Basic Citing Rules For A Doctoral Thesis Paper In The APA Format

When citing a doctoral thesis paper, students have to make sure that they are using the correct format. In general, academic essays will be written in Chicago, MLA or APA format. To get the doctoral thesis paper accepted, students must make sure that they have used the correct citations. Otherwise, the dissertation will be returned and the student will have to redo it.

• Get a Writer's Manual

Before the student begins citing APA style sources, they should buy thesis paper manual or check one out from the library. There are literally hundreds of different types of formats that are all based on the type of source. If the source is a periodical, it will be listed differently than an academic textbook or a video. To make sure that the student is able to correctly source research in their doctoral thesis paper, they need to check out a writer's manual.

• Find an Example

One of the best ways to source things correctly is to use an example essay. In the example, students will be able to see the exact format required for every source. In addition, the example dissertation will include a list of research in the bibliography. If the topic is similar to the student's topic, the student can copy the source's format directly into their bibliography. The student can also use the example's bibliography as a reference guide for their own research.

• Look at Software Programs

Fifty years ago, students had to look up each type of source and its format by hand. Today, the Internet has made writing out sources in a doctoral thesis paper much easier. There are actually programs now that allow students to type in the source's information. After the student has typed in the bibliography details and the APA requirements, the software will give the student the exact citation style that they need. This option is an amazing tool for graduate students who have to cite hundreds of sources at a time.

Students always need to source any date, piece of data or quote that they use in their writing. If the data is not sourced correctly, it is considered to be plagiarized by the academic committee. At the very least, the document will be returned for editing. If the academic committee suspects that the mistakes were intentional, it can result in the student's expulsion from the program. Exercising caution is a must for any doctoral student.