life.
Franklin, B. (2023). The way to wealth. In R.S. Levine, G. Avilez, M.A. Elliott, S.M. Gustafson,
A. Hungerford, & L. Siraganian (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of American literature
(Shorter 10th ed., Vol. 1. pp. 188-194). Norton. (Original work published 1758)

10. How To Cite Editorial Information
If you are using material from the editors of your textbook (e.g., the biographical information
about an author or a footnote), use this format:
In-text citation: (Levine et al., 2023, p. 195)
Reference citation:
Levine, R. S., G. Avilez, Elliott, M.A., Gustafson, S.M., Hungerford, A., & Siraganian, L. (Eds.)
(2023). The Norton anthology of American literature (Shorter 10th ed.). (Vols. 1-2).
Norton.