APA 7th Rules
What does APA stand for?
American Psychological Association
What is a thesis statement?
A sentence that expresses the main idea or argument of an essay.
What is paraphrasing?
Restating someone else’s ideas in your own words.
Name one example of a primary source.
An interview, survey, experiment, or original research article.
Which is more formal: “kids” or “children”?
children
Write the correct in-text citation: (Brown, page 56, 2020).
(Brown, 2020, p. 56)
Which section of an academic essay provides background and context?
The introduction.
True or False: You don’t need to cite a paraphrase if you changed the words.
False — you still must cite the source.
Which database is best for academic research: Google, Wikipedia, or Google Scholar?
Google Scholar.
Choose the better sentence for academic writing: (A) “I think global warming is bad.” or (B) “Global warming poses serious environmental risks.”
B
How do you cite a source with three or more authors in-text?
Use only the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” (e.g., Smith et al., 2021).
Name at least two features of formal academic style.
Objective tone, complex structures, precise vocabulary, no contractions.
What’s the difference between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?
Quoting copies words exactly; paraphrasing restates the same idea in new wording; summarizing condenses main points.
Why is Wikipedia not considered a reliable academic source?
It can be edited by anyone; lacks consistent review.
What’s the difference between “which” and “that” in relative clauses?
“That” introduces essential information; “which” adds non-essential details.
What website can you use to generate citations or learn how to cite?
Purdue Owl
What is the purpose of a topic sentence?
It introduces the main idea of a paragraph.
What are two common mistakes students make when paraphrasing?
1) Keeping too many of the original words or sentence structure; 2) Forgetting to include the citation.
How can you evaluate if a website is credible for academic research?
Check author credentials, publication date, domain (.edu/.gov), and references.
What’s the academic equivalent of “I think”?
“It can be argued that…” / “This suggests that…”
What is the difference between an in-text citation and a reference?
An in-text citation briefly shows where an idea comes from within the text (e.g., Smith, 2020), while a reference gives full publication details at the end of the paper so readers can locate the source.
Why should transitions like “however” and “therefore” be used carefully?
They show logical connections; overuse can make writing mechanical.
How can you check if your paraphrase is too close to the original text?
Compare it with the source — if phrases or structure are nearly identical, rewrite it more freely in your own words.
Why is it important to include a variety of sources in academic writing?
Using multiple, credible sources strengthens your argument, shows balanced research, and increases the reliability of your work.
In formal academic writing, should you use personal pronouns e.g. "You"? Explain why or why not.
It depends on the discipline, but personal pronouns are often avoided to maintain objectivity.
The pronoun “you” should generally be avoided in academic writing because it directly addresses the reader and makes the text informal. Instead, use impersonal constructions like “one,” “students,” or passive voice (e.g., “It can be argued that…” instead of “You can see that…”).