How to Cite a PowerPoint in APA 7th edition

PowerPoint presentations have information on a broad range of topics that you may be able to use. Just like any other type of source that you will use for research, they need to be cited.

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Online PowerPoints

Some PowerPoints are easily assessable and are available online to anyone.

In-text Citations

Paraphrase: Provide the author(s) of the PowerPoint’s name(s) and the year of the PowerPoint.

Example

(Wilson, 2021)

Direct Quotation: When you quote word-for-word from the slideshow presentation, include the slide number.

Example

(Wilson, 2021, slide 9)

Reference List

For the reference list, provide the following:

Name of the author (whoever presented it)
date
title (italicized),
“PowerPoint slides” in square brackets
Site name on which it is hosted
URL where it can be found

Format
Author name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). PowerPoint title [PowerPoint slides]. Site name on which it is hosted. URL

Example
Wilson, J. L. (2021, June 2). Hope and fear: The duality of the BIPOC experience and the fight for equity. [PowerPoint slides]. West Virginia Department of Education. https://wvde.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Multicultural-Education-Presentation-Final.pptx

Classroom Website PowerPoint

You may use a PowerPoint from a classroom website, such as Blackboard, Moodle, Canvas, or Sakai. When you cite from a classroom website, the format for the in-text citations is the same as for the online PowerPoints.

Reference List

For the reference list, provide the following:

Name of the author (whoever presented it)
date
title (italicized),
“PowerPoint slides” in square brackets,
Name of the department and university
URL where it can be found

Format
Author name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). PowerPoint title [PowerPoint slides]. Department Name, University Name. URL

Example
Simonton, D. K. (2013). The mad-genius controversy [PowerPoint slides]. College of Education, University of Iowa. https://simonton.faculty.ucdavis.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/243/2015/08/IowaDeltaMadGenius.pdf

middle eastern female grad student taking notes in front of laptop at home

PowerPoint from Password-protected Platform

You may need to use a login to access a PowerPoint. The in-text citation format will be the same as it is for the online PowerPoints. In the reference list, everything will be the same as for the other PowerPoints, except the URL for the login page should be provided instead of the PowerPoint’s specific location.

Format
Author name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). PowerPoint title [PowerPoint slides]. Department Name, University Name. URL for the login page.

Example
Walker, C. (2022, March 17). Diversity in education [PowerPoint slides]. Department of Education, North Carolina State University. https://login.canvas.ncsu.ac.nc/

Not Accessible PowerPoint

If you use a PowerPoint that is not accessible to your readers, you will only need to cite it as a personal communication. You do not have to include a personal communication in the reference list.

In-text Citations

Paraphrase

(personal communication, Month Day, Year)

Example
During a course lecture, Dr. Burrows mentioned that the main function of transformational leaders is to transform the groups they lead and inspire them to innovate (personal communication, October 23, 2022).

Quotation

(Presenter’s First Initial. Second Initial. Surname, personal communication, Month Day, Year)

Example
“Servant leaders encourage the people they lead to follow the motto that states to serve first and lead second”
(D. H. Burrows, personal communication, October 23, 2022).

Note: For more information, refer to sections 10.12–10.14 of the APA manual (7th edition) and the video, APA Formatting for PowerPoint at https://youtu.be/K5hOqvlq2CQ