APA is a Documentation Style. 
APA is often required in academic writing in the sciences and social sciences. APA guides students in
1) how the paper looks on the page (also called formatting) and
2) making sure the reader knows what sources you used and when you used them.
Why use documentation style (APA) for your classes?
- Allows your instructor to find your sources and follow your research
- Shows your research and knowledge of subject
- APA gives emphasis to the date (currency) of your sources
- Gives writer and reader a standard style. If your instructor had to figure out every single student's paper, it would be confusing! Documentation style makes it easy for you to be clear.
There are 3 main components of APA style
- References (end of paper)
- In-text Citations (within paper)
- APA formatting (title page, headings, font, etc.)
