Teaching The 6th Edition of APA Style of Writing in Counselor Edu: K. Elizabeth McDonald

The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Volume 3 Number 2 Article 5
2011
Teaching the 6th Edition of APA Style of Writing in Counselor

Education
K. Elizabeth McDonald
Walden University, k.elizabeth.mcdonald@mail.waldenu.edu
Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.wcsu.edu/jcps
Recommended Citation
McDonald, K. E. (2011). Teaching the 6th Edition of APA Style of Writing in Counselor Education. The
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 3(2). Retrieved from https://repository.wcsu.edu/jcps/
vol3/iss2/5
Teaching the 6th Edition of APA Style of Writing in Counselor Education
Abstract
The development of professional voice takes practice. At present, little literature exists to aid counselor
educators helping students develop their writing style and adjust to APA style in academic writing. The
author provides practical suggestions for teaching APA to counselors-in-training and offers a teaching
resource for use in the classroom. Suggestions include: addressing why APA style is used in the
profession, joining with colleagues to emphasize the importance of writing style, modeling strong style,
requiring the use of APA, providing feedback specific to style, using style focused peer review, and
providing examples of strong APA style.
Keywords
APA, Counselor Training, Written Communication, Scientific Communication, American Psychological
Association Style, Professional Voice, Writing Style
This article is available in The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision: https://repository.wcsu.edu/jcps/
vol3/iss2/5
Teaching the 6th Edition of APA Style of
Writing in Counselor Education
K. Elizabeth McDonald
The development of professional voice takes practice. At present, little literature exists to aid
counselor educators helping students develop their writing style and adjust to APA style in
academic writing. The author provides practical suggestions for teaching APA to counselors-in-
training and offers a teaching resource for use in the classroom. Suggestions include: addressing
why APA style is used in the profession, joining with colleagues to emphasize the importance of
writing style, modeling strong style, requiring the use of APA, providing feedback specific to
style, using style focused peer review, and providing examples of strong APA style.
Keywords: APA, Counselor Training, Written Communication, Scientific Communication,

American Psychological Association Style, Professional Voice, Writing Style
The American Psychological professional voices in the educational

Association’s (APA) style is standard not setting. The purpose of this article is to offer
only for psychologists, but also for students suggestions for effectively teaching APA
and authors in the behavioral and social style to counseling students. A resource
sciences such as counseling (APA, 2010). paper about APA in APA style with
The APA manual has been translated into recommended guidelines has been inserted
many languages, including Spanish, in this article for use in the classroom. The
Portuguese, Korean, and Chinese (APA, resource at the end of this article is a
2010) and is currently being translated into working document for faculty and students
Arabic, French, Italian, Nepalese, Polish, to use to further develop the student
and Romanian (Gasque, 2010). Although the practitioner voice in preparation for the
APA manual has undergone six editions to professional setting.
improve the uniform style, to reflect new
knowledge, and to demonstrate how it is Suggestions on Teaching APA
acquired (APA, 2010), little literature exists
providing a rationale as to why APA is A review of the literature regarding
suitable for some disciplines but not others. APA and its importance to students and
Scholarly authors offer articles professionals resulted in the identification of
written to guide authors in professional two themes in the literature: (a) follow the
journal publication (e.g. Davis & Sink, guidelines for publication provided by the
2001; Granello & Haag, 2007; Kress, 2006; publisher (Davis & Sink, 2001; Granello,
Prieto, 2005; Sink 2000). Unfortunately, this 2007; Kress, 2006; Prieto, 2005; Sink,
literature does not provide guidance to 2000), and (b) adhere to the writing style
student authors, nor does it aid educators guidelines of the Publication Manual of the
working to help develop the students’ American Psychological Association (Davis
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, Volume 3, Number 2, October 2011 Page 124
& Sink, 2001; Kress, 2006; Granello, 2007; inquiry process provides a means for goal
Sink, 2000). The general themes do not refinement and value alignment that also
address the importance of APA outside of fosters team building and collaboration” (p.
professional publication (e.g. in academic 202). Similarly, in the case of writing style
writing). In other words, I found no in the counseling profession, inquiry may
argument for using APA style, but rather foster shared values, cohesion, and
APA is presented as foundational without cooperation first in the classroom, and also
rebuttal (i.e. the absolute in the counseling in the profession.
profession of exceptions). Perhaps First, address the uses and roles of
answering the “WhyAPA?” question, writing skills in the profession. When
drawing parallels between APA and clinical faculty ask students to write papers, faculty
work, and providing various resources will are asking them to further develop their
encourage students to see value in learning professional voice. Some students will go on
APA and stimulate valuable discussion to turn school papers into professional
regarding the importance of a professional manuscripts, but for the most part, writing
writing voice in counseling. The following papers in graduate school is an exercise in
suggestions are not the only approaches to presenting important information in an easy
help counseling students master APA style. to understand and concise manner. Brevity,
In addition to other creative methods not clarity, and precision (required in strong
presented in this article,the writing) are essential elements of a strong
recommendations outlined here can be professional voice. Writing skills are
modified to fit the specific needs and particularly important for advocates for
cultures of each classroom and student. social change.
Advocacy, an ethical responsibility
Address the “Why?” Question (ACA, 2005), often involves approaches that
involve written communication. A
The APA published the first printing developed professional voice can be
of the APA 6th edition manual with so many beneficial in professional situations, such as
errors that they provided an exchange a written petition to a client’s insurance
service to patrons with the first printing company for more sessions, presenting
(APA, n.d.). Students who question the subpoenaed case notes about a client in
purpose of APA style (a style so court, and/or applying for grant money for a
complicated that it causes difficulty for the counseling agency. In other words, a
authors and editors of the manual) are developed professional voice, including
exercising critical thinking; they are APA style,can enable more effective
providing evidence of thoughtful and advocacy for clients.
deliberate judgment. It is appropriate, Next, provide a rationale for APA in
therefore, for counselor educators to present the counseling profession over other styles,
a rationale as to how APA addresses the rather than presenting/demanding a set of
writing concerns in our profession. In a rules without reasoning. Some students who
study focusing on the why in program object to APA may be more familiar with
evaluation, Friedman, Rothman, and other writing styles, such as the Modern
Withers (2006) state that “a structured, Language Association (MLA, 2008) or
systematic, and deep inquiry into the ‘why’ Chicago Style (University of Chicago Press,
question provides a rational means for 2010). While MLA is appropriate for the
deliberating about human values. This humanities (MLA, 2008), and Chicago is an
excellent inter-disciplinary style (University Providing a United Front
of Chicago Press, 2010), neither provides
sufficient information for the social Find out about writing resources
sciences. Specifically, neither MLA nor available through the university and in the
Chicago style prominently incorporates department. Most universities have writing
dates into the text as APA does. Dates are of centers, tutors, or other resources; faculty
particular interest in the social sciences, and and staff who offer these services may be
certainly in counseling; cautious consumers willing to provide a classroom presentation
of social science research proceed with care on basic APA intricacies. Writing across the
regarding older articles. Many cultural curriculum is “pedagogical and curricular
considerations (e.g. gender, racial and attention to writing occurring in university
ethnic, spirituality) were viewed very subject matter classes other than those
differently in 1960, for example, than they offered by composition or writing”
are currently. The date of the research may (Bazerman, Little, Bethel, Chavkin,
impact the conclusions present day readers Fouquette, & Garufis, 2005, p. 9). Although
make from articles. initially conceptualized for younger
Draw similarities between APA rules students, writing across the curriculum
and tangible clinical work. For example, certainly has something to offer for graduate
when students paraphrase or summarize in students. The involvement of the entire
APA style (rather than use direct quotes), institution of higher education provides the
they provide evidence of comprehension. statement that writing is valued and that
Clients also prefer paraphrasing, writing skills are never fully learned, but
summarizing, and reflection of content that writing skills are a process.
rather than parroting. Another tangible Work with colleagues to send the
example of APA involves the useof same message about the importance of
headings and subheadings. A counselor-in- writing formatting. Students know who
training recently shared the importance of expects developed writing skills and who
headings in her clinical documentation. The does not. Joining together as a department
counselor-in-training works with clients presents a united front regarding the
whose cases are already in the court system importance of professional voice. Counselor
due to victimization and the case notes are at educators can minimize additional work by
high risk for being subpoenaed. She states, sharing resources (e.g. referral templates,
“I must ensure that my case notes are clear, APA templates, or the APA paper written in
concise and professional, all the time. To APA style). Work together to think of other
make sure I get it right I use sub- creative ways to address the specific writing
headings…I find using sub-headings helps needs of current students.
with flow and helps me to record data that is
relevant” (D. Seldon, personal Modeling writing best practices
communication, March 29, 2011). APA has
clear connections to clinical skills, but Students learn by example and
students do not always see these connections repetition (MacArthur, 2007). Instructors
as the counselor-in-training above does. should hold themselves accountable to
Draw early connections so students may writing in APA style to provide positive
create other connections they make on their reinforcement of APA formatting. Students
own. are inundated hourly by written material that
is not in APA style (e.g. newspapers,
magazines, virtually everything on the shortcut methods of providing feedback
internet). Make sure that handouts, emails, through the creation of documents that
and presentations use APA style (e.g. a contain explanations of common APA
reference list when posting in a discussion errors. The running head, for example, is
board, or emailing students) to provide both commonly incorrect in the papers of new
examples of scholarly writing and evidence counseling students.
of the value you place on APA style. Instructors who request that students
turn in papers electronically can use the
Requiring students to use APA style Autocorrect function in Microsoft Word to
create meaningful feedback using the track
The concept of practice leading to changes function for common APA
competence is evidenced through field mistakes. Instead of simply typing “Not
experience requirements in counseling APA” next to the running head (or where it
programs (e.g. the Counsel for Accreditation should be) faculty can create standard
of Counseling and Related Educational paragraphs for common APA errors and
Programs, 2009). Just as counselors-in- store them in Autocorrect. After the
training must practice counseling skills to paragraph has been saved by the faculty
gain mastery; students must also practice member, a few keystrokes can provide a
writing skills to gain competence. Reward paragraph that includes (a) a statement about
student practice by incorporating writing what the running head is, (b) the page
style into grading rubrics; this will number in the APA manual (2010)
encourage students to learn and adapt to addressing the running head, (c) a link to the
APA. If students have difficulty mastering APA webpage that provides step by step
APA, refer them to one of the available instructions about how to format a running
writing resources. Consider creating a head, and (d) a link to a video that provides
standard letter to send to struggling students the same step-by-step instructions as a visual
to empowerstudents to seek writing aid. The following is an example paragraph
assistance, while acknowledging the about the running head that faculty can
difficulty and uniqueness of APA style. This create, save once, and insert, an infinite
letter can be shared with other faculty to number of times, into student papers. The
further enforce the importance of scholarly paragraph can be inserted into a comment
writing within the department. box in track changes in the students’
Microsoft Word document with the
Providing meaningful feedback keystrokes “runn":
Feedback that is thorough and Your running head is not quite right. Think
specific is most helpful to students who wish of the running head as the line that would
to improve writing skills; “the goal is to enable the reader to organize your document
teach the writer, not just refine or fix the if she dropped it in the parking lot with other
particular piece of writing” (Pressley, student papers. The running head is tricky.
Mohan, Pingeret, Reffitt, & Raphael- Please see the APA manual (pages 41-51) or
Bogaert, 2007, p. 19). Meaningful feedback the APA paper I shared with you for more
that teaches the writer, though, can take up information. Please note that the running
precious time and cause frustration for head is different for the cover/title page than
instructors who find similar errors on it is for the rest of the document; APA
multiple student papers. Faculty can use provides step-by-step instructions on how to
make the running head on the cover review work without fear that they will be
different than the otherpages: penalized for working together.
http://www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/running-
head.aspx). I have also provided a template Providing strong examples
for you in the classroom that has the running
head set up already. Examples from peers make writing
Those who collect hard copies of more approachable and may increase student
student assignments can create a similar confidence in writing skills (Slade, 2010).
document with common APA errors and Seek permission from exceptional student
information paragraphs with the same writers to share their work with others
information above. The APA errors can then (ensure that identifying information is
be numbered and be distributed to students removed to comply with the Family
as a decoding document. Then, instead of Educational Rights and Privacy Act of
writing the entire APA error out in the 2000). If the document is electronic, faculty
paper, the corresponding number can be can use track changes to highlight strong
written and the student can use the decoding writing skills (e.g. a comment drawing
document to identify the APA errors and attention to strong argument construction,
further information. critical thinking, use of literature to support
The use of the “common APA error points). Providing examples of strong
comments” may significantly shorten the student work in APA style may encourage
time it takes to provide feedback. It should other students to realize that it is possible to
be noted, though, that the initial creation of master their own writing (Slade, 2010).
this list can be time consuming. Consider
working with others in the department or Sample Paper in APA Style with
profession to create a thorough list while Suggested Guidelines for Students
distributing labor, making sure to keep a
copy of the codes for future reference. An excellent sample paper focusing
on age and emotion is presented in the APA
Encouraging peer review for APA style manual (APA 2010, p. 41); the paper
presents a fine visual example, but does not
Peer review of writing has been used address APA style in content. A document is
for improving writing for students in included after this paragraph to provide a
elementary (Pressley, Mohan, Fingeret, visual example of APA style while
Reffitt, & Raphael-Bogaert, 2007), simultaneously presenting information about
secondary (Graham & Perin, 2007; Perin, APA style. The following paper is not
2007), and even graduate school (Hara, intended to be comprehensive; the APA
2010). Peer revising, coupled with faculty manual is the comprehensive standard for
instruction and support, can increase student which there is no substitute.
writing success (MacArthur, 2007) and The sample paper that follows
increase critical thinking and understanding succinctly outlines common APA errors and
(Schneider & Andre, 2007). Providing time is designed to be both an example and a
in a physical classroom to review writing is teaching tool. While this paper cannot fulfill
one way to show support of peer review. all needs of students with regard to APA
Virtual spaces can also be created through style, it embodies and enables many of the
online classrooms. Overt support for peer suggestions in this article. The sample paper,
review of style may encourage students to for example, addresses the why question for
some of the elements of APA style (e.g. set up a title page”) as well as a model for
“headings help the reader to know the peers to provide feedback.
purpose of the section and allow for others The sample paper is intended to be a
to refer back to a section easily”). Faculty beginning tool for students new to APA
can use the paper to provide a united front formatting. Once the student has a firm
by presenting this (or another) example in grasp of the basic tenants of the APA
each class, thereby stressing the importance writing style, the student should look to the
of APA style. This sample paper also APA manual to fine-tune writing in
models best writing practices by serving as a accordance to other key areas (e.g. reducing
strong example; it provides content about bias in language, references, and reporting
APA style in APA style. Finally, the paper statistics). This sample paper may be
can be used to provide feedback from the especially helpful for students who find the
instructor (e.g. “please see the APA sample APA manual daunting and could benefit
paper on page 3 for requirements on how to from a more concise reference.
Conclusion writing in the counseling profession, and
provide parallels between writing and
This purpose of this paper is to clinical work to further develop student
initiate a discussion of the importance of professional voice. Practical suggestions for
APA style in professional writing for teaching APA to counselors-in-training are
counselors-in-training. Counselor educators offered as well as a writing resource for
can provide a rationale for APA over other teaching writing in the classroom.
writing styles, describe the importance of
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Author Note
K. Elizabeth McDonald, School of Counseling and Social Service, College of Social and
Behavioral Sciences, Walden University.
This teaching resource included in this manuscript came to fruition with the generous aid
of The Walden University’s Writing Center, especially Amber Cook.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to K. Elizabeth McDonald at

k.elizabeth.mcdonald@waldenu.edu.

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The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Volume 3 Number 2 Article 5

Teaching the 6th Edition of APA Style of Writing in Counselor

Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.wcsu.edu/jcps

Keywords: APA, Counselor Training, Written Communication, Scientific Communication,

The American Psychological professional voices in the educational

Behavioral Sciences, Walden University.

of The Walden University’s Writing Center, especially Amber Cook.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to K. Elizabeth McDonald at

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