This document provides guidance on selecting, integrating, and citing direct quotations in APA style. It outlines a 7-step process for using quotations: choosing a relevant quote, writing an introductory sentence, attaching a signal phrase, writing an in-text citation, including a follow up sentence, compiling the quote example, and adding a reference citation. It also provides examples of how to cite different sources like editors, websites, and films.
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: In Morte Darthur, Malory
describes Arthur’s love for
Lancelot.
Now write a complete sentence
that clearly explains the example
you will provide.
Example: One example is Arthur’s
affection for Lancelot, even as he
suspects Lancelot and Guinevere's
affair.
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: When Arthur is
approached with an accusation
of the affair between Lancelot
and Guinevere, Arthur hesitates
to act because he
Quotation: “had a deeming of it,
but he would not hear of it”
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)
When Arthur is approached with an
accusation of the affair between
Lancelot and Guinevere, Arthur
hesitates to act because he “had
a deeming of it, but he would not
hear of it” (Malory, 1485/2019, p.
340).
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
When Arthur is approached with an accusation of the affair between
Lancelot and Guinevere, Arthur hesitates to act because he “had a
deeming of it, but he would not hear of it”(Malory, 1485/2019, p. 340).
Signal Phrase
and Quotation:
This shows that although Arthur has an idea of the affair, he does not
really want to know.
Follow-Up
Sentence:
7. Step 6: Put It
All Together
In Morte Darthur, Malory describes Arthur’s love for
Lancelot. One example is Arthur’s affection for Lancelot,
even as he suspects Lancelot and Guinevere's affair.
When Arthur is approached with an accusation of the
affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, Arthur hesitates
to act because he “had a deeming of it, but he would not
hear of it” (Malory, 1485/2019, p. 340). This shows that
although Arthur has an idea of the affair, he does not
really want to know.
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).
Malory, T. (2019). Morte Darthur. In S. Greenblatt, G.M. Logan, D.S. Lynch, K.E. Maus,
J. Noggle, J. Ramazani, C. Robson, and J. Simpson (Eds.), The Norton
anthology of English literature: The Major Authors (10th ed., Vol 1., pp. 339-347).
Norton. (Original work published 1485).
9. The Finished Product
In Morte Darthur, Malory describes Arthur’s love for Lancelot. One example is Arthur’s
affection for Lancelot, even as he suspects Lancelot and Guinevere's affair. When Arthur
is approached with an accusation of the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, Arthur
hesitates to act because he “had a deeming of it, but he would not hear of it” (Malory,
1485/2019, p. 340). This shows that although Arthur has an idea of the affair, he does not
really want to know.
Malory, T. (2019). Morte Darthur. In S. Greenblatt, G.M. Logan, D.S. Lynch, K.E. Maus,
J. Noggle, J. Ramazani, C. Robson, and J. Simpson (Eds.), The Norton
anthology of English literature: The Major Authors (10th ed., Vol 1., pp. 339-347).
Norton. (Original work published 1485).
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: (Greenblatt et al., 2017, p. 484)
Reference citation:
Greenblatt, G.M. Logan, D.S. Lynch, K.E. Maus, J. Noggle, J. Ramazani, C. Robson, and J.
Simpson (Eds.), The Norton anthology of English literature: The Major Authors (10th ed.,
Vol 1). Norton.
11. How To Cite Material from the
Internet
The format used for reference citations for APA 7th edition is as follows:
Author, A.A., & B.B. (date of website publication). Title. URL.
NOTE: if a date is not included on the website, use n.d.
Example:
Tennyson, A. (n.d.). Guinevere. https://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/text/tennyson-Guinevere.
In-text citation:
(Tennyson, n.d., para. 5).
NOTE: use page numbers if provided; otherwise, use paragraph numbers or stanza numbers,
numbering them yourself if needed.
12. How To Cite a Film
The format used for reference citations for APA 7th edition is as follows:
Director Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Director). (Year). Title of movie [Format e.g.
Film or DVD with commentary]. Name of Studio.
Example:
Zucker, J. (Director). (1995). First Knight [film]. Columbia.
In-text citation:
(Zucker, 1995).
