Cite this textbook
Jennifer Ounjian
APA Formatting
APA Style is your primary resource for APA formatting in the 7th edition. To make using APA easier for you, we will use a basic e-book format to reference this text. Please check with your instructor for specific formatting requirements.
Online web book
- Cite as an OER textbook
- Add section/chapter name and URL if applicable
- Include a retrieval date, as OERs are frequently updated
The reference entry for this book
The reference entry goes at the end of your paper, post, portfolio, or other written assignment. You only list it once.
Ounjian, J. (2024). Lifespan development. Contra Costa College Digital Press. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://pressbooks.pub/lifespandevelopmentccc
Citation formats for use in your writing. It is always best to paraphrase!
In-text citation (Narrative).
Narrative means using the author/text as part of the sentence. The author’s name is incorporated into the text as part of the sentence, and the year follows in parentheses.
Use a citation instead of writing things like “in the textbook,” “the author said,” or “in the reading.”
- ⭐️ Paraphrase: According to Ounjian (2024)
- Direct Quote: Ounjian (2024) “quoted material” (Chapter #, para. #)
In-text citation (Parenthetical).
Parenthetical citations silently indicate to the reader that you are quoting or paraphrasing information from a source. All of the information goes inside the parenthesis.
- ⭐️ Paraphrase: (Ounjian, 2024, Chapter #)
- Direct quote: (Ounjian, 2024, Chapter #, para. #)
The paragraph number is used since this textbook has no page numbers. You would use the page number for sources with numbered pages.
When should I use a direct quote?
APA style tells us to use direct quotations rather than paraphrasing:
- when reproducing an exact definition (see Section 6.22 of the Publication Manual),
- when an author has said something memorably or succinctly or
- when you want to respond to exact wording (e.g., something someone said).
Instructors, programs, editors, and publishers may establish limits on the use of direct quotations. Consult your instructor or editor if you are concerned that your paper may contain too much quoted material.
