Here's a breakdown:
How it works:
* Within the text: You embed the citation directly within the text you are writing. For example:
* "The theory of cognitive dissonance was first proposed by Leon Festinger (1957)."
* "According to Smith, the economy is expected to grow by 2% next year (2023, p. 15)."
* Parentheses: The citation is enclosed in parentheses.
* Author's last name: The author's last name is included first.
* Page number: The page number where the information is found is listed after the author's name, separated by a comma.
Variations:
* Multiple authors: For two authors, list both last names separated by an ampersand (&). For three or more authors, list the first author's last name followed by "et al."
* No page numbers: For sources without page numbers (like websites or online articles), use the paragraph number (e.g., (Smith, para. 3)).
* Direct quotations: If you're directly quoting material, include the page number after the quotation mark.
Example:
> "The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, the set of ideals (democracy, rights, liberty, opportunity, and equality) in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work. " (The American Dream, n.d.)
Key benefits:
* Clarity: Makes it easy for readers to locate the original source in your reference list.
* Brevity: Keeps in-text citations concise and unobtrusive.
* Consistency: Maintains a consistent style throughout your paper.
Remember:
* Always include a complete reference list at the end of your paper, providing full details for each cited source.
* The specific formatting and style of the author-page method may vary slightly depending on the citation style guide you are using (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago). Refer to the appropriate style guide for specific instructions.