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22 Writing Guidelines for CHDV & EDUC Classes

APA 7th Edition Format

Welcome to APA Format! You may be asking, “What is APA style?” When we refer to writing papers using “APA”, we are referring to the American Psychological Association (APA) format to write research papers. The format of APA instructs social science students and authors on how to organize the content of a research paper, cite references, and structure writing for projects and papers. All your CHDV courses require that you use APA 7th edition formatting in your written assignments unless otherwise specified.

As you move through the following pages, you will find an example of an APA paper. The content in the paper contains important information for constructing a paper or project for your CHDV courses at Palomar College. The paper begins with a title page, followed by an abstract, and then the body of the paper or project. The final page of your paper is the reference page; there are specific ways to document each resource that you use for your paper or project. Within the body of your paper, you will include in-text citations. There are a variety of examples of how to include in-text citations and references in the example provided as well as on the website by Purdue (see website, below).

Additionally, you will find an APA Checklist within this manual. This checklist is a basic framework for organizing and structuring your paper or project. Each of your instructors will have requirements for the content of your paper, and the instructor and the assignment will determine the number of pages in the “body” of your paper, as well as whether or not an abstract is required. While you write in APA format, you may have questions that are not addressed in this manual. Please refer to:

Lastly, please do not hesitate to ask your instructors or the staff at the Library or the STAR Center for assistance in APA 7th edition writing style. We want you to be successful!

APA Reflection Paper

Student’s Name

Palomar College

CHDV 99

Professor’s Name

Date

Abstract

Type your Abstract here. The abstract should be one paragraph long and shall not exceed 250 words. There is no indentation to the abstract paragraph.

APA Reflection Paper

Usually, the first Level 1 Heading is the title or a shortened version of the title of your paper. Start the first paragraph of your paper here with a short introduction to the subject you are writing about. Format the entire body of the paper in Times New Roman font size 12 point and double space.

Component 1

Paragraph about the first thing learned.

Component 2

Paragraph about the second thing learned.

Component 3

Paragraph about the third thing learned. Be sure to cite your sources throughout your paper using at least 1 quote, with proper citation with page number “Like this” (author, date, p.1), and at least one paraphrased statement with proper in-text citation (author, date).

Conclusion

Type your conclusion paragraph here.

References

Book

Last name, First initial. (copyright date). Title with only the first word capitalized and Italicized (edition). Publisher

Anderson, L., Fererro, J., Wilson, G, & Sanchez, T. (2024). Palomar College child development & education department student success guide [Student success guide]. Child Development & Education Department, Palomar College. https://www.palomar.edu/childdevelopment/chdv-student-success-guide/

Periodical

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume number (issue number), pages.

Baumrind, D. (1991). The influence of parenting style on adolescent competence and substance use. Journal of Early Adolescence, 11(1), 56-95.

Online Periodical

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of Online Periodical, volume number(issue number if available). http://www.webaddress.com/full/url

Collier, S. T. (1999). Characteristics of reflective thought during the student teaching experience. Journal of Teaching Education, 50 (3), 173-181 http://academia.edu/1406615/The_Role_of_Reflective_Journals_in_Early_Childhood_Pre-Service_Teachers_Professional_Development

PowerPoint

Last name, F. (Date on slides). Title [PowerPoint slides].

Anderson, L. (March 10, 2013). Conference and home visits [PowerPoint slides].

Lecture

Last name, F.  (Year). Lecture title [Format]. URL of website.

Anderson, L. (2017). Conferences and home visits. [PowerPoint Slides]. Palomar College CHDV 100 Canvas: http://canvas.palomar.edu

Internet Website

Individual author

Last Name, F. M. (Year, Month Date). Title of page. Site name. URL

Price, D. (2018, March 23). Laziness does not exist. Medium. https://humanparts.medium.com/laziness-does-not-exist-3af27e312d01

Written by a group or organization

Group name. (Year, Month Date). Title of page. Site name. URL

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (2019, November 21). Justice served: Case closed for over 40 dogfighting victims. https://www.aspca.org/news/justice-served-case-closed-over-40-dogfighting-victims

Author is not listed

Title of page. (Year, Month Date). Site name. Retrieved Month Date, Year, from URL

Tuscan white bean pasta. (2018, February 25). Budgetbytes. Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://www.budgetbytes.com/tuscan-white-bean-pasta/

Interview

An interview is not considered recoverable data, so no reference to this is provided in the reference list. The interview is to be cited IN-TEXT as personal communication.

(L. Anderson, personal communication, August 15, 2013)

L. Anderson (personal communication, August 15, 2013)

Online Scholarly Journal Article

Last Name, F. M., & Last Name, F. M. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Vol. (Issue), page numbers. DOI

Social Media

Blog Post 

Last Name, F. M. (Year, Month Date). Title of post. Publisher. URL

Facebook Post

Last Name, F. M. or Name of Group. (Year, Month Date). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Type of post]. Site Name. URL

Facebook Page

Last Name, F. M. or Name of Group. (n.d.). Home [Facebook page]. Site name. Retrieved Month Date, Year, from URL

Instagram Photo or Video

Last Name, F. M. or Name of Group [@username]. (Year, Month Date). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Type of post]. Site Name. URL

Tweet

Last Name, F. M. or Name of Group [@username]. (Year, Month Date). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Tweet]. Site Name. URL

Twitter Profile

Last Name, F. M. or Name of Group [@username]. (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Retrieved Month Date, Year, from URL

TikTok

Author [handle]. “Text accompanying TikTok Post.” TikTok , Date, URL.

YouTube Video Reference

Last Name, F. M. [Username]. (Year, Month Date). Title of video [Video]. Streaming Service. URL

APA Checklist

Overall Format

  • 1” margins
  • 11 & 12-point font (acceptable: Times Roman, Courier, San Serif, Calibri, Arial, Lucida Sans & Georgia).
  • Double spaced
  • Page number needs to be in a header, NOT on the first line of your paper

Page 1: Title Page

  • The Number 1 (flush right in the header)
  • Title in Upper and Lower Case–Bold (centered in middle of page)
  • Title is followed by your name (ex. John Doe)
  • Class and number (ex. CHDV 100)
  • Lastly the college: (ex. Palomar College)

Page 2: Abstract

  • In header: the number 2 (flush right)
  • Abstract (centered upper and lower case and bold)
  • No indent to paragraph
  • Brief summary of paper (typically around 100 words) NOT your introductory paragraph

Page 3: Body of Paper (Note: The body of the paper begins on page 3 and may be many pages in length)

  • Page number (flush right in header)
    • First Level Headings are upper and lower case, centered, and boldface (to differentiate main portions of the paper). Headings will be used on all Research Papers but may not be needed on other papers.
    • Second Level Headings are flush left, bold face, and upper and lower case (to separate information in each of the main portions of the paper)
  • Indent paragraphs 5 spaces
  • In-text citations for all researched material.
  • Paraphrase (Author’s last name, copyright date year only) Ex. (Anderson, 2012)
    • Page numbers for direct quotations (Author’s last name, copyright date, page number) Ex. (Anderson, 2012, p. 15)
  • Period follows in-text citation at the end of the sentence. Ex. (Anderson, 2012, p. 15).

Last page: References

  • Page number (flush right)
  • Word “References” is centered (no quotation marks) upper and lower case and bold
  • References are alphabetized by author’s last name
  • Double Spaced
  • First line of reference is flush left, second line is indented
  • Follow proper APA protocol—including periods, capitalization, and italics

License

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Child Development & Education Copyright © 2025 by Anderson, L., Fererro, J., Wilson, G, & Sanchez, T. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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