Where can I find the referencing style guide I need to follow?

Transcription

1 Practising academic integrity: An introduction to referencing APA referencing style While there are many styles of referencing used at SCU, this resource refers to American Psychology Association (APA) in-text referencing style (6th edition). This information can be transferred, and applied when using other styles of referencing. This resource draws upon the excellent APA referencing guide generated by the SCU Library. Please refer to this easy-to use-guide if you are using APA 6th edition referencing style ( au/library). What is referencing? Referencing is a method used to acknowledge when ideas, information, data, examples, images and words from others work are included in academic writing. This is why referencing is one of the most important ways students practise academic integrity when writing assignments at university. Where is referencing used? University assignments and thesis, and published scholarly work including books and journal articles are the main places where referencing gets used. Outside of the university referencing is often found in government reports and monographs, as well as non-fiction books, and Wikipedia. Quick Guide What is in this guide APA referencing style What is referencing? Where is referencing used? Where can I find the referencing style guide I need to follow? Why is referencing used in academic writing? Why do I need to reference in assignments? When do I need to reference? Common knowledge Referencing in two places: APA referencing style examples Example Reference lists Examples Final tips about referencing Related Quick Guides Referencing styles vary across different disciplines and courses. At SCU a number of different styles of referencing are currently used. Where can I find the referencing style guide I need to follow? Your teachers will indicate the referencing style you need to follow when writing assignments. Usually, your unit online learning site (Blackboard site) will contain a copy of the referencing style guide you need to use when writing assignments. The Library site also contains copies of referencing style guides used in each School at SCU ( edu.au/library). Check with your teacher if you are in doubt about the correct referencing style to use in assignments. Why is referencing used in academic writing? There are five main reasons why referencing is used in academic writing. Referencing is used: 1. to adhere to copyright laws 2. to acknowledge the use of other s work 3. to recognise the efforts of those who have already produced work on the topic 4. to add credibility to the writing by providing verifiable evidence 5. as a collegial gesture to the reader (e.g. being generous by sharing resources you have found about the topic). Centre for Teaching and Learning Academic Practice Academic Skills Digital Resources ctl@scu.edu.au Page 1

2 Why do I need to reference in assignments? Unless otherwise stated, students are expected to use referencing when writing assignments at university. There are six main reasons you need to reference in assignments: 1. to practise academic integrity by acknowledging when you use others work 2. to clearly show where your work ends and the work of others begins 3. to avoid plagiarism and possible penalties 4. to demonstrate your understanding by showing you have read and used existing work on the topic 5. to make it easier for your marker to follow up evidence used in the assignment 6. to ensure your work appears well-edited and complete. Writing assignments at university involves blending sources into your writing in very specific ways. Referencing is an important technique used to blend sources into your writing in a way that carefully acknowledges every time you use others work. When do I need to reference? Unless otherwise stated in assignment details, you need to reference whenever you use others work in your writing. This means you need to reference every time you use ideas, information, data, examples, words, or images from sources. Even unpublished work needs to be referenced. For example, if you use ideas, information, data, examples, images, or sounds from lecture power point slides, blogs, songs, or an interview transcript, you need to reference. Often, the sources we read while preparing assignments confirm and clarify our own existing ideas on a topic or issue. Even in these instances it is important to reference. This is because referencing acknowledges your use of sources, and adds credibility to your writing (because credible sources support your stance). Common knowledge If a matter is common knowledge it does not need to be referenced. As a rule of thumb, common knowledge is something which most people would know including key events and dates. For example, when writing an assignment about World War II, the event and key dates relating to battles would be considered to be common knowledge. Figuring out what falls into common knowledge can be tricky. This is because what is common knowledge varies depending on the context, and the audience. If you are not sure whether something is common knowledge it is best to reference anyway. You will not lose marks for referencing too often. Referencing in two places in assignments: APA examples APA is an in-text referencing style. This means you will reference in two places in assignments: 1. in the text of your assignment 2. at the end of the assignment. Limited referencing details are provided in-text (e.g. author surname(s), year of publication, page number(s). At the end of the assignment complete referencing information for sources is provided in the list of references. The idea is that the in-text citations provide enough information (author name, year of publication) for the reader to find the source in the reference list (or bibliography) provided at the end of the assignment. Page 2

3 Example Example: in-text citation Drake (2011) argues animal rights and economic growth can co-exist if sustainable strategies are employed. OR If sustainable strategies are used it is possible for animal rights and economic growth to co-exist (Drake, 2011). Drake, Z. (2011). Sustainability and profit (9th ed.). London: Angle Press. Reference lists The reference list appears at the end of your assignment. It contains complete referencing details for all the sources actually cited (referenced) in the text of your assignment. APA reference style uses an author-date system to organise referencing information. Reference lists and bibliographies MUST be ordered alphabetically according to the surname of the author. Use a page break to start the reference list on a new page, and provide a centred title References. To save space the examples below are in single line spacing, but APA 6th edition referencing style requires you to double line space citations in the reference list, and use hanging indentation of 5 7 spaces. Types of Source Example of reference list citations Book Single author Drake, Z. (2011). Sustainability and profit (9th ed.). London: Angle Press. Author, A. (Year). Title of book. Place of publication: Publisher. Book Edited collection Ellery, C. L., & Ingles, M. H. (Eds.). (2009). Key concepts in environmental practice. Springfield, MA: University Press. Editor, A. A., & Editor, A. A. (Eds.). (Year). Title of Book. Place of publication, State: Publisher. Chapter in an edited book Frankson, L. (2011). Engaging in community. In R. Quinn & N. S. Tricky (Eds.), Community building in a global context (pp ). Sydney, Australia: Excellent Books. Author, A. (Year). Title of article. In A. Editor & A. A. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pages). Place of publication, Country: Publisher. Study guide Hale, T. (2008). CMM0146 Introduction to theory: Study guide. Lismore, Australia: Southern Cross University. Author, A. (Year). Title of study guide. Place of publication, Country of publication: Publisher. myreadings article Ingleton, B. (2006). Analysing media representations: Advertisements and cultural panic. Media, 15(1), Retrieved April 12, 2012, from Southern Cross University Library myreadings. Author, A. (Year). Title of article. Journal name, volume (issue), pages. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Southern Cross University Library myreadings. Journal article (found freely available online) Johns, Y. (2012). Eating cows. E-Journal of Animal Rights, 3(4), Retrieved from Author, A. (Year). Title of article. Journal name, volume (issue), pages. Retrieved from htpp://xxx Page 3

4 Types of Source Example of reference list citations Newspaper article (with author & accessed online) Kelty, U. (2010, September 25). Improving student learning. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from Author, A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Title of newspaper. Retrieved from URL of homepage. Newspaper article (no author) Landing gold at London. (2012, August 7). The Australian, p. 4. Title of article. (Year, Month Day). Title of newspaper, page. Article from a website Article from website (no date) Journal article with DOI assigned (retrieved from database) Blog entry Video Blog entry (YouTube) Podcast Morris, V. (2012). Cultural implications of mobile technologies. Retrieved from Author, A. (Year). Title of article. Retrieved from Muldoon, O. (n.d.). Dragging the chain. Retrieved from reporting_06.html Note: use (n.d.) if date of publication is unavailable Kwok, T., Lee, J., Woo, J., Lee, D., & Griffith, S. (2007). A randomized controlled trial of a community nurse-supported hospital discharge programme in older patients with chronic heart failure. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17(1), doi: / j x Author, A. (Year). Title of article. Journal name, volume (issue), pages. DOI Saint Claire, J. (2011, August 8). Should journalists be impartial? [Web log message]. Retrieved from should-journalists-be-impartial/ Author, A. (Year, Month Day). Title of post [Format of resource]. Retrieved from xxx Traintoypublishing, (2010, July 14). The Gruen Transfer the pitch PB (Petroleum Brilliance). [Video file]. Retrieved from kmhxh0qdbwq&feature=related Author, A. or Screen name, (Year, Month Day). Title of video post. [Format of resource]. Retrieved from Van Nuys, D. (Producer). (2007, December 19). Shrink rap radio [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from Author, A. (Role of Creator). (Year, Month Day). Title of podcast [Format of resource]. Retrieved from Use of italics: The titles of published works are put in italics. For example, the titles of books, newspapers and journals are italicised. DO NOT italicise title of chapters from edited collections, newspaper articles, or journal articles. Final tips about referencing Remember referencing is taken very seriously at university because it is the technique used to acknowledge when you use others work. Referencing is one of the main ways students practise academic integrity in assignments. Always check with your tutor about the referencing style you should follow. Record referencing details during note-taking for assignments. This simple strategy can save you time and study stress closer to the assignment submission date. Don t panic about referencing. Try to focus on double-checking and editing your referencing against the set referencing style guide (and avoid losing easy marks). Page 4

5 Referencing consistently and correctly involves following the referencing style guide or code book. This is why it is important to download the style guide, and edit your referencing against this code when writing assignments. Access, download and print (if you can) the detailed, user-friendly referencing guide(s) provided by the SCU Library: Learning to read a referencing guide takes time. Allocate study time to this task well before the assignment due date. Remember, referencing style guides tend to be divided into sections about how to reference different types of sources (books, journal articles, newspapers and so on) in-text, and in the reference list. This means it is important to always ask yourself: 1. What kind of source am I referencing? Is it a book with one author, a chapter from an edited collection, a journal article? The style guide will be organised according to the type of source being referenced. This is because different types of sources are referenced differently. Find the exact type of source you are referencing (a book with one author, a book with two authors, a journal article found on a web site, a journal article with a DOI etc). 2. Where am I referencing this source? In-text or in the references list? The style guide will be organised according to where sources are referenced (in-text or in the references list). This is because sources are referenced differently in-text and in the references list. It is easier to complete referencing in two phases. First, write down all of the referencing details in the correct order. Then go back and edit punctuation to make sure you have included brackets, full stops, commas and italics where you need to. By completing referencing in two phases you can cut down on study stress and ensure your referencing is correct and consistent. Related Quick Guides Student academic integrity: An introduction, Student academic misconduct: An introduction, Using originality checking to practise academic integrity Page 5