Since I started college this year, it seems all I’ve heard
from my lecturers is ‘Don’t forget to reference correctly’. Being honest, I let
this statement go in one ear and out the other! It was only when I went to do
my first assignment that I realised that referencing correctly can be
difficult. References must be provided throughout your assignment after each
citation and also in a reference list at the end. There are many different
styles of referencing; the one which we follow at ITB is the Harvard style of
referencing. Everyone is given a guideline to follow in their student handbook
at the beginning of each semester.
Referencing is very important as if done incorrectly you can
be accused of plagiarism and receive a 0% grade on your assignment. Plagiarism
is taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own
(online oxford dictionary). The thing you have to remember is that you can take
someone else’s work or ideas and use them – just remember to reference them!
I have provided a video which explains how to use the
Harvard style of referencing effectively in less than 10 minutes which I would
advise you to watch . I also found the UCD explanation of Harvard
Referencing very beneficial, this can be seen on their library page.
Above is an example of a Harvard Style Referencing list.
Some Tips:
o
Referencing correctly comes with time, be
patient!
o
Make a list of your references as you go, this
will save you a lot of time at the end.
o
List your references in alphabetical order in
your reference list.
o
Ensure you reference all citations used, even if
you change it to your own words.
o
Take the time to reference as poor or incorrect
referencing can lose you marks in your assignment.
Word Count: 309
References:
- www.aresearchguide.com (referencing and plagiarism) accessed 12/11/2012.
- www.hubpages.com (avoiding plagiarism) accessed 12/11/2012.
- www.oxforddictionaries.com (definition of plagiarism, definition of referencing) accessed 12/11/2012.
- www.youtube.com (guide to Harvard referencing) accessed 12/11/2012.
- http://www.scu.edu.au/assignment-navigator/index.php/9/ (image) accessed 06/12/2012
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