Referencing and citing

What is referencing?

You will refer to a range of different types of material including books, journal articles, images and web resources in your academic work. 

When you use the information that you have read in another source, you must create a citation to the source in the text of your document.  This citation refers the reader to the full reference in a reference list or bibliography at the end of your document. 

The reference provides a description of the details of the source presented in an accurate and consistent way.

Why we reference

• Referencing enables anyone who reads your work to identify and locate sources quickly and efficiently
• Referencing acknowledges the work of others and protects you from accusations of plagiarism
• Referencing can verify quotations
• Referencing can demonstrate the depth of your research.

Creating a reference list

A reference list is created at the end of your document which outlines all the sources that you have referenced in your document.

Sometimes, you may also create a bibliography which is a full list of all sources consulted when researching your assignment, whether referenced in the work or not.

A bibliography may also be a separate work, listing sources published on a particular topic.