Nowadays, many students worldwide are required to create PowerPoint presentations for various classes. Creating a presentation is different from writing an essay, but certain rules stay the same. For example, you need to properly cite your references in your PowerPoint presentations. If you use a research paper for information, never forget to cite it. In most cases, the sources must be cited using APA style.

Why Are Citations Needed?

Citations are very important because they help you avoid plagiarism. In fact, universities usually ask that you include the appropriate citations for any kind of outside sources used in your project. You need to cite your source whenever you:

• Use direct quotations

• Include images, video, or audio files into your slides

• Use tables and similar data

• Paraphrase words or entire ideas

How You Properly Cite A Research Paper In A Powerpoint Presentation

The first thing you should do is create a slide at the end of the PowerPoint presentations and name it “References" or “References List." This slide is similar to the References page in a traditional essay.

List all the references used in your article alphabetically by their author name. You don’t have to use any special formatting such as double space or indentation.

Cite everything that needs cited in the body of the presentation in APA style. You only need to state the author of the source, followed by the date of publication and page number. Whenever possible, hyperlink citations to their source – this is only needed then the source is online, of course.

Tips on Citing Other Works in Your PowerPoint Presentation

If you follow a few simple rules, citing sources will be a breeze. Here is what you should never forget to do:

• Always annotate each images, Web pages and even figures. Include a number, a description of the element and a citation of the source. The source must also be included into the References slide.

• Include a citation at the bottom of every table slide (as a table note). You are not obliged to include all tables at the end of your presentation, so it’s perfectly OK to add them throughout your PowerPoint presentation.

• Avoid citing clipart. This is not necessary.

How to Choose Your Sources

Your sources must be credible and accurate. This is why it is best to choose sources such as books and essays written by experts in the field. You can also use studies and interviews conducted by and with specialists. Your sources support your ideas and statements, so they must be strong and authoritative. For example, Wikipedia would never make a good source, as it is maintained by users who don’t necessarily have any qualifications.