Do I cite a lecture I only attended?

In APA, as a personal communication in-text only — there's nothing for a reader to retrieve. If slides or a recording were posted, cite those instead with a full reference entry.

How do I cite PowerPoint slides from my course site?

Instructor as author, title, [PowerPoint slides] as the format, the department/university, and the course-site URL. A login-required link is fine.

Can I cite my own lecture notes?

No — your notes aren't a retrievable source. Cite the lecture (if retrievable) or the readings the lecture drew from.

What format tag does APA use?

Match the medium in brackets: [PowerPoint slides], [Lecture notes], or [Lecture recording].

How to Cite a Lecture or PowerPoint

Updated September 2026

Citing a lecture depends on whether your reader can access it. Slides posted to a course site or the open web get a normal citation. A lecture you simply attended — with no retrievable recording or slides — is a personal communication in APA, cited in-text only.

Cite course materials right

The two cases

Retrievable (slides on Canvas/Blackboard, a posted recording, a public deck): cite it with the instructor as author, the title, [PowerPoint slides] or [Lecture notes] as the format, and the platform. Attended only (no posted materials): APA treats it as a personal communication — (A. Lopez, personal communication, March 18, 2026) — cited in text, not in references, because no one else can retrieve it.

The format (posted slides)

APA: Instructor, I. (Year). Title of lecture [PowerPoint slides]. Department, University. https://lms-url MLA: Instructor Last, First. “Title of Lecture.” Course Name, University, Day Mon. Year. PowerPoint presentation.

Details that matter

Format tag — APA marks the medium: [PowerPoint slides], [Lecture notes], [Lecture recording].
Access — course-site links require a login; that's acceptable (cite the URL anyway) since classmates and the instructor can reach it.
Restricted vs. public — a slide deck on the open web is fully retrievable; a Canvas deck is retrievable to the class. Both get reference entries.
Your own notes from a lecture are not citable as a source — they're your notes.

In-text citations

Posted slides, APA: (Lopez, 2026). Attended lecture, APA: (A. Lopez, personal communication, March 18, 2026). MLA: (Lopez) for posted materials.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I cite a lecture I only attended?: In APA, as a personal communication in-text only — there's nothing for a reader to retrieve. If slides or a recording were posted, cite those instead with a full reference entry.
How do I cite PowerPoint slides from my course site?: Instructor as author, title, [PowerPoint slides] as the format, the department/university, and the course-site URL. A login-required link is fine.
Can I cite my own lecture notes?: No — your notes aren't a retrievable source. Cite the lecture (if retrievable) or the readings the lecture drew from.
What format tag does APA use?: Match the medium in brackets: [PowerPoint slides], [Lecture notes], or [Lecture recording].

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