APA Style Format

1. Step 1

Use the standard pageSetup: 8.5 by 11 inch paper  with 1 inch margins on all sides.          

Title page should include a running head, page number, article title, and author name and author affiliation.

    An example of a title page in APA format.

The recent publication of the sixth edition of the APA Publication Manual contained a few changes to the format of an APA style title page.

• Your title page should contain a running head that is flush left at the top of the page, and a page number that is flush right at the top of the page.
• The title page should include the title of your paper, your name and your school affiliation. The APA suggests that your title be no more than 12 words in length. Avoid using titles or degree info (such as Dr. or Ph.D.)before and after your name.

2. Step 2

Compose a title page. The paper's title should appear on one line. The author's name should follow on the next. The third line should include the name of the school or association. All three should be centered vertically and horizontally.

3. Step 3

On the top left of the title page type "Running Head:" followed by a shorter version of your title in all caps. This shorter version of your title will appear on this, and all subsequent pages, on the top right of the page. There, the shorter version of your title should be in all caps, followed by 5 spaces and the page number. On the title page, both appear simply to inform the reader.

4. Step 4

On the second page, include an abstract, if applicable. Center the word "Abstract" on the page followed by a 75- to 100-word summary of your paper.

5. Step 5

The body of your essay should use straightforward language. Properly cite your sources.

6. Step 6

For quotes within the body of the paper, include the Author's last name, the year and page number(s) in parentheses directly after the quotation mark. This information should be separated by commas. The following sample sentence includes a proper citation: A recent study has found that "...in-text citations are becoming increasingly important to avoid charges of plagiarism." (Johnson, 2004, p.144)

7. Step 7

If you mention an Author's name outside the parentheses, you don't need to include it again. Follow the format of the following sentence: Johnson (2004) also stated, "Schools are becomingly increasingly strict in response to the cut-and-paste generation of students." (p.166)

Step 8

Cite your source when paraphrasing someone else's ideas. You don't need to include page numbers. Ex: Students unsure of what constitutes plagiarism find it safer to include sources thorough citations. (Johnson, 2004)

Step 9

Write the reference list. You'll need to include detailed information on every source you cited in your paper. Center the word "References" on the top of the page and then begin your list.

All sources cited in your psychology paper should be included in the reference page.

APA STYLE

Microsoft Excel - Shortcuts

A short background about using the shortcuts
Using the shortcut keys can impressively save your of working time, dealing effectively with many small (but common repeated) actions.
The main improvement that the keystrokes offer is that you don't have to get your hands off the keyboard and grab the mouse and start visually searching for menus and buttons.
For Example, to add a new workbook (a new Excel file) without a shortcut, you must click the "Office Button", choose "New" and then double click the "Blank Workbook" icon. Only now you can bring your hand back to the keyboard and continue your work.
Wouldn't it be easier to just to click Ctrl+N? (The Ctrl key together with N)
Here are three abbreviation examples just to make the information coming next clear:
Shift+SPACE: means pressing shift together with the space bar.(This specific shortcut will select a row)
Ctrl+C: means pressing Ctrl together with the letter C. (This specific shortcut will perform a "Copy" action).
Shift+Ctrl+Arrow Down: means pressing together the Shift key, with the Ctrl key, with the Arrow Down key. You should press them down in the order they are written here, otherwise it might not work. (This specific shortcut will select all the way to the bottom of a region)

Now, let us go on to the shortcuts:
Inserting rows, columns and worksheets:
Insert row: Alt+i and then r
Insert a column: Alt+i and then c
Insert new Worksheet: Alt+i and then w
How to remember?
You get into "Insert" mode by pressing Alt+i, and then the first letter of either Row, Column or Worksheet.
Ctrl+PgDown :To choose the next worksheet (Like going from Sheet1 to Sheet2:
Ctrl+PgUp: Choose the previous worksheet

Efficiently selecting regions:
Select all the worksheet: Ctrl+A
By holding down Ctrl+Shift and pressing one of the arrows, you can accordingly select all the way to the left, right, top and bottom of the region.
For example: Selecting all the way to the bottom of the region: Ctrl+Shift+Arrow down

One extremely efficient way of selecting a region, is to have the active cell inside that region, and pressing Ctrl+Shift+8
Try it!

Select the whole row by pressing Shift+SPACE, and column by pressing Ctrl+SPACE

Jumping to specific locations in the worksheet:
Press Ctrl+G, and write the destination cell's address. For example: A100

Ctrl+End will jump to the last cell of your data in the worksheet (the most bottom-right cell). It is relevant if you have already some data written in your worksheet, otherwise in an empty worksheet it will jump to the really last cell in the worksheet. Try it.

Ctrl+Home should jump the active cell to cell A1

Instantly opening useful dialog boxes:
Ctrl+1 (Ctrl and the number one) will open the "Format Cells" dialog box (very useful!)

Alt+E and then S – will open the "Paste Special" dialog box. If you want to use the "Values" option from this dialog box, then continue and press Alt+v, and finish with Enter.

Editing text:
Press F2 in a cell that has text, and a text cursor will appear at the end of it, enabling you to add more content or edit the existing text. (This comes instead of double clicking with the mouse inside the text, or clicking in the formulas bar to edit it).

Press Alt+Enter when writing text in a cell, to add a line break inside the cell.

Miscellaneous
Freeze panes:
Put the active cell in the desired location, and press Alt+w and then F.
To remove the freeze panes, use the same shortcut.

Instantly insert a sum function:
Position the active cell underneath a column of numbers, and press Alt+= (Alt key together with the equal sign)

Instantly insert dates:
To insert today's date, press Ctrl+; (a semicolon).
To have today's date change dynamically to reflect always the current date (whenever the worksheet is opened), then write the function =today()

An instant chart:
Select your data (it should be organized neatly with rows and column headers), and press the F11 key.
And of course: all the general MS Office Shortcuts
To open the "Find" dialog box: Ctrl+F
To open the "Find and replace" dialog box: Ctrl+H
Save file: Ctrl+S
Open a file: Ctrl+O
Add a new Excel file (a new workbook): Ctrl+N
Open the "Print" dialog box: Ctrl+P
Ctrl+C to Copy a selection, Ctrl+X to cut, Ctrl+V to Paste.
Save as… : The F12 key.
Applying the formatting of Bold, Italic and Underline, will be accordingly: Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I and Ctrl+U

Microsoft Word - Kayboard Shortcuts

Word's Keyboard Shortcuts

You can dramatically enhance your efficiency in working with Word by using the shortcut keys to accomplish different tasks. From the human factors point of view, the shortcuts eliminate the procedure of moving your hand off the keyboard to grab the mouse and locate it carefully on the correct button and clicking and returning it back to the keyboard to keep on typing. Using the shortcuts will feel a bit awkward at the beginning, and you might doubt the efficiency of using them. After you remember them and you get accustomed to it, your work will get at least two times faster.Here is a list of keyboard shortcuts in Word, arranged by subjects.Note: The + (plus) sign means “Together with”, for example “Ctrl+S” means pressing the Ctrl key together with the S key.

General Actions
Save the current document	Ctrl+S
Open a previously saved document	Ctrl+O
New blank document	Ctrl+N
Print	Ctrl+P
Moving the text cursor
Jump to the beginning of the row	Home
Jump to the end of the row	End
Jump to the beginning of the document	Ctrl+Home
Jump one word to the right	Ctrl+Arrow right
Jump one word to the right	Ctrl+Arrow left
Selecting text
Selecting the whole document	Ctrl+A
Selecting the whole row	Home, and then Shift+End or: Home, and then Shift+Arrow down
Formatting
Bold	Ctrl+B
Italic	Ctrl+I
Underline	Ctrl+U
Increase font by 1	Ctrl+]   (this is the right-squared bracket, located next to the Enter key)
Paragraphs
Align text to the right	Ctrl+R
Align text to the left	Ctrl+L
Align text to the center	Ctrl+E
Increase indentation	Ctrl+M
Decrease Indentation	Ctrl+Shift+M
Set line spacing to single	Ctrl+1
Set line spacing to double	Ctrl+2
Set line spacing to 1.5	Ctrl+5
Edit
Undo last action(s)	Ctrl+Z
Repeat last action(s)	Ctrl+Y
Copy	Ctrl+C
Cut	Ctrl+X
Paste	Ctrl+V
Find and Replace
Find	Ctrl+F
Replace	Ctrl+H

BASIC MODEL OF COMMUNICATION

Over the years a basic model of communications has evolved that represents the various elements of the communications process. The elements of the model include: 

A. Source/Encoding—the sender or source of a communication is the person or organization who has information to share with another person or group. It should be noted that the source can be an individual (e.g., salesperson or hired spokesperson) or a nonpersonal entity such as the corporation or organization itself. The receivers’ perception of the source influences the manner in which the communication is received, interpreted and responded to. 

Encoding is the process of putting together thoughts, ideas and information into a symbolic form to communicate a message. The sender’s goal is to encode the message in such a manner so as to ensure that it will be understood by the receiver. 

B. Message—the encoding process leads to the development of a message that contains the information or meaning the source or sender hopes to convey. Messages can take a variety of forms and may include symbolic forms or signs. To better understand the symbolic meaning that might be conveyed in a communication, many advertisers have begun focusing attention on semiotics, which involves the study of the nature of meaning. From a semiotic perspective, every marketing message has three basic components: an object, a sign or symbol and an interpretant. The object is the product that is the focus of the message (e.g. Marlboro cigarettes). The sign is the sensory imagery that represents the intended meaning of the object (e.g., the Marlboro cowboy). The interpretant is the meaning derived (e.g., rugged, individualistic, American). 

The message must be put into a transmittable form that is appropriate for the channel of communication being used. Advertising messages range from simply written words or copy that will be read or heard as a radio message to the expensive production of elaborate television commercials with a great deal of visual impact and imagery. 

C. Channel—the channel is the method or medium by which the communication travels from source or sender to receiver. At the broadest level, channels of communication exist as two types: 

W
• Personal Channels which involve direct interpersonal contact with target individuals or groups. For example a salesperson serves as a personal channel of communication when delivering a sales presentation. 

• Nonpersonal channels are those which carry a message without involving interpersonal contact between sender and receiver. These channels are often referred to as the mass media as messages transmitted through them are sent to many individuals at one time. The two major categories of nonpersonal channels are print and broadcast media. 

D. Receiver/Decoding—the receiver is the person(s) with whom the sender shares thoughts or information. Receivers are generally viewed as the consumers in the target audience targeted by the firm’s marketing and promotional program. Decoding is the process of transforming and interpreting the sender’s message back into thought and is heavily influenced by the receiver’s frame of reference or field of experience. Effective communication is more likely when common ground or shared meaning or understanding exists or has been established between the sender and receiver. 

E. Noise—throughout the communications process the message is subject to noise which refers to factors that can distort or interfere with adequate reception or comprehension. Noise can occur during the encoding, transmission, or decoding of a message. Noise can also occur because of a lack of common ground or understanding between the sender and receiver. 

F. Response/Feedback—response refers to the reaction the receiver has after seeing, hearing and/or reading the message. These responses can range from non-observable actions such as storing information in memory to taking immediate actions such as ordering a product seen in a direct response ad. Feedback is the part of the receiver’s response that is communicated back to the sender and takes a variety of forms. Feedback provides the sender with a way of monitoring how the message is being decoded and received by the target audience.