What is a Reference?

• An acknowledgement that you have referred to (cited) information from published sources in your own work.
• In other words, a recognition that you have borrowed other people’s work, ideas or opinions.

Why Reference

• Shows you have researched a topic a topic
• Published evidence to support your own ideas/argument/point of view or give examples
• Plagiarism- using other people’s work and ideas as your own without acknowledgement
• Copyright
• Helps others trace your information sources
• Part of the marking scheme for your assessments

What is plagiarism

• The practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own

Actions that might be seen as plagiarism

• Buying, stealing or borrowing an assignment
• Using the source too closely when paraphrasing
• Paying someone to write your assignment
• Building on someone’s ideas without acknowledgement/ referencing
• Copying from another source without referencing (on purpose or by accident)

When to reference

• ‘Direct quotations’- author’s exact words. Use sparingly
• A particular theory, argument, opinion, viewpoint- but not common knowledge
• Paraphrasing/ summarising
• Statistics, examples, case studies
• Images

How to reference

• Various systems for referencing
• APA, 6th. (Author/Date) is recommended at the University
• Reference in two places
  • Brief details, within the main body of your assignment
  • Full details, at the end of your assignment