ASA style, also known as American Sociological Association style, is a citation style that is commonly used in sociology and other social science disciplines. It is designed to help writers organize and present their research and ideas in a clear and concise manner. In this essay, we will provide an example of an ASA style paper and discuss the key components and guidelines for formatting and citing sources according to ASA style.
An ASA style paper typically consists of the following sections: title page, abstract, main body, and references. The title page should include the title of the paper, the author's name, and the author's institutional affiliation. The abstract is a summary of the main points of the paper and should be no more than 150-250 words. The main body of the paper should be organized into sections and subheadings, and it should include an introduction, literature review, methods, results, and discussion.
In terms of formatting, ASA style uses a 12-point font size and double spacing. Margins should be one inch on all sides. ASA style also requires the use of in-text citations, which should be placed within parentheses after the quote or paraphrase. The in-text citation should include the author's last name and the year of publication. For example: (Smith, 2020).
When it comes to citing sources in the reference list, ASA style follows a specific order and format. The reference list should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author, and it should be arranged in a hanging indent format. Each reference should include the author's last name, first initial, year of publication, title of the work, place of publication, and publisher. For example:
Smith, J. (2020). The Sociology of Education. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
In addition to these general guidelines, ASA style has specific rules for citing different types of sources, such as books, articles, and electronic sources. It is important to follow these guidelines carefully to ensure that your paper is properly formatted and all sources are properly cited.
Overall, ASA style is a useful citation style for researchers and writers in the social science disciplines. By following the guidelines for formatting and citing sources, you can help your readers understand and appreciate the research that you have conducted and the ideas that you have presented in your paper.