Question

APA and MLA are the two common styles of writing your research work. Explore from website the two methods and explain why it is important to maintain these formats

Answer 1

Major differences between MLA (Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association) styles of writing research work-

MLA	APA
Typically used in the Humanities (i.e.: English, Theatre, Art)	Typically used in the social sciences (i.e.: Psychology, Sociology, Social Work)
“works cited” page to cite sources at the end of the work	references” page to cite sources at the end of the work
Works cited is cited last name, first name (Bird, Big)	Works cited is last name, first initial (Bird, B.)
When information is cited and the author’s name is listed within the sentence, place the page number found at the end. {According to Big Bird, writing centers are awesome” (22).	When information is cited and author’s name is listed within the sentence, place the year the material was published. {Big Bird (2010) believes that writing centers are awesome.}
When information is cited and the author’s name is not listed, place the author’s last name and the page number at the end. {Writing centers are awesome (Bird 22).}	When information is cited and the author’s name is not listed, place the author’s last name and the year the material was published. {Writing centers are awesome (Bird, 2010). }
Quotes 4 lines or longer are blocked, meaning indented 2 tabs over	Quotes 40 words or more are indented one tab (or 5 spaces)

Where major similarities are-

1. The paper is double spaced, as well as the reference or works cited page. The citation has a hanging indent.
2. All information used in the paper must be in the reference page or works cited.
3. Any information that is not your own needs to be cited.
4. Both use parenthetical citations within the body of the paper. (Bird, 2010) or (Bird 22)
5. Citations are listed alphabetically on the references or works cited page.
6. Quotes are integrated smoothly and with transitions. (For a handout on transitions, visit the UWC!)

Properly citing the works of others is important because:

1. Proper citation allows readers to locate the materials you used. Citations to other sources helps readers expand their knowledge on a topic. In most social sciences disciplines, one of the most effective strategies for locating authoritative, relevant sources about a topic is to follow footnotes or references from known sources ["citation tracking"].
2. Citing other people's words and ideas indicates that you have conducted a thorough review of the literature on your topic and, therefore, you are operating from an informed perspective. This increases your credibility as the author of the work.
3. Other researcher's ideas can be used to reinforce your arguments, or, if you disagree with them, can act as positions from which to argue an alternative viewpoint. In many cases, another researcher's arguments can act as the primary context from which you can emphasize a different viewpoint or to clarify the importance of what you are proposing.
4. Just as other researcher's ideas can bolster your arguments and act as evidence for your ideas, they can also detract from your credibility if they are found to be mistaken or fabricated. Properly citing information not unique to you prevents your reputation from being tarnished if the facts or ideas of others are proven to be inaccurate or off-base.
5. Outside academe, ideas are considered intellectual property and there can serious repercussions if you fail to cite where you got an idea from. In the professional world, failure to cite other people's intellectual property ruins careers and reputations and can result in legal action. Given this, it is important to get into the habit of citing sources.

NOTE: In any academic writing, you are required to identify for your reader which ideas, facts, theories, concepts, etc., are yours and which are derived from the research and thoughts of others. Whether you summarize, paraphrase, or use direct quotes, if it's not your original idea, the source must be acknowledged. The only exception to this rule is information that is considered to be commonly known facts [e.g., George Washington was the first president of the United States]. Note, however, that any "commonly known fact" is culturally constructed and shaped by social and aesthetical biases. If you are in doubt about whether a fact is common knowledge or not, protect yourself from any allegations of plagiarism and cite it, or ask your professor for clarification.