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Click the photo for: Home - WGU Knowledge Center (Student Handbook)

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Welcome to the WGU Knowledge Center!

For access to additional information and functionality, WGU students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to log into the Knowledge Center by clicking the User Profile link and entering their WGU username and password
For course-specific information, WGU students should refer to their Course of Study.

WGU cares and is committed to supporting students during natural disasters and major events that may impact their studies.

We want to make sure students can attend to their health and well-being, too. Please visit WellConnect to learn about free counseling services and more.

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For access to additional information and functionality, WGU students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to log into the Knowledge Center by clicking the User Profile link and entering their WGU username and password For course-specific information, WGU students should refer to their Course of Study .

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College Scholarships | Scholarship Opportunities Online | WGU

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Western Governors University provides a wide range of scholarships for students from all types of students.

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Western Governors University

elliandra.franzen@wgu.edu

Phone 385.428.6995

Text 385.437.6399

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Term Break Policies | WGU Student Handbook 

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Click on image to go to the WGU Webcam site

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Other Option: Walmart Webcam

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Bookmark the following links under bookmark folder "My Clinical Experience"

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Create a Bookmark Folder Titled "My Clinical Experience" and save the following bookmarks in it.

Ed Prep Program and Licensure Requirements Handbook Home Page

Background Clearance Information - WGU Community

Registering for Praxis Basic Skills and Content Tests, and Score Submission

WGU Basic Skills Requirement and Cut Scores - WGU Community

WGU Praxis Program / Graduation Requirements - WGU Community

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Click the image to go to the Academic Coaching Center's Focused Study Time Registration page! 

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Virtual study hall

Study tips

Goal setting

Uninterrupted study time

Accountability partners

Peer support

Student community!

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Click on image to enlarge info-graphic: MeazureLearning Troubleshooting

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During our welcome call, we will create a personalized communication plan. In this plan, we will discuss what methods we will use for our weekly communications. Please remember, our communication time is a judgement free zone and will always be kept confidential. My only expectation is that you communicate with me and hold yourself accountable for your goals/intentions of the week!

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Click the photo for: WGU Student Handbook - Academic Progress 

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For paraprofessionals, classroom aides, aspiring teachers eager to start the journey as a licensed K–12 educator, or working professionals ready to make the switch to a more meaningful career in the classroom.

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Book calls with me using the scheduling link. Click the picture to schedule now! 😊

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We will be doing scheduled maintenance on Oct 10th from 10:00 p.m. to Oct 11 at 12:30 a.m. MT. During this time the Student Portal and Enrollment Portal may be unavailable. Please check back after the maintenance is completed. Thank you for your patience.

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Elliandra and her husband at a Green Bay Packers game in Jacksonville, Florida (they won!) 

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My name is Elliandra (Elli) Franzen and I am a Program Mentor at WGU for the Teacher's College.

I have nearly two decades worth of educational experience. I have taught kindergarten (general education), K-6 and some high school (special education).

I am an Air Force wife, dog mom, and a proud Native Hawaiian!

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For paraprofessionals to help in overcoming some of the financial barriers that often prevent them from pursuing their dreams of becoming teachers. Receive up to $5,000 per scholarship recipient.

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To help us keep this website secure, please wait while we verify you’re not a robot! It will only take a few seconds…

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Example of a whiteboard that can be used during the OA 

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Dry-erase Whiteboard Standards for Online Proctoring:

Students can use one dry-erase whiteboard and one eraser. Students will be asked to clear the whiteboard after each testing session.

The dry-erase whiteboard must meet the standards listed below:

Both sides must not have any lettering, graphics, or logos

May have graphing lines

Must be erasable

Cannot have memory

Must be of a size that can be in full camera view at all times

It cannot be wall-mounted

Note: Only one whiteboard can be used during the online proctored assessment.

Your eraser must be seen at all times and must be clear of all logos, lettering and graphics (example: sock)

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Pen+Gear Magnetic Dry Erase Board with Plastic Black Frame, Assembled Product Dimension 8.5″ x 11″ x 0.6″ - Walmart.com

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Buy Pen+Gear Magnetic Dry Erase Board with Plastic Black Frame, Assembled Product Dimension 8.5″ x 11″ x 0.6″ at Walmart.com

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Task Overview: Where you will find the criteria for the assessment

Competencies

Introduction

Scenario

Requirements

Rubric

Submissions: Where you will submit your task (only use Microsoft software; PDFs are great to keep formatting accurate!)

Evaluation Report: Where to see the results of your paper (and what you need to adjust for revisions!)

Competent

Approaching Competence

Not Evident

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Information for Early Clinical Experiences

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Information for Early Clinical Experiences

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Here are the Handbook links for all questions Early Clinical!

Application Requirements for Early Clinical Experiences

Placement Guidelines and Requirements for Early Clinical

PCE Placement Guidelines and Requirements

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Application Requirements for Early Clinical Experiences

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To gain approval for Early Clinical Experiences, candidates must complete the requirements listed on their Clinical Experience Page, accessible via the button on their degree plan. Teacher Candidates must obtain Early Clinical approval and click the Start Course button within one week of their Early…

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Instructor: Your Course Instructor is there to help guide you through the coursework and answer any content based questions! They can provide study tips, study guides, practice quizzes, and more!

Announcements: If the course has any important updates, you can find it in the announcements section

Course Tips: Where you can find specific content that course instructors encourage you to use (study guides, pacing guides, etc.)

Course Search: Quick search

Course Chatter: See what questions your peers are asking and the responses from CIs!

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Click on image to enlarge info-graphic: Know It, Skip It, Guess It

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Know It, Skip It, Guess It (Testing Method)

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Know It, Skip It, Guess It (Testing Method)

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At the start of each communication we have, I will always ask what your wins were for the week!

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Click the photo for: WGU Student Handbook - Academic Activity Policy

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For the men and women who work in America’s K–12 schools and districts who desire to earn a WGU bachelor’s or master’s degree.

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I am in the Central Standard Time Zone.

My office hours are updated weekly in my email signature. Hours are subject to change. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out!

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Click the image to enlarge the graphic: My Mentor's Expectation of me, herself, and role in my education 

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My Expectations of my Students:

I hold my students to a high standard of being kind, considerate, timely, and professional.

I ask that you:

Commit to holding yourself accountable to your program and degree

Maintain consistent communication with me

Keep an open mind

Remember the growth mindset: small goals lead up to the big goals!

My Expectations of Myself:

I hold myself to extremely high standards as your mentor.

I will:

Always do my best to communicate with you in the way that you need in order to be successful

Guide, coach, and support you

Direct you to appropriate supports

Maintain a positive and judgement free environment

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Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader - Chrome Web Store

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Read aloud the current web-page article with one click, using text to speech (TTS). Supports 40+ languages.

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Discounted Computers - TAMS Outlet WGU Partnership

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WGU also has discounts through Dell computers that can be accessed from the student portal by following these steps:
1 – Sign in to the Student Portal.
2 – Click on the “Student Support” tab and go into “Student Life”.
3 – There will be a link titled “Special Discounts for WGU Students”.
4 –The new page will have the link to the Dell website with the discounts.

Amazon has great deals on refurbished laptops that range from $150-$300 with WGU Laptop Requirements.

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Click on image to enlarge picture. Please note this is for VIEWING PURPOSES ONLY. This is not intended to be copied and pasted into a Word Document. 

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Task Submission Set-Up: Reference Guide 

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Task Submission Set-Up: Reference Guide 

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Here is a basic set up for a task without a template provided.

Please note: If you are provided a template for a task, it is expected that you use said template. Please use this reference as a guide ONLY. For viewing purposes only.

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Here are the Handbook links for all questions Advanced Clinical!

Application Requirements for Advanced Clinical Experiences

Student Teaching Attendance Policy

Student Teaching Observations, Midterm, and Final Evaluation

Student Teaching Pacing Guide

Video Recording Policy and Guidelines

Placement Guidelines and Requirements for Advanced Clinicals

Student Teaching Placement Guidelines and Requirements

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The Success Centers can be found in your student portal at the top of your screen. Here, you will find all success centers, the academic coaching center, WGU's student library, career and professional development centers, and your personal learning guides.

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Click on image to enlarge info-graphic: Brain Dump 

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Every week I will ask what your intentions are for the week. Think of intentions as being your weekly academic goals - without the pressure of the word goal!

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Click the photo for: WGU Student Handbook - Computer System and Technology Requirements

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Computer System and Technology Requirements

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I. PURPOSE This policy establishes guidelines for computer system and technology requirements. Scope: This policy applies to all Western Governors University (WGU) students. II. REFERENCES Microsoft Office 365 for WGU Students WGU System Check Tool III. DEFINITIONS Not applicable.…

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Information for WGU students and mentors about financial resources that are available for students who need urgent help.

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How do I get help if my mentor is out of the office? 

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How do I get help if my mentor is out of the office? 

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Tier 1 Coaching

On-Demand Mentoring, 7 Days a Week

Email: Tier1Support@wgu.edu

Phone: (385) 428-3035

Text: (385) 985-2645

Hours: M-F 8 AM-8PM MT | Sa-Su 10 AM-7PM MT

Tier 1 cannot complete welcome calls, term planning, or term registration. Please ensure you are booking those calls with me using my scheduling link. 😉

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Elliandra and her husband Erik at an Air Force graduation event. 

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I strive to create a warm, safe, and inclusive environment.

I take a holistic coaching approach to all situations.

I will always put YOU over "student you".

Your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health are the most important priorities to me!

You will always be welcomed as you are. I will never judge you or shame you for being you! Everyone is welcomed and safe here ❤️

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This policy establishes assessment and assessment environment requirements, grading, and procedures if a student requires multiple assessment attempts, a scoring review, or a scoring appeal.

Scope: This policy applies to students.

1. Academic Authenticity

2. Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Policy

3. Are there any software offers I can take advantage of as a student?

4. Assessment Appeals FAQ

5. Assessment Scheduling and Rescheduling Information

6. Student Support Services

7. Can I use scratch paper or a whiteboard during an objective assessment?

8. Coaching Report and Results Policy

9. Competency-Based Learning

10. Computer System and Technology Requirements

11. First-Term Critical Actions

12. How can I access my task submissions in a previous course?

13. Incomplete Course Policy

14. Performance Assessment Scoring Policy and Rubrics

15. Readmission Following Withdrawal

16. Take a Break Feature for Proctored Online Assessments

17. What is a Similarity Checker?

18. What types of calculators are allowed during objective assessments?

1. Performance Assessment: An unproctored summative assessment typically consisting of individual work created by the student (e.g., lesson plans, business analysis, presentations, reports, essays) and scored according to a standardized rubric and used to verify competency. Students must successfully demonstrate competency as defined in the rubric in order to pass the assessment.

2. Pre-assessment: An unproctored, no-stakes objective assessment provided to students to gauge readiness for the credit-bearing assessment. The pre-assessment is developed using the same test specifications as the credit-bearing objective assessment.

3. Objective Assessment: A timed summative assessment delivered in a secure environment used to measure student competency. Objective assessments typically consist of selected-response type items (e.g., multiple-choice, multiple-select, matching, etc.). Items are scored with a key that indicates correct and incorrect options. Students must successfully demonstrate competency to pass the assessment.

1. Student's thorough preparation for all assessments is recommended as it facilitates more timely progress toward graduation. Students ensure assessment validity when they spend time preparing their Performance Assessment submission commensurate with the complexity and challenge of the task.

2. Deadlines for students' submissions of performance coursework at the end of the term. A student's work submitted and passed before the end of the term will be credited on the date of submission. Performance tasks must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the final day of the student's term. Students who do not submit before 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the last day of their term will receive a Not Pass on their assessment for the term, even if the assessment receives a passing score.

1. In rare and specific situations, an incomplete may be available (see the Incomplete Course Policy). Students should work with their Program Mentor to understand the requirements and process for applying for an incomplete.

2. If a student takes a term break and a task has not been evaluated, the task will be evaluated upon return and then credited to the term in which it was submitted.

3. Multiple Attempts. When assessments are developed by WGU, the rights of students to retake assessments are included with information disseminated, either during the assessment procedures or available in the Student Handbook, to WGU staff and students. Students are able to independently submit work when revisions are needed to demonstrate competency. There are two scenarios in which a student may be referred to their instructor for additional assistance with the task prior to resubmission:

1. Instructor support is recommended to strengthen the student's understanding of the content of the course before working further on the Performance Assessment. The task is released to the student for resubmission, with the encouragement to connect with the instructor before resubmitting their work.

2. Instructor consultation is required before resubmission of the student's Performance Assessment. In this case, the student will be able to see the scores and evaluation feedback and must consult with the instructor for support in demonstrating proficiency in key areas of the Performance Assessment. The student will need to obtain the instructor's approval to resubmit the Performance Assessment.

4. Evaluation Result. If students do not pass Performance Assessments by the end of the term, they will receive a Not Passed (Grading Scale) on their degree plan and transcript. It is, therefore, in a student's best interest to utilize the course of study and degree plan and submit early in a term to enable additional submissions should their first attempt result in a Not Passed. The time between task submission and the evaluation is longer toward the end of each month and at peak times, such as in advance of student teaching audits in teacher licensure programs and near graduation deadlines. Students should plan accordingly.

5. Software Usage. The following file types are not acceptable for Performance Assessment submission: Prezi (unless submitted in a .pdf format), Emaze, any file that is accessed via a live link to an editable document i.e., Google Documents, DropBox links, OneDrive links (Unless specified in course instructions), and Password-protected files.

Students should submit the original file by downloading it to their computer before it is submitted for evaluation. Always consult the task directions for additional notes on required file types. Students can take advantage of a free offer for Microsoft Office. Visit Are there any software offers I can take advantage of as a student? to learn more.

6. Objective Assessment - End of Term Deadline. Through the use of online proctoring, students can schedule and complete WGU Objective Assessments until the last day of the term. Any scheduled assessment must be scheduled before 11:45 p.m. Mountain Time, and the student must successfully connect with a proctor before 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time, regardless of the student's time zone, on the last day of their term. Students can successfully connect with a proctor by clicking in the Assessment Center during the scheduled exam time. Students who are unable to connect with a proctor before 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the last day of their term will receive a Not Pass on their assessment for the term, even if the assessment receives a passing score.

1. In general, third-party assessments need to be approved and scheduled three days before the last day of a student's term. However, students are responsible for understanding all scheduling and testing deadlines for third-party exams. Students who need to take a third-party exam are encouraged to work closely with their Program Mentors and proactively schedule exams according to individual exam requirements. Depending on the exam requirements, students may need to schedule multiple weeks or months in advance. It is highly recommended that any third-party assessment is scheduled before the last month of the term to ensure adequate time for scheduling and receipt of the score.

2. In rare and specific situations, an incomplete may be available (see the Incomplete Course Policy). Students must work with their program mentor to understand the requirements and the process of applying for an incomplete.

7. No Show. WGU clears all no-shows from the student record for any WGU-created Objective Assessments, as they do not count as an attempt. This includes no-shows for Objective Assessments taken via online proctoring or at an on-site proctor location. For third-party certification exams that require a voucher or other form of payment, students will receive a no-show according to the third-party provider's policies.

8. Identity Verification. WGU requires that the identity of all students be verified utilizing a current, valid (not expired), government-issued photo identification (ID), including temporary IDs, where the picture, name, and expiration date are clearly visible before beginning an Objective Assessment. The first and last name on the identification must match the first and last name on file with WGU. Acceptable IDs include:

1. Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by a Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

2. Temporary Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by a Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

3. Permanent Digital IDs with a photo issued by a Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

4. Temporary Digital IDs will be allowed with a photo issued by a Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

5. Temporary Driver's licenses or IDs (Digital or hard copy) without a picture can be used in combination with an expired permanent photo identity version.

6. Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID

7. Registration card (such as a green card, permanent resident, or visa) Students should contact Student Support Services with any questions regarding the identity verification process or acceptable IDs.

9. The proctor may request that students shift position due to the location of entryways into the chosen testing location. If the student moves out of the frame of the webcam, including taking a break, they will be required to re-secure their environment. If a student requires an accommodation as an exception to any of the below items, they should contact Objective Assessment Secure Environment. WGU requires that all students using online proctoring for their Objective Assessments test within a secure environment. A secure environment is defined as a place that is clear of any papers, books, and other materials. This includes any items on the walls around them. WGU Objective Assessment items are considered high-stakes and are not available for review outside of the secure testing environment. The secure environment must also be clear of any other person(s), and the student is the only person in the vicinity of the environment chosen for the test session. The test session is defined to be from the time the proctor joins the session to when the exam has been submitted. The proctor is responsible for maintaining a secure environment during the testing session. The proctor has the discretion to adjust the requirements below as needed to ensure a secure environment.

Student Disability Services.

1. Permitted

1. Children under the age of five and small animals are permitted in the vicinity of the environment but if the situation causes disruption due to interaction, etc., the proctor is allowed to use discretion in stopping the session at any point.

2. For exam security, only one computer monitor is permitted to be open and used during the session. Any additional monitors must be closed and/or powered off.

3. A glass of water is permitted to be in the secure environment during the exam session.

2. Approved testing aids permitted in the secure environment

1. Approved calculator (see Testing Tools Policy section below).

2. WGU-issued whiteboard or student's own whiteboard. Students should see the whiteboard standards at Can I use scratch paper or a whiteboard during an objective assessment? for criteria that a whiteboard must meet.

3. WGU-issued webcam, or student's own external webcam, provided it meets the required specifications. Students should see the required specifications at Computer System and Technology Requirements.

4. Speakers are required to be on and connected to the computer. Proctors will communicate with students via their computer speakers during the exam, which is the time the proctor joins the session to when the exam has been submitted. Built-in, hard-wired, or Bluetooth speakers are acceptable.

Note: Headphones are not permitted as speaker replacements (please see below).

3. Not Permitted

1. Once the exam session is launched, there is no cell phone usage permitted. The proctor will secure the cell phone if it is in hand (the student will be asked to place the phone in a place where it is visible at all times). If technical difficulties are experienced, the proctor will reach out to the student via phone and online.

2. Adults (including children over the age of 5) are not permitted in the chosen testing environment.

3. Headphones and/or earplugs are not permitted as approved testing tools during the test session.

4. Handwritten or printed materials, such as dictionaries, notebooks, scratch paper, textbooks, etc.

5. Any other electronic or Bluetooth devices or reference materials, including recorders, radios, CD players, iPods, smartwatches (e.g., Apple watch), etc. not listed as permitted or approved above.

6. On-screen keyboards

7. Sunglasses

8. Talking and/or reading questions aloud during the examination session is not permitted.

9. Highlighting and/or copying and pasting exam material is not permitted.

10. Testing Tools. WGU allows approved, permitted tools to be used during the proctoring sessions for the completion of Objective Assessments. These permitted tools are strongly encouraged if needed, and this policy is strongly enforced and monitored.

1. . Students are allowed to use a WGU-issued webcam or their own external webcam, provided it meets the required specifications for online-proctored (OLP) exam sessions. Internal webcams are not permitted at any time during an OLP session.

2. Whiteboard and Scratch Paper. Students may use one dry-erase whiteboard during online proctored assessments. The whiteboard must be free of any lettering, graphics, or logos but may have graphing lines. Students will be asked to clear the whiteboard at the start and end of each testing session. Once the scheduled session is completed, the proctor will require the student to erase their whiteboard before the session can be officially submitted for scoring. Scratch paper is not permitted during online proctoring sessions. Please see the full whiteboard standards for criteria that a whiteboard must meet.

3. Calculators. Only WGU-approved calculators are permitted for use during a proctored session. To see a list of approved calculators, visit Approved Calculators.

11. As aligns with the WGU Academic Authenticity Policy, when taking a proctored WGU assessment, the student may not access any device or material not specifically approved in advance nor communicate with anyone except the proctor.

12. Appeals. Students may appeal Performance Assessment scores and Objective Assessment results. Student, instructor, or program mentor may submit the appeal. It is highly recommended that students consult with their Instructor about the results of their evaluation before submitting an appeal. Students may not resubmit a performance assessment task while an appeal is under review. If students resubmit a Performance Assessment task while an inquiry is under review, the appeal will be automatically canceled.

1. After the student completes an Objective Assessment, they will receive in their student portal assessment section their score and a coaching report showing a high-level view of overall competency. This information is available to students in their student portal within 24 hours of their completion of the Objective Assessment. Please see the Coaching Report and Results Policy for more information on coaching reports for Preassessments and Objective Assessments.

2. After a student completes a Performance Assessment, the student will receive their scoring in their student portal assessment section.

3. Any Objective Assessment attempt after the first attempt will need to be approved by an Instructor. Attempts on each Objective Assessment, including outside vendor assessments, are limited to four attempts per assessment (total attempts, including if the course is retaken in a later term). Attempts after four need approval from the Program Mentor, Instructor, Instruction Faculty Manager, and Senior Manager. After a fourth attempt to demonstrate competency for the Objective Assessment, an appeal for an additional attempt may be submitted to senior leadership for the course (approval unlikely, except in extreme circumstances). If the appeal for an additional attempt is denied, a student must either change to a different WGU degree program not requiring that assessment or seek educational opportunities outside of WGU.

1. Prior to retaking an assessment, students must consult with their instructor to develop a personalized study plan. The study plan may include a recurring appointment with an Instructor, engagement in the Course of Study, engagement in weekly webinars, or other appropriate educational activities.

2. Attempts three and beyond require a minimum five-day waiting period, Instructor, and supervisory approvals and are only granted after student engagement standards are met. After a fourth attempt to demonstrate competency for the Objective Assessment, an appeal for an additional attempt may be submitted to senior leadership for the course (rarely approved except in extreme circumstances). If the appeal for an additional attempt is denied, a student must either change to a different WGU degree program not requiring that assessment or seek educational opportunities outside of WGU.

3. Once an Objective Assessment retake is approved by an Instructor, the student can schedule and take the assessment from the Assessment Center.

4. Once a student, Instructor, or Program Mentor submits an appeal to Appeals. Before submitting an appeal, instructors will work with students to determine if an appeal is the best course of action to help students meet their course goals. If, after consultation, the student and/or Instructor disagree with the evaluation feedback or identify an error in scoring and determine that an appeal is the best option, WGU will provide a timely review of the concerns using the evaluation appeal process. Student, Instructor, or Program Mentor may submit an assessment appeal through Student Support Services. Assessment appeals must route through Student Support Services, which serves as WGU's our single point of contact for these inquiries. Student Support Services ensures the correct evaluation team receives the inquiry, tracks for an on-time response, and communicates the resolution.
Student Support Services, WGU will respond within 24 hours to let the student know the request is assigned to senior evaluation faculty. The evaluation supervisor investigates the concern and responds with an appeal decision. Performance task appeals may take up to 72 hours for review, depending on the complexity of the inquiry. Objective Assessment appeals may take up to five (5) business days for review, depending on the complexity of the inquiry.

The individual submitting the appeal should include the following important information in the appeal request:

1. Course number (or code) and task number when applicable.

2. Task instruction(s) and/or exam item number(s) if known.

3. Pertinent rubric and/or item descriptions.

4. Score(s) the student received on the aspect(s), along with any comments given.

5. What the student believes should have happened regarding the evaluation or the exam results.

6. Quotations with appropriate citations to the course text or other credible sources supporting your assertions, if applicable.

5. If a student is not able to complete a course, the student should work with their Program Mentor to understand the requirements and process to apply for an incomplete.

6. For third-party assessments, students unsure of the specific approval and retake policy in effect should contact their Program Mentor and Instructor for clarification. Students are strongly encouraged to take practice or sample assessments where they are available, reflect upon their related learning experiences and abilities, and consult with their Instructor on appropriate learning resource use before seeking approval to take a third-party assessment.

7. For more information about the services available for our alumni, please visit alumni.wgu.edu or contact our Alumni Relations team.

Policy Maintenance Information

Policy: Assessment Policies

Responsible Department: Evaluation

Effective Date: 3/27/2014

Approved Date: 3/27/2014

Viewability: WGU-Community

Legacy Article Numbers: 23128, 20374, 1057, 1803

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I. PURPOSE This policy establishes assessment and assessment environment requirements, grading, and procedures if a student requires multiple assessment attempts, a scoring review, or a scoring appeal. Scope: This policy applies to students. II. REFERENCES Academic Authenticity Accommo...

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Click on image to enlarge picture. Please note this is not a real task or a real submission. This is for educational purposes only to show an example of how to submit revisions on a task. 

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Most of the time when you receive revisions, it is not because the entire paper is wrong - but instead just needs a couple of tweaks.

When I get notification that a task came back for revisions, I will look at your evaluation report and summarize evaluator notes in an email to you.

Best practice: Use a different color to show where you made your revisions and what was changed/edited.

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Clinical Experience Checklist - Changes are Coming!

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Clinical Experience Checklist - Changes are Coming!

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Welcome to Clinical Experiences! Here is a generic checklist of the clinical experience requirements.

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Student Support is where you will find all important contacts at WGU.

Student Services

Disability Services

Student Wellbeing

IT Service Desk

Assessment Services

Financial Services

Student Life

Contact WGU

Field Experience

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Click on image to enlarge info-graphic: PowerPoint Study Method 

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Click the photo for: WGU Student Handbook - First-Term Critical Actions

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This policy establishes academic requirements for new students during the first 45 days of their first term.

Scope: This policy applies to new students enrolled in their first term. Readmission students or Continuing
Graduates are not considered new students and this policy does not apply to them.

1. First-Term Critical Actions: Academic activities that are highly correlated with student success in the
first term (and each successive term).

2. Preassessment: Preassessments are no-stakes online assessments provided to students to determine
current knowledge and skills prior to engaging in the course material.

3. Objective Assessment: Computer scored assessments used to verify competency.

4. Performance Assessment: Assessments completed within the student's assessment platform which
typically include individual tasks (e.g., research papers, assignments, projects, and essays) that, when
combined, demonstrate competency for a larger assessment. Note that all assessments, regardless of the
delivery platform, are formal testing processes and not exercises or "homework."

1. New students are required to engage in at least one of the following academic First-Term Critical Actions in at least one registered course during the first 45 days of their first term: Completion of a Preassessment, Completion of an Objective Assessment, or Submission of a Performance Assessment task. If a Performance Assessment task is returned without an evaluation (as expressed in a comment accompanying the returned task), the submission does not count as a Critical Action. If an evaluation is completed, the submission will count as a Critical Action whether the submission passes or is returned for revision. If a task is subject to an Academic Authenticity evaluation, a case-by-case determination may occur regarding whether the submission will count as a Critical Action.

2. Students who do not complete at least one of the First-Term Critical Actions listed above will be administratively withdrawn after the 45th day and will receive a prorated tuition refund in accordance with WGU's Refund Policy. Any activity that occurs before the first day of the term or after the 45th day is not considered a Critical Action.

3. Appeals related to withdrawal under this policy may be requested for the following reasons:

1. A scheduled Critical Action was postponed or canceled due to a WGU outage or interruption.

2. An extenuating and unavoidable circumstance prevented the student from completing a Critical
Action.

4. If a student's appeal is denied, the student may seek enrollment at WGU after the term from which they
were withdrawn has concluded. Students will be required to reapply for admission and are encouraged to
contact their enrollment counselor or call 866.225.5948 for more information.

1. Students will receive multiple email notifications if they are approaching the Critical Action deadline and
have not completed a Critical Action.

2. Students administratively withdrawn under this policy will receive the transcript notation of "Dropped"
on all registered courses for the term.

3. Students who wish to appeal a Critical Action Administrative Withdrawal should do so by completing the
form linked within their email notification that the withdrawal processing has begun. Students must submit
the appeal form within 48 hours of receiving the withdrawal notification. WGU will send appeal decisions
to the student in writing.

4. Questions regarding student policies can be directed to WGU Student Ombuds at ombuds@wgu.edu.

Policy Maintenance Information

Policy: First-Term Critical Actions

Responsible Department: Office of the Registrar

Effective Date: 12/5/2018

Approved Date: 12/5/2018

Viewability: Student Facing

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I. PURPOSE This policy establishes academic requirements for new students during the first 45 days of their first term. Scope: This policy applies to new students enrolled in their first term. Readmission students or Continuing Graduates are not considered new students and this policy does n...

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Most would describe me as your "token Kindergarten Teacher".

My husband and I have been together since 9th grade (a CRAZY long time!) He is currently in the Air Force and we are stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida!

I have a 6 year old Labrador Mix named "Macaroni" ❤️

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My favorite color is pink!

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The ACC is a great place for additional support in all subjects! Meet with an Academic Coach today for more help with task set-up, task requirements, task rubrics, and evaluation reports.

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Your Field Experience Page can be found when you click on "Student Support" and scroll all the way to the bottom and select "Field Experience". This is where you will find all of your state's requirements - as well as where you will upload your clinical experience requirements. Once you enroll in your state, you will be provided with various support contacts for more help!

This is subject to change with updates to the clinical experience.

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Your Objective Assessment will not open until you attempt the Pre-Assessment.

It is best practice to pass the pre-assessment prior to taking the objective assessment.

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This Clinical Experience Handbook addresses both WGU teacher candidates pursuing initial licensure and the clinical supervisors and mentor teachers who are vital to the candidate's success during all clinical experiences - preclinical experiences and student teaching (WGU's terms for clinical practice or student teaching).

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Clinical Experiences Handbook - Initial Licensure Programs

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At this point you will schedule your Term Planning Call with me.

Best Practices: Complete all courses by the 15th of the last month of your term.

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Citation Machine - Free APA Citation Generator

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Citation Machine - Free APA Citation Generator

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Overview of this guide:

This page provides you with an overview of APA format, 7th edition. Included is information about referencing, various citation formats with examples for each source type, and other helpful information.

If you're looking for MLA format, check out the Citation Machine MLA Guide. Also, visit the Citation Machine homepage to use the APA formatter, which is an APA citation generator, and to see more styles.

Being responsible while researching

When you're writing a research paper or creating a research project, you will probably use another individual's work to help develop your own assignment. A good researcher or scholar uses another individual's work in a responsible way. This involves indicating that the work of other individuals is included in your project (i.e., citing), which is one way to prevent plagiarism.

Plagiarism? What is it?

The word plagiarism is derived from the Latin word, plagiare, which means "to kidnap." The term has evolved over the years to now mean the act of taking another individual's work and using it as your own, without acknowledging the original author (American Psychological Association, 2020 p. 21). Plagiarism can be illegal and there can be serious ramifications for plagiarizing someone else's work. Thankfully, plagiarism can be prevented. One way it can be prevented is by including citations and references in your research project. Want to make them quickly and easily? Try the Citation Machine citation generator, which is found on our homepage.

All about citations & references

Citations and references should be included anytime you use another individual's work in your own assignment. When including a quote, paraphrased information, images, or any other piece of information from another's work, you need to show where you found it by including a citation and a reference. This guide explains how to make them.

APA style citations are added in the body of a research paper or project and references are added to the last page.

Citations, which are called in-text citations, are included when you're adding information from another individual's work into your own project. When you add text word-for-word from another source into your project, or take information from another source and place it in your own words and writing style (known as paraphrasing), you create an in-text citation. These citations are short in length and are placed in the main part of your project, directly after the borrowed information.

References are found at the end of your research project, usually on the last page. Included on this reference list page is the full information for any in-text citations found in the body of the project. These references are listed in alphabetical order by the author's last name.

An APA in-text citation includes only three items: the last name(s) of the author(s), the year the source was published, and sometimes the page or location of the information. References include more information such as the name of the author(s), the year the source was published, the full title of the source, and the URL or page range.

Here is the text description of the in-text citation examples.

Here is the text description of the reference examples.

Why is it important to include citations & references

Including APA citations and references in your research projects is a very important component of the research process. When you include citations, you're being a responsible researcher. You're showing readers that you were able to find valuable, high-quality information from other sources, place them into your project where appropriate, all while acknowledging the original authors and their work.

Common ways students and scholars accidentally plagiarize

Believe it or not, there are instances when you could attempt to include in-text and full references in the appropriate places, but still accidentally plagiarize. Here are some common mistakes to be aware of:

Mistake #1 - Misquoting sources: If you plan to use a direct quote, make sure you copy it exactly as is. Sure, you can use part of the full quote or sentence, but if you decide to put quotation marks around any words, those words should match exactly what was found in the original source. Here's a line from The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry:

"Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them."

Here's an acceptable option:

"Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves," stated de Saint-Exupéry (1943, p. 3).

Here's a misquote:

"Grown-ups barely ever understand anything by themselves," stated de Saint-Exupéry (1943, p. 3).

Notice the slight change in the words. The incorrect phrasing is an instance of accidental plagiarism.

Mistake #2 - Problems with paraphrasing: When we paraphrase, we restate information using our own words and writing style. It's not acceptable to substitute words from the original source with synonyms.

Let's use the same sentence from The Little Prince.

A correct paraphrase could be:

de Saint-Exupéry (1943) shares various ways adults frustrate children. One of the biggest being that kids have to explain everything. It's too bad adults are unable to comprehend anything on their own (p. 3).

An incorrect paraphrase would be:

de Saint-Exupéry (1943) shares that adults never understand anything by themselves, and it is exhausting for kids to be always and forever clarifying things to them (p.3).

Notice how close the incorrect paraphrase is from the original. This is an instance of accidental plagiarism.

Make sure you quote and paraphrase properly in order to prevent accidental plagiarism.

If you're having a difficult time paraphrasing properly, it is acceptable to paraphrase part of the text AND use a direct quote. Here's an example:

de Saint-Exupery (1943) shares various ways adults frustrate children. One of the biggest being that kids have to explain everything, and "it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them" (p. 3).

Information About APA

Who created it?

The American Psychological Association is an organization created for individuals in the psychology field. With close to 121,000 members, they provide educational opportunities, funding, guidance, and research information for everything psychology-related. They also have numerous high-quality databases, peer-reviewed journals, and books that revolve around mental health.

The American Psychological Association is also credited with creating their own specific citation and reference style. Today, this format is used by individuals not only in the psychology field, but many other subject areas as well. Education, economics, business, and social sciences also use APA style quite frequently. Click here for more information. This guide covers general information about the style, but is not affiliated with the American Psychological Association.

Why was this style created?

This format was first developed in 1929 to form a standardized way for researchers in science fields to document their sources. Prior to the inception of these standards and guidelines, individuals were recognizing the work of other authors by including bits and pieces of information in random order. There wasn't a set way to format citations and references. You can probably imagine how difficult it was to understand the sources that were used for research projects!

Having a standard format for citing sources allows readers to glance at a citation or APA reference and easily locate the title, author, year published, and other critical pieces of information needed to understand a source.

The evolution of this style

The guide below is based on APA style 7th edition, which was released in 2020. In previous versions of APA format, researchers and scholars were required to include the publisher location for books and the date that an electronic resource was accessed. Both are no longer required to be included.

Details on the differences between the 6th and 7th editions is addressed later in this guide.

Citations & References

The appearance of citations & references

The format for references varies, but most use this general format:

%%Author's Last name, First initial. (Date published). Title. URL

Researchers and scholars must look up the proper format for the source that they're attempting to cite. Books have a certain format, websites have a different format, periodicals have a different format, and so on. Scroll down to find the proper format for the source you're citing or referencing.

If you would like help citing your sources, CitationMachine.com has a citation generator that will help make the APA citation process much easier for you. To start, simply click on the source type you're citing:

In-text citations

An APA in-text citation is included in research projects in three instances: When using a direct quote, paraphrasing information, or simply referring to a piece of information from another source.

Quite often, researchers and scholars use a small amount of text, word for word, from another source and include it in their own research projects. This is done for many reasons. Sometimes, another author's words are so eloquently written that there isn't a better way to rephrase it yourself. Other times, the author's words can help prove a point or establish an understanding for something in your research project. When using another author's exact words in your research project, include an APA in-text citation directly following it.

In addition to using the exact words from another source and placing them into your project, these citations are also added anytime you paraphrase information. Paraphrasing is when you take information from another source and rephrase it, in your own words.

When simply referring to another piece of information from another source, also include a citation directly following it.

Citations in the text are found near a direct quote, paraphrased information, or next to a mention of another source. To see examples of some narrative/ parenthetical citations in action, look at the image above, under "All About Citations & References."
Note: *Only include the page or paragraph number when using a direct quote or paraphrase. Page numbers have a p. before the number, pp. before the page range, and para. before the paragraph number. This information is included to help the reader locate the exact portion of text themselves. It is unnecessary to include this information when you're simply referring to another source. Examples of APA in-text citations:

"Well, you're about to enter the land of the free and the brave. And I don't know how you got that stamp on your passport. The priest must know someone" (Tóibín, 2009, p. 52).

and

Student teachers who use technology in their lessons tend to continue using technology tools throughout their teaching careers (Kent & Giles, 2017, p. 12).

If including the author's name in the sentence, place the year in the parentheses directly next to his or her name. Add the page number at the end, unless it's a source without any pages or paragraph numbers (See Section 8.10 of the Publication manual for more details).
In-text citation APA example:

According to a study done by Kent and Giles (2017), student teachers who use technology in their lessons tend to continue using technology tools throughout their teaching careers.

The full references, or citations, for these sources can be found on the last part of a research project, titled the "References."

Here's how to create in-text citations for specific amounts of authors:

APA citation with no author

When the source lacks an author's name, place the title, year, and page number (if available) in the text. The title should be in italics if it sits alone (such as a movie, brochure, or report). If the source is part of a whole (as many web pages and articles are), place the title in quotation marks without italics (See Section 8.14 of the Publication manual).
Structure of an APA format citation in the text narratively, with the author's name missing:
Title of Source (Year) or "Title of Source" (Year)

OR

Structure of an APA style format citation, in parentheses at the end of the sentence, with the author's name missing: (Title of Source, Year) or ("Title of Source," Year)

Structure for one author

In the text, narratively: Last name of Author (Year)...(page number).

OR

In parentheses, at the end of the sentence: (Last name of Author, Year, page number).

Structure for two authors

Place the authors in the order they appear on the source. Only use the ampersand in the parenthetical citations (see Section 8.17 of the Publication manual). Use 'and' to separate the author names if they're in the text of the sentence.

In the text, narratively: Last name of Author 1 and Last name of Author 2 (Year)....(page number).

OR

In parentheses, at the end of the sentence: (Last name of Author 1 & Last name of Author 2, Year, page number).

Structure for three or more authors

Only include the first listed author's name in the first and any subsequent citations. Follow it with et al.

(Last name Author 1 et al., Year, page number)

(Agbayani et al., 2020, p. 99)

OR

Last name of Author 1 et al. (Year)...(page).

Agbayani et al. (2020)...(p. 99)

One author, multiple works, same year

What do you do when you want to cite multiple works by an author, and the sources all written in the same year?

Include the letters 'a' 'b' 'c' and so on after the year in the citation.

(Jackson, 2013a)

OR

Jackson (2013a)

Writers can even lump dates together.

Example: Jackson often studied mammals while in Africa (2013a, 2013b).

On the APA reference page, include the same letters in the full references.

Groups and organizations

Write out the full name of the group or organization in the first citation and place the abbreviation next to it in brackets. If the group or organization is cited again, only include the abbreviation. If it doesn't have an abbreviation associated with it, write out the entire organization's name each and every time (see Section 8.21 of the Publication manual).
Example:
First APA citation for an organization with an abbreviation: (World Health Organization [WHO], Year)

OR

World Health Organization (WHO, Year)

Notice in the example directly above, the name of the organization is written out in full in the text of the sentence, and the abbreviation is placed in parentheses next to it.

Subsequent APA citations in the text for an organization with an abbreviation: (WHO, Year) OR WHO (Year)
Example:
All citations in the text for an organization without an abbreviation: (Citation Machine, Year) or Citation Machine (Year)

One in-text citation, multiple works

Sometimes you'll need to cite more than one work within an in-text citation. Follow the same format (author, year) format but place semicolons between works (p. 263).
Example:
(Obama, 2016; Monroe et al., 1820; Hoover & Coolidge, 1928)

Reminder: There are many citation tools available on CitationMachine.com. Head to our homepage to learn more, check out our APA citation website, and cite your sources easily! The most useful resource on our website? Our APA citation generator, which doesn't just create full references, it's also an APA in-text citation website! It'll do both for you!

Click here to learn more about crediting work.

Reference list citation components

References display the full information for all the citations found in the body of a research project.

Some things to keep in mind when it comes to the references:

All references sit together on their own page, which is usually the last page(s) of a paper.

Title the page 'References'

Place 'References' in the center of the page and bold it. Keep the title in the same font and size as the references. Do not italicize, underline, place the title in quotation marks, or increase the font size.

The entire page is double spaced.

All references are listed in alphabetical order by the first word in the reference, which is usually the author's last name. If the source lacks an author, alphabetize the source by the title (ignore A, An, or The)

All references have a hanging indent, meaning that the second line of text is indented in half an inch. See examples throughout this guide.

Remember, each and every citation in the text of the paper MUST have a full reference displayed in the reference list. The citations in the text provide the reader with a quick glimpse about the sources used, but the references in the reference list provide the reader with all the information needed to seek out the source themselves.

Learn more about each component of the reference citation and how to format it in the sections that follow. See an APA sample paper reference list at the end of this entire section.

Author's names

The names of authors are written in reverse order. Include the initials for the first and middle names. End this information with a period (see Section 9.8 of the Publication manual).

Format: Last name, F. M.
Example:
Two or more authors

When two or more authors work together on a source, write them in the order in which they appear on the source. You can name up to 20 authors in the reference. For sources with 2 to 20 authors, place an ampersand (&) before the final author. Use this format:

Last name, F. M., & Last name, F. M.

OR

Last name, F. M., Last name, F. M., Last name, F. M., Last name, F. M., & Last name, F. M.

Kent, A. G., Giles, R. M., Thorpe, A., Lukes, R., Bever, D. J., & He, Y.

If there are 21 or more authors listed on a source, only include the first 19 authors, add three ellipses, and then add the last author's name.

Roberts, A., Johnson, M. C., Klein, J., Cheng, E. V., Sherman, A., Levin, K. K. , ...Lopez, G. S.

If you plan on using a free APA citation tool, like the one at CitationMachine.com, the names of the authors will format properly for you.

###No authors

If the source lacks an author, place the title in the first position in the reference (Section 9.12 of the Publication manual). When the source's title begins with a number (Such as 101 Dalmatians), place the reference alphabetically as if the number was spelled out. 101 Dalmatians would be placed in the spot where 'One hundred' would go, but keep the numbers in their place.

Additionally, if the title begins with the words 'A', 'An,' or 'The,' ignore these words and place the title alphabetically according to the next word.

See the "Titles" section below for more information on formatting the title of sources.

###Corporate/Organization authors

On an APA reference page, corporate authors are always written out in full. In the text of your paper, you may have some abbreviations (such as UN for United Nations), but in the full references, always include the full names of the corporation or organization (following Section 9.11 of the official Publication manual).
Example:
%%United Nations. (2019). Libya: $202 million needed to bring life-saving aid to half a million people hit by humanitarian crisis. https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1031981

Publication date & retrieval date

Directly after the author's name is the date the source was published. Include the full date for newspapers and magazine articles, and only the year for journals and all other sources. If no date is found on the source, include the initials, n.d. for "no date."
Newspaper:
%% Narducci, M. (2017, May 19). City renames part of 11th Street Ed Snider Way to honor Flyers founder. The Philadelphia Inquirer. http://www.philly.com/

If using our APA Citation Machine, our citation generator will add the correct format for you automatically.

Giving a retrieval date is not needed unless the online content is likely to be frequently updated and changed (e.g., encyclopedia article, dictionary entry, Twitter profile, etc.).

%%Citation Machine [@CiteMachine]. (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved October 10, 2019, from https://twitter.com/CiteMachine

Titles

When writing out titles for books, articles, chapters, or other non-periodical sources, only capitalize the first word of the title and the first word of the subtitle. Names of people, places, organizations, and other proper nouns also have the first letter capitalized. For books and reports, italicize the title in the APA citation.
Examples: Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Roots: The saga of an American family.
For articles and chapters in APA referencing, do not italicize the title.
Examples:
Wake up the nation: Public libraries, policy making, and political discourse.

For newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters, and other periodicals, capitalize the first letter in each word and italicize the title.
Example: The Seattle Times.
A common question is whether to underline your title or place it in italics or quotation marks in the reference list. Here's a good general rule: When a source sits alone and is not part of a larger whole, place the title in italics. If the source does not sit alone and is part of a larger whole, do not place it in italics.

Books, movies, journals, and television shows are placed in italics since they stand alone. Songs on an album, episodes of television shows, chapters in books, and articles in journals are not placed in italics since they are smaller pieces of larger wholes.

The Citation Machine citation generator will format the title in your citations automatically.

Additional information about the title

If you feel it would be helpful to include additional information about the source type, include a descriptive noun or two in brackets immediately following the title. Capitalize the first letter.
Example:
%%Kennedy, K., & Molen, G. R. (Producers), & Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Film]. USA: Universal.

Besides [Film], other common notations include:

[Audio podcast]

[Brochure]

[Letter to the editor]

[Television series episode]

[Tweet]

[Facebook page]

[Blog post]

[Lecture notes]

[PowerPoint presentation]

[Video file]

If you are using Citation Machine citing tools, additional information about the title is automatically added for you.

Publisher information

For books and reports, include the publisher name but not the location (see Section 9.29 of the Publication manual). Older editions of the style required the city, state and/or country, but this hasn't been the case since the 7th edition was released.

It is not necessary to include the entire name of the publisher. It is acceptable to use a brief, intelligible form. However, if Books or Press are part of the publisher's names, keep these words in the reference. Other common terms, such as Inc., Co., Publishers, and others can be omitted.

For newspapers, journals, magazines, and other periodicals, include the volume and issue number after the title. The volume number is listed first, by itself, in italics. The issue number is in parentheses immediately after it, not italicized. There is no space after the closing parenthesis and before the volume number.
Example:
%%Giannoukos, G., Besas, G., Hictour, V., & Georgas, T. (2016). A study on the role of computers in adult education. Educational Research and Reviews, 11(9), 907-923. https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2016.2688

After including the publisher information, end this section with a period.
Examples:
Pearson.

Perseus Books.

Electronic source information:

For online sources, the URL or DOI (Direct Object Identifier) are included at the end of an APA citation.

DOI numbers are often created by publishers for journal articles and other periodical sources. They were created in response to the problem of broken or outdated links and URLs. When a journal article is assigned a DOI number, it is static and will never change. Because of its permanent characteristic, DOIs are the preferred type of electronic information to include in APA citations. When a DOI number is not available, include the source's URL (see Section 9.34 in the Publication manual).
For DOIs, include the number in this format: http://doi.org/xxxx For URLs, type them in this format:
http:// or https://

Other information about electronic sources:

If the URL is longer than a line, break it up before a punctuation mark.

Do not place a period at the end of the citation/URL.

It is unnecessary to include retrieval dates, unless the source changes often over time (like in a Wikipedia article).

It is not necessary to include the names of databases

If using the Citation Machine APA citation website autocite features, the online publication information will be automatically replaced by the DOI. The Citation Machine APA template will properly cite your online sources for you.

Sample - Student Paper Reference Page APA:

Make sure you run your completed paper through the Citation Machine Plus smart proofreader, which scans for grammar, spelling, and plagiarism. Whether it's an adjective, verb, or pronoun out-of-place, our technology helps edits your paper for you!

Annotated bibliographies:

An APA annotated bibliography is a full bibliography that includes a small note for each reference citation. Each note should be short (1-2 paragraphs) and contain a summary or your evaluation about each source. When creating your citations on CitationMachine.net, there is a field at the bottom of each form to add your own annotations.

Follow the publication manual guidelines on paper format and writing style. Let your instructor guide other details about your annotations. Still confused? Read our guide on annotated bibliographies.

These types of projects look different depending on the style you're using. Use the link at the top of the page to access resources related to the Modern Language Association's style. Here's information related to Chicago citation style.

Page formatting

Need help with the design and formatting of your paper? Look no further! This section provides the ins and outs of properly displaying the information in your APA essay.

Font = Here are the recommended fonts and sizes (from Section 2.19 of the Publication manual):

Times New Roman, 12-point size.

Calibri, Arial, or Georgia, 11-point size

Lucida, Sans Unicode, or Computer Modern, 10-point size

Indents = Every paragraph should start with an indent.

Margins = 1 inch around the entire document

Spacing = Double space everything!

Arrange your pages in this order:

Page 1 - APA Title Page (see below for information on the title page)

Page 2 - Abstract (If your professor requests one)

Page 3 - First page of text

References begin on their own page. Include the list of references on the page after the text.

Tables and figures

Keep in mind that the order above is the recommendation for papers being submitted for peer review. If you're writing an APA style paper for a class, your professor may be more lenient about the requirements. Also, if you're submitting your paper for a specific journal, check the requirements on the journal's website. Each journal has different rules and procedures.

Just a little nudge to remind you about the Citation Machine Plus smart proofreader. Whether it's a conjunction or interjection out of place, a misspelled word, or an out of place citation, we'll offer suggestions for improvement! Don't forget to check out our APA citation maker while you're at it!

Running heads

In older editions of APA, running heads were required for all papers. Since the 7th edition, that's changed.

Student paper: No running head

Professional paper: Include a running head

The running head displays the title of the paper and the page number on all pages of the paper. This header is found on every page of a professional paper (not a student paper), even on the title page (sometimes called an APA cover page) and reference list (taken from Section 2.8 of the Publication manual).

It's displayed all in capital letters at the top of the page. Across from the running head, along the right margin, is the page number.

Use the header feature in your word processor. Both Google Docs and Word have these features available.

Use one for the recommended fonts mentioned under "Page formatting."

Title pages

A title page, sometimes called an APA cover page, graces the cover of an essay or paper. An APA title page should follow rules from Section 2.3 of the official Publication manual and include:

1. Page number, which is page 1

2. Title of your project

Use title case and bold font

The title should be under 12 words in length

The title should be a direct explanation of the focus of the paper. Do not include any unnecessary descriptors such as "An Analysis of..." or "A Study of..."

3. Names of the authors
Exclude any labels such as Mr., Ms., Dr, PhD...

4. Name of the school or institution

5. Course number and/or class name

6. Name of your instructor, including their preferred honorifics (e.g., PhD, Dr., etc.)

7. Paper's due date

8. If this is a professional paper, also include a running head. If this is a student paper, do not include one.

Follow the directions for the running head and page number in the section above. Below the running head, a few lines beneath, and centered in the middle of the page, should be the title. The next line below is the author's name(s), followed by the name of the school or institution, the class or course name, your instructor's name, and the paper's due date.

All components on this page should be written in the same font and size as the rest of your paper. Double space the title, names, name of school or institution, and all other information on the page (except for the running head and page number).
Example - Student Title Page APA: Example - Professional Title Page APA:
If you're submitting your paper to a journal for publication, check the journal's website for exact requirements. Each journal is different and some may request a different type of APA format cover page.

Looking to create an APA format title page? Head to CitationMachine.com's homepage and choose "Title Page" at the top of the screen.

Abstracts

An abstract briefly but thoroughly summarizes dissertation contents. It's found in the beginning of a professional paper, right after the title page. Abstracts are meant to help readers determine whether to continue reading the entire document. With that in mind, try to craft the lead sentence to entice the reader to continue reading.

Here are a few tips:

Be factual and keep your opinions out. An abstract should accurately reflect the paper or dissertation and should not involve information or commentary not in the thesis.

Communicate your main thesis. What was the examined problem or hypothesis? A reader should know this from reading your abstract.

Keep it brief. Stick to the main points and don't add unnecessary words or facts. It should not exceed 250 words.

Consider your paper's purpose. It's important to cater your abstract to your paper type and think about what information the target audience for that paper type would want. For example, an empirical article may mention methodology or participant description. A quantitative or qualitative meta-analysis would mention the different variables considered and how information was synthesized.

Use verbs over noun equivalents, and active voice. Example: "There was research into..." becomes "We researched..."

Formatting guidelines:

The abstract goes after the title page.

It should have the same font (size and type) as the rest of the paper.

It should stick to one page.

Double-space all page text.

Center and bold the word "Abstract" at the top of the paper.

Don't indent the first line of the abstract body. The body should also be in plain text.

For the keywords, place it on the line after the abstract and indent the first line (but not subsequent lines). The word "Keywords:" is capitalized, italicized, and followed by a colon. The actual keywords are sentence case and in plan font.

List each keyword one after the other, and separate them by a comma.

After the last keyword, no ending punctuation is needed.

Example abstract:

Tables & Figures

If your paper includes a lot of numerical information or data, you may want to consider placing it into a table or a figure, rather than typing it all out. A visual figure or simple, organized table filled with numerical data is often easier for readers to digest and comprehend than tons of paragraphs filled with numbers. Chapter 7 of the Publication manual outlines formatting for tables and figures. Let's cover the basics below.

If you'd like to include a table or figure in your paper, here are a few key pieces of information to keep in mind:

Either place all tables and figures:

1. At the end of the paper after the APA reference page

2. In the text after it is first mentioned

The table first mentioned in the text should be titled 'Table 1.' The next table mentioned in the text is 'Table 2,' and so on. For figures, it would be 'Figure 1,' 'Figure 2,' and so forth.

Even though every table and figure is numbered, also create a title for each that describes the information it contains. Capitalize all important words in the title.

For tables, do not use any vertical lines, only use horizontal to break up information and headings.

Single spacing is acceptable to use in tables and figures. If you prefer double spacing your information, that is okay too.

Do not include extra information or "fluff." Keep it simple!

Do not include the same exact information in the paper. Only include the complete information in one area-the table or the text.

All tables and figures must be referenced in the text. It is unacceptable to throw a table or figure into the back of the paper without first providing a brief summary or explanation of its relevance.

Example:

Here is the text description of the APA table example.

Publication Manual 6th Edition vs 7th Edition

The 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association was released in 2009. The current 7th edition came out in the fall of 2019 and was designed to be more student focused, provide more guidance on accessibility, and address changes that have developed over the last 10 years.

Below, we've listed what we feel are the most relevant changes related to APA format.

Journals and DOIs

DOI stands for "digital object identifier." Many journal articles use and have a unique DOI that should be included in a full citation.

When including a DOI in a citation, format it as a URL. Do not label it "DOI." Articles without DOIs from databases are treated as print works. For example:
6th edition:
%%Gänsicke, B. T., Schreiber, M. R., Toloza, O., Fusillo, N. P. G., Koester, D., & Manser, C. J. (2019). Accretion of a giant planet onto a white dwarf star. Nature, 576(7785), 61-64. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1789-8
7th edition:
%%Gänsicke, B. T., Schreiber, M. R., Toloza, O., Fusillo, N. P. G., Koester, D., & Manser, C. J. (2019). Accretion of a giant planet onto a white dwarf star. Nature, 576(7785), 61-64. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1789-8

Citing Books

There are few new guidelines when you are citing a book. First, the publisher location no longer needs to be indicated.
6th edition:
%%Zack, P. O. (2001). The shoals of time. Bloomington, IN: First Books Library.
7th edition:
%%Zack, P. O. (2001). The shoals of time. First Books Library.

Second, the format of an ebook (e.g., Kindle, etc.) no longer needs to be indicated.
6th edition:
%%Niven, J. (2012). Ada Blackjack: A true story of survival in the Arctic [Kindle].
7th edition:
%%Niven, J. (2012). Ada Blackjack: A true story of survival in the Arctic.

Lastly, books from research databases without DOIs are treated the same as print works.

URLs

When using a URL in a citation, you no longer need to include the term "Retrieved from" before URLs (except with retrieval dates). The font should be blue and underlined, or black and not underlined.
6th Edition:
%%Flood, A. (2019, December 6). Britain has closed almost 800 libraries since 2010, figures show. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/06/britain-has-closed-almost-800-libraries-since-2010-figures-show
7th Edition:
%%Flood, A. (2019, December 6). Britain has closed almost 800 libraries since 2010, figures show. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/06/britain-has-closed-almost-800-libraries-since-2010-figures-show

Authors

Within a full APA citation, you may spell out up to 20 author names. For two to 20 authors, include an ampersand (&) before the name of the last author. For sources with 21 or more authors, structure it as follows:

Structure: First 19 authors' names, . . . Last author's name.

7th edition example: Washington, G., Adams, J., Jefferson, T., Madison, J., Monroe, J., Adams, J. Q., Jackson, A., Van Buren, M., Harrison, W. H., Tyler, J., Polk, J. K., Taylor, Z., Filmore, M., Pierce, F., Buchanan, J., Lincoln, A., Johnson, A., Grant, U. S., Hayes, R. B., Garfield, . . . Trump, D.

When creating an in-text citation for a source with 3 or more authors, use "et al." after the first author's name. This helps abbreviate the mention.

6th Edition: (Honda, Johnson, Prosser, Rossi, 2019)

7th Edition: (Honda et al., 2019)

Tables and Figures

Instead of having different formats for tables and figures, both use one standardized format. Now both tables and figures have a number, a title, name of the table/figure, and a note at the bottom.

If you're still typing into Google "how to cite a website APA" among other related questions and keywords, click here for further reading on the style.

When you're through with your writing, toss your entire paper into the Citation Machine Plus plagiarism checker, which will scan your paper for grammar edits and give you up to 5 suggestions cards for free! Worry less about a determiner, preposition, or adverb out of place and focus on your research!

References

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) (2020). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Updated March 3, 2020 Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Wendy Ikemoto. Michele Kirschenbaum has been an awesome school librarian since 2006 and is an expert in citing sources. Wendy Ikemoto has a master's degree in library and information science and has been working for Citation Machine since 2012.

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