Final answer:
References in an APA formatted paper should be complete, consistent, and adhere to specific formatting guidelines, including 12-point font, double spacing, and proper citation of each source.
Step-by-step explanation:
When composing a paper that requires referencing sources, it is crucial that references should be consistent, complete, and follow the specific formatting style assigned by your instructor, such as APA (American Psychological Association). In APA format, after the final page of your paper, you must start a new page with the word 'References' centered and boldfaced at the top. Each source cited within your text must also be included in this reference list, ensuring that there is a corresponding citation for each listed source. Additionally, a proper APA reference list must:
- Use quotation marks around the words cited from a source.
- Credit the source of your quotation adequately.
- Adhere to the formatting guidelines of APA style, which include 12-point font, double spacing, and standard page margins.
It's important to proofread your work carefully, ensuring that page numbers, titles, and citations are all accurately provided in your paper. For sources that include page or paragraph numbers, these should be provided when possible. Lastly, remember to cite each source independently as directed by the relevant article or your instructor's guidelines, which could be APA or MLA, depending on the assignment.