Introduction to referencing

Why do we reference?

We get our ideas and information from lots of different sources, such as books, journals and websites. When we write an assignment, we use relevant information from these sources to help us produce a well-argued answer that is supported by evidence. Therefore, it is important to differentiate between our own original work and what comes from someone else.

There are usually two parts to a reference:

Citation

A short reference or note at the point in your text where you use the material.

Reference

Full details of the source, in the form of a reference list or bibliography, at the end of the text.

Watch this video for more on the difference between citations and a reference?