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Paying homage to the legendary civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., in your eulogy speech can be an incredible way to acknowledge and honor his work. In academic or research contexts, correctly referencing his eulogy following APA format guidelines is essential for maintaining credibility and avoiding plagiarism. This article will guide you in referencing Martin Luther King's eulogy using the APA format correctly and effectively.
Understanding APA Format
APA, or the American Psychological Association, is a citation style commonly used in the social sciences. It helps ensure that writers give proper credit to their sources while maintaining a clear and consistent format for citing information. Referencing a speech, like Martin Luther King’s eulogy, requires including specific details about the speech and following the general APA format rules.
Basic Structure for Citing a Speech in APA Format
Before diving into the specific requirements for citing Martin Luther King's eulogy, it's crucial to understand the general structure for citing a speech in APA format:
- Speaker’s Last name, First initial(s). (Year, Month Day). Title of speech [Type of speech]. Event name, Location.
Referencing Martin Luther King's Eulogy
Now that you have a grasp of the basic structure, let's break down the citation for Martin Luther King's eulogy specifically:
Speaker
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Start by mentioning the speaker's last name followed by their first initial(s). In the case of Martin Luther King's eulogy, the speaker is Robert F. Kennedy:
Kennedy, R. F.
Date
Next, include the date of the speech in parentheses. For King's eulogy, the date is April 4, 1968:
(1968, April 4).
Title of the Speech
Provide the title of the speech in italics. If there is no official title, create a brief, clear descriptive title and include it in square brackets. King's eulogy does not have an official title, so you can use a descriptive title like this:
Remarks on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. [Speech transcript].
Event Name and Location
Finally, include the event name and the location where the speech took place. In this case:
City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH.
Complete Reference for Martin Luther King's Eulogy
Putting it all together, the complete reference for Martin Luther King's eulogy in APA format will look like this:
Kennedy, R. F. (1968, April 4). Remarks on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. [Speech transcript]. City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH.
How To Reference Martin Luther King Eulogy Apa Format Example:
Imagine you are writing a research paper on civil rights leaders and their impact on society. You want to include details from Robert F. Kennedy's eulogy for Martin Luther King Jr. After providing the relevant information from the eulogy in your paper, you will need to include the reference in your bibliography or works cited page as follows:
Kennedy, R. F. (1968, April 4). Remarks on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. [Speech transcript]. City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the American Psychological Association (APA) format?
The APA format is a set of guidelines for writing and formatting papers in the social sciences. Developed by the American Psychological Association, these guidelines cover a wide array of topics, including citations, references, text formatting, tables, figures, and the overall structure of an academic paper.
Why is it important to reference properly in APA format?
Proper referencing in APA format is crucial as it enhances the credibility of your paper by acknowledging the original sources of information. It allows readers to follow and verify your research, avoids plagiarism, and maintains academic integrity.
How would I reference Martin Luther King Jr.'s Eulogy using APA format?
To reference Martin Luther King Jr.'s Eulogy in APA format, you would include the speaker’s name, the date of the speech, the title of the eulogy, its format, and where it was retrieved from if it is an online resource. An example might be: King, M. L. Jr. (1968). Eulogy for the Martyred Children. [Speech audio recording]. Retrieved from URL.
Is a live speech referenced differently than a recorded one?
Yes, a live speech is referenced differently than a recorded one because you have to account for the medium through which the speech was delivered. For a recorded speech, you would note the format (e.g., audio recording) and where it was retrieved.
Do I need to include a URL when referencing recorded speeches?
Yes, when referencing a recorded speech that is retrieved online, you should include the full URL where you found the recording to provide a direct path for the reader to access the source.
What if there is no title for the speech or eulogy?
If there's no official title, APA guidelines suggest providing a description of the work in square brackets instead of a title. For example: King, M. L. Jr. (1968). [Eulogy for the martyred children].
How should I cite a quote from the eulogy within the text?
To cite a quote from the eulogy within the text, include the speaker's last name, the year of the speech, and the timestamp of the portion you are quoting, if available. For example: (King, 1968, 12:34).
Can I abbreviate the title of the eulogy in my in-text citations?
In-text citations should typically include the author's last name and the year. If you reference a specific part of the eulogy, including a section or a timestamp may be necessary, but abbreviating the title is not usually required or recommended.
What information is required for a full reference of a speech?
A full reference for a speech should include the name of the speaker, the date of speech, the title (or description) of the speech, the venue, and the location. If accessed online, include the format and retrieval URL.
How should I format multiple citations from the same speech?
If you cite multiple portions of the same speech, you will use the same in-text citation format each time (Author's last name, year). You should also include a timestamp if you are citing a specific section of a recorded speech to distinguish the different parts quoted.
If the speech is part of a larger collection, how do I reference it?
If the eulogy or speech is part of a larger collection, you would cite the collection as a whole and, if necessary, provide the specific speech's title or description and its place within the collection.
Should the year of the speech or the year of publication be used in the citation?
In the case of speeches, the year that the speech was given should be used in the citation. If referencing a printed or published version that occurred in a different year, then the publication year should be used.
How do I handle in-text citations if the author’s name is already mentioned in the sentence?
If you already mention Martin Luther King Jr.'s name in the sentence, you would only need to include the year of the speech in parentheses. For example, "As Martin Luther King Jr. noted in his eulogy (1968)..."
Is the APA format different for speeches depending on whether they're published or unpublished?
In general, APA format guidelines are similar for published and unpublished speeches. However, unpublished speeches may not have a retrievable source, so you would omit the URL and potentially provide additional context about how the speech was accessed.
Who can be considered the author of a speech for APA citation?
The person who delivered the speech is considered its author for APA citation purposes, even if the speech was written by someone else.
Can I use a timestamp for an in-text citation?
Yes, when citing a specific part of a recorded speech, a timestamp can be very helpful to direct the reader to the exact portion of the speech you are referring to.
What if the speech is in a video format on a platform like YouTube?
If the speech is in a video format on platforms like YouTube, your reference format would include the video's title, the uploader's name (or username), the upload date, the format ['Video'], and the URL. For instance: King, M. L. Jr. (1968). Eulogy for the Martyred Children [Video]. Uploaded by [Uploader], [Video upload date]. Retrieved from URL.
How do I cite the eulogy if it's part of a television broadcast?
To cite the eulogy from a television broadcast, provide the name of the speaker, the date of the speech, the title, the name of the show or broadcast, the network, and any relevant timestamp if applicable.
Are there any special considerations for citing a speech from an anthology or compilation?
When citing from an anthology or compilation, include the editor's name(s), the year of publication, the title of the anthology, publisher, and the page numbers or range for the speech.
What if there's no identifiable author for a speech?
If there's no identifiable author, as can be the case with some historical speeches, the speech's title or a description moves to the author's position in the reference: Eulogy for the Martyred Children. (1968).
If an editor transcribed the speech, how should they be credited in the APA citation?
If an editor transcribed the speech, they should be listed in your citation as the editor. This might appear as (Ed.) after the name, with the source's details following.
Now that you have a thorough understanding of how to reference Martin Luther King's eulogy in APA format, you'll be well-equipped to maintain the highest academic standards in your research. Keep this guide handy, and feel free to share it with fellow students, colleagues, or anyone else who may need assistance with APA formatting. Don't forget to explore other articles and guides from Eulogy Assistant for more tips and advice on eulogy writing and referencing.