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WHY BOTHER WITH REFERENCING?

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Referencing is a system which enables ideas to be traced back

(3,5)

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“In-text citation”(e.g. author’s last name, date, page numbers)

1. Marker in the text

2. Reference List

Full reference details to enable the reader to trace the ideas in the text (e.g. arranged by author’s last name)

Transparency

3. The “Literature”

Research evidence to substantiate the points you are making in your writing

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Key Academic Conventions

Quality

In what you READ

Transparency

In how you REFERENCE

Clarity

In how you WRITE/PRESENT

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Referencing in Academic Research

No academic research is ENTIRELY original – many ideas come from other people’s research in the past.

Who said what (and when) is important – otherwise ideas could be misrepresented and falsified.

Academic research would be impossible without having a system in place to trace ideas back

Referencing provides such a system

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Why reference? Good academic practice: Enables ideas to be traced

back – the “long conversation” of academic research

Aids the production of a good argument. You are not alone: past research provides vital back-up!

Demonstrates you have understood where your ideas are coming from = more credibility = better marks

Correct attribution is simply ‘honest and open’

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The P Word

Plagiarism...

The deliberate attempt to gain advantage by presenting someone else’s work as your own

The substantial duplication of another’s work without acknowledgement of the original source

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Bad Academic Practice

“Plagiarism by mistake”

The university has policies in place to detect both deliberate and accidental plagiarism

Both plagiarism and bad academic practice attract severe penalties – avoid them!

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4 Steps to Good referencing

1. Always record all the books and articles you find as you find them (start creating your reference list/bibliography from the beginning).

Why? Because you can’t remember everything and this will save time trying to find it again later on.

2. Always give yourself plenty of time to research and write your work

Why? Because this will avoid the temptation for last-minute ‘panic plagiarism’

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4 Steps to Good referencing

3. When writing, always acknowledge ideas you’ve picked up from your reading – both direct quotes and ideas you have paraphrased

Why? Because this is the basis of ‘good academic practice’.

4. When in doubt, always seek assistance or clarification

Why? Because it can take a little while to get the ‘knack’ of academic writing – and there are people who can help!

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Final thoughts …

Always check your student handbook and module guides for information on the referencing style that your faculty wants you to use.

If in doubt about referencing ask your tutors for assistance or ask in the library for help.