PowerPoint and Speeches and APA

In many cases you may not only write a research paper for a class, but will have to prepare an PowerPoint ® presentation or speech to present to the class. Even though a presentation or speech are not formal research papers, you still must follow the conventions of citation and references in order to avoid plagiarism. Not only does this include taking the words and ideas from another source, but the graphics – art, photos, charts – from another source. Here are a couple examples of citations and of a reference page to be used in a slide program.




Notice that the citations and references are done exactly as in a research paper. You should include a reference slide at the very end of your presentation to allow your viewers (and those who have received paper copies) of the slide show the ability to look up the information you provided.

In a speech, while you may mention the author of a particular source of information you used, you should include a reference listing for your instructor when turning in any and all documentation of your speech. It is just as easy to plagiarize a speech as it would be a reference paper.