Tools for organizing ideas
These tools may help you organize ideas from various sources thematically.
- NCSU Lit Review MatrixNeed help getting started? Here's a useful guide from North Carolina State University with guidance on how to read and organize your thoughts for a literature review.
- Reporting verbs: Referring to outside sourcesUse these words to help you describe, explain, or paraphrase what others have written
- Transitional words and phrasesA giant list of words that will jump start your thinking on comparing and contrasting ideas from outside sources.
APA References
Your literature review should include in-text (parenthetical) citations and full references in APA style.
No one expects you to memorize APA style. Even librarians have to look up the rules. There are many resources available for assistance with your citations, most importantly, librarians. Please contact a librarian for help.
Guides for APA writing
- DCCC Library APA guide, 7th editionClick the "Examples" tab to find sample citations that match your source type (eg. Journal articles, websites, videos, etc.).
- Quick reference for basic APA referencesQuick formatting rules for formatting APA references for journal articles, books, and book chapters.
- Student sample paper in APA formatA full paper with formatting and writing rules annotated. From the APA style website.
- APA Style Guide: Reference listClick the type of source your referencing, and find guidance and examples for your reference list.
- Purdue OWL APA 7 formatting guidePurdue has fully updated to APA, 7th edition.
- APA References TutorialTake this self-paced, online, interactive tutorial to learn how to apply the principles of APA 7th edition style to real-world examples.