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MSN GUIDE FOR SCHOLARLY PAPERS
This guide is to assist the MSN student in utilizing the American Psychological Association (APA) format and writing in a professional style. It is not meant to replace the APA publication manual. The focus of this guide is to help the MSN student in areas students have historically had difficulty. For additional assistance in writing the student is directed to the Writing Center at http://troy.troy.edu/writingcenter/index.html and for the Troy University APA documentation guide the student is directed to the Writing Center handouts section at http://troy.troy.edu/writingcenter/research.html. Students are expected to use the fifth edition APA publication manual.
Solutions for problem areas:
1. Paraphrase information, and avoid long quotes. This will require time and effort.
[see pp. 117-122, 292-293.]
2. Paragraphs that are paraphrased from one reference require only one citation at the end of the paragraph.
3. As a general rule, direct quotes comprise 10% or less of a professional paper.
4. For an example of a title page, see pp. 296-298 and 306.
5. Students are responsible for proofreading the final draft of the paper. Students must use the software required by the Troy University School of Nursing. Other software frequently changes the format resulting in incorrect formatting.
Software: Word processing software compatible with Microsoft Office 97 or Office 2000 and Acrobat Reader (downloadable free from internet)
6. The formal papers, required in graduate courses, must be written using professional resources for references, such as professional journals, professional books and professional or government web sites such as American Nurses Association, National Institute of Health, and Healthy People 2010. Usually personal or public web sites, special interest websites, newspapers, or magazines are not considered professional publications and may not be used without special permission from the instructor.
7. Every citation in the body of the paper must have a corresponding reference listed on the reference list, except personal communication from an expert.
8. Every reference in the reference list must be cited in the body of the paper.
9. For correct use of et al. see pages 208 and 307.
10. For correct use of abbreviations. see pages 103-111.
11. APA recommends not using third person, see page 37.
12. Examples of electronic references. Students are reminded to refer to the APA textbook for
other types of electronic references.
13. For correct use of headings see pages 113-114, and 289-290.
14. For correct use of numbers see pages 122-130.
15. Examples of Electronic Resources
American Heart Association. (2002). ATP III Final Report: Rationale for intervention.
Retrieved November 15, 2004, from
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/106/25/3163?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&.
Baldwin, D. (2003). Disparities in health and health care: Focusing efforts to eliminate unequal burdens. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 8(1). Retrieved March 4, 2003, from http://www.nursingworld.org/ojin/topic20/tpc20_1.htm.
*Bedinghaus, J., Leshan, L., & Diehr, S. (2001). Coronary artery disease prevention: What’s different for women? American Family Physician, 63(7), 1393-1400.
Blanchard, J. & Lurie, N. (2004). R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Patient reports of disrespect in the health care setting and its impact on care. Journal of Family Practice, 53(9). Retrieved October 9, 2004, from http://www.jfponline.com/content/2004/09/jfp_0904-00721.asp.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000). Healthy People 2010:Understanding and Improving Health (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
* = reference from a journal article that was obtained via electronic database with exact information as found in paper journal.
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