Citing a TED Talk in APA style can seem tricky, as TED Talks don't fit neatly into traditional publication categories. However, with a clear understanding of the APA guidelines and a bit of attention to detail, you can accurately cite these engaging presentations in your academic work. This guide will walk you through the process, offering both general guidance and specific examples.
Understanding the Challenges of TED Talk Citations
The primary challenge lies in the lack of a standard publication format for TED Talks. Unlike journal articles or books, they aren't assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) numbers in the traditional sense. However, most TED Talks are now available via their website, each having a unique URL. This URL acts as a crucial element in your citation.
Key Components of a TED Talk APA Citation
Your APA citation for a TED Talk will generally include these components:
- Author's name: The speaker's name.
- Year: The year the talk was filmed/posted.
- Title of the talk: The title of the TED Talk.
- Title of the website: "TED."
- URL: The permanent URL of the TED Talk.
Two Ways to Cite a TED Talk in APA 7th Edition
There are two main approaches to citing a TED Talk in APA 7th edition, depending on whether the talk is available as a video or a transcript:
1. Citing a TED Talk Video
If you are referencing the video itself, your citation will look like this:
Example:
LastName, F. M. (Year, Month Day). Title of TED Talk [Video]. TED. [URL]
Let's break it down with a hypothetical example:
Doe, J. (2023, October 26). The Power of Optimism [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/john_doe_the_power_of_optimism
Important Considerations:
- Month and Day: Include the month and day if available on the TED page. If not, you can omit them. Only the year is strictly required.
- Capitalization: Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle (if any) and proper nouns.
- Brackets: Use brackets to clearly indicate the medium ("Video").
2. Citing a TED Talk Transcript (If Available)
If you accessed a transcript of the TED Talk, and the transcript is considered an official part of the content, you could cite it as a web page, similar to this:
Example:
LastName, F. M. (Year, Month Day). Title of TED Talk. TED. [URL]
Hypothetical Example:
Doe, J. (2023, October 26). The Power of Optimism. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/john_doe_the_power_of_optimism/transcript
Key Difference: Notice the absence of "[Video]" in the citation when referencing a transcript.
In-text Citations for TED Talks
In-text citations are brief references within your paper that correspond to your full reference list. They typically follow this format: (Author's Last Name, Year).
Examples:
- "Doe's TED Talk on optimism highlights the importance of positive thinking" (Doe, 2023).
- "The speaker emphasized the power of positive self-talk (Doe, 2023)."
Handling Multiple Speakers
If a TED Talk features multiple speakers, list them all in the order they appear in the citation. If the TED Talk is presented by an organization, cite the organization as the author.
Staying Updated
APA guidelines can be updated. It's always good practice to check the official APA style manual or the latest online resources to ensure you're using the most current version.
By following these guidelines, you can confidently cite TED Talks in your APA-style papers, demonstrating proper academic rigor and acknowledging the source of your information. Remember that accuracy and consistency are key to successful academic writing.
