Answered Questions

You won’t find this in the APA Manual. For information on a “garden variety” web site (pun intended!) see: http://www.apastyle.org/apa-style-help.aspx. This is the first link under the Citing Sources Tab (http://libguides.brenau.edu/content.php?pid=194635&sid=1882548) on the Advanced Education LibGuide. Link to the Frequently Asked Questions. There are two or three questions about citing web sites; I have based my construction on these.

Using this citation as an example:

Productive plants.  Retrieved from http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

I would format it in this way based on the FAQs:

In the References:

Productive plants (Grades K-8). (n.d.) Retrieved July 25, 2011, from http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/productive_plants_activities.pdf

In the text:

(“Productive Plants,” n.d.)

My thought process:

1.       I am not using the entire web site, only a particular page or section.

2.       Productive Plants is the title of the page I’m using. It goes first because there is no author listed.

3.       n.d. stands for no date, because the page gives no indication as to its publication date.

4.       The retrieval date should be included because it may change over time.

5.       I used the URL of the exact page I am citing so the reader can easily access the information.

As far as the entry for Project 2061 benchmarks on line. Retrieved from http://www.project2061.org/publications/bsl/online/index.php?chapter=5&txtRef=&txtURIOld=%2Fpublications%2Fbsl%2Fonline%2Fch5%2Fch5.htm, I would add additional information.

In the References:

The living environment: The interdependence of life (Grades 3 through 5). (n.d.) In Project 2061 benchmarks on line. Retrieved from http://www.project2061.org/publications/bsl/online/index.php?chapter=5&txtRef=&txtURIOld=%2Fpublications%2Fbsl%2Fonline%2Fch5%2Fch5.htm

In the text: (“The Living Environment,” n.d.)

My thought process:

1.       I am not using the entire web site, only a particular page or section.

2.       The Living Environment is akin to a chapter title; The Interdependence of Life and the grade level are similar to section titles. I want to direct the reader as close to the material as possible. It goes first because there is no author listed.

3.       Use n.d. for no date, because the page gives no indication as to its publication date or most recent update date. The copyright date is not the same thing.

4.       Project 2061 Benchmarks On Line is similar to a book title. The retrieval date does not need to be included because it is less likely change over time.

5.       As you did, use the URL of the exact page I am citing so the reader can easily access the information.

6.       In the text, the title of a chapter or web page can be shortened to 2-3 words.

Web site citations can be very difficult! Good luck!