Citing presentations in APA style can seem tricky, but it's manageable once you understand the key components. This guide, based on the Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab), provides a clear, step-by-step process for accurately citing various types of presentations, whether retrieved online or in person. We'll cover both in-text citations and the corresponding reference list entries.
Understanding the Key Components
Before we dive into specific examples, let's identify the essential information needed for any presentation citation:
- Author: The name of the person or people who presented the work.
- Year: The year the presentation was given.
- Title of Presentation: The title of the presentation itself.
- Type of Presentation: (e.g., Paper presented at, Poster session presented at, Webinar)
- Event: The name of the conference, symposium, meeting, or other event where the presentation was given.
- Location: The city and state (or country) where the event took place. (For online presentations, this may be omitted or replaced with a URL).
In-Text Citations: Integrating Presentations into Your Writing
In-text citations briefly mention the source within your writing. They direct the reader to the full citation in your reference list. Here are a few examples:
Example 1: One Author
Smith (2023) argued that...
Example 2: Two Authors
Jones and Brown (2022) presented compelling evidence for...
Example 3: Three or More Authors
(Garcia et al., 2021) showed a significant correlation between...
Note: The "et al." abbreviation is used for three or more authors in subsequent citations. Use all author names in the first citation.
Reference List Entries: Providing Complete Source Details
The reference list, appearing at the end of your paper, provides full bibliographic information for each source cited. Here are examples for different presentation types:
Example 1: Presentation at a Conference (In-Person)
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of presentation. Paper presented at the Name of Conference, Location.
Example:
Smith, J. (2024, March 15). The impact of social media on political discourse. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, IL.
Example 2: Presentation at a Conference (Online)
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of presentation. [Presentation type]. Retrieved from [URL]
Example:
Jones, B. (2023, October 27). The future of renewable energy. Webinar. Retrieved from https://www.examplewebinar.com
Example 3: Poster Presentation
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of poster. Poster session presented at the Name of Conference, Location.
Example:
Brown, C. (2023, June 10). A Novel Approach to Data Visualization. Poster session presented at the International Conference on Data Science, London, UK.
Handling Variations and Uncertainties
- Missing Information: If some information is missing (e.g., location), do your best to provide what is available.
- Multiple Presentations by the Same Author: Distinguish them in your reference list by adding a letter (a, b, c) to the year.
- Uncertain Dates: If the exact date is unknown, use "n.d." (no date) in place of the year.
Remember to always double-check your citations against the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Using this guide and paying close attention to detail will help you create accurate and consistent APA citations for all your presentations.
