Discussion Response

Brent Muckridge

The rules and specific formatting of the APA style for academic writing have many challenges and opportunities for developing a scholarly voice. The APA style provides a format and structure for scholar and research writing that has clarity, conciseness, and ability to provide credit for sources used (American Psychological Association, 2017). The challenges are also the benefits of the APA style which are the intricate rules that make the writing more clear are hard to master (Hughes, Brannan, Cannon, Camden, & Anthenien, 2017). 

The aspects that are easier to master are the rules for in-text citations, references, page formatting, typeset, and header structure. These areas are most often used and have a consistent rule structure. As more practice and use of the APA style occurs, the ability to build upon the basic knowledge and learn more intricate rules is more likely to occur (Mandernach, Zafonte, & Taylor, 2016). Another aspect that has been easier to master has been conciseness and clarity in writing. Practice in both scholar work and professional work has improved the ability to remove unnecessary words, contractions, and paraphrase rather than quoting sources. 

The challenges are writing in the passive voice, finding the digital object identifiers (DOI), and the use of abbreviations. Passive voice is a common style within may writing context. Removing the passive voice has improved conciseness and clarity. The DOI is a major source of frustration. Finding the DOI is hard as some scholar works are published in more than one journal and are revised. Lastly, the use of abbreviations is intricate as the rules are dependent on when the abbreviations are used, wherein the document the abbreviation is placed, and sequence the abbreviation is used in the document. The challenges require practice and extensive use of the APA style rules.

The ability to overcome the challenges require more practice and study. Online resources such as the Walden University Writing Center, Purdue Online Writing Lab, and citation sites are just a few available. Additional learning resource includes reviewing other APA scholar sources, creating a common APA style guide, and participating in additional webinars offered by Walden University Writing Center. Combining practice with other learning resources is the main way to master APA style (Mandernach et al., 2016). 

                                                References

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Mandernach, B. J., Zafonte, M., & Taylor, C. (2016). Instructional strategies to improve college students’ APA style writing. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (27), 407-412. Retrieved from: www.eric.ed.gov

Hughes, J. L., Brannan, D., Cannon, B., Camden, A. A., & Anthenien, A. M. (2017). Conquering APA Style Conquering APA Style: Advice From APA Style Experts. Psi Chi Journal Of Psychological Research, 22(3), 154-162. doi:10.24839/2325-7342.JN22.3.154

Dwight Evans

APA Assessment

Strength

After reviewing my score on the quiz, I realize that I do not know nearly as much as I thought I did about the APA writing style. Things that I thought I knew well and did well during my MBA, I was wrong on varying degrees about. What things did I find easy about the APA style? It would have to be the format of the paper. Things like one inch margins all around, and double-space line spacing, and the running head being no more than 50 characters (2017). The formatting came easy to me because it was about attention to detail. Something I did for 29 years in the US Army. Paying attention to the small things was what my Army Life was all about. Therefore, I actually liked the formatting of APA. 

Weakness

I found several things difficult about the APA writing style. Of all those things, the reference list is the most challenging. For example, I remember listing retrieval dates for every electronic reference I listed. But, the APA manual clearly states not to use retrieval dates unless the material may change (2017). There are so many variables to reference that make it extremely difficult to get it right all the time. In fact, I am constantly referencing the APA manual as I write papers and discussions posts. 

Challenges

The best way to improve in anything is through saturation or repetitions. When I was a senior leader in the Army, we called it “getting more reps.” The constant referencing of material and looking up information to learn the correct way to format, reference, or cite is the way I will strengthen the weaknesses I have. What I have found to be most interesting is the fact that I find myself routinely looking up things I have previously looked up. This repetitive process allows me to learn and become more familiar with the APA style. Over time, as I spend more time in my doctoral studies, I will become knowledgeable on a lot of APA material. 

References

(2017). Public manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.