Deck 11: Referencing

Question 1

Why does referencing matter?

Answer 1

In summary, referencing:
-distinguishes original thinking from existing knowledge and therefore minimises plagiarism
-shows the range and quality of reading
-allows readers to verify claims
-provides readers with access to further information.

Question 2

Does your institution provide EndNote to students at a discount rate? Does the library or learning centre run tutorials on using EndNote? Why is EndNote useful?

Answer 2

EndNote and its Thomson Reuters stablemate, Reference Manager, are usually expensive but student discounts can be substantial. Using your institution's standard software has the advantage that support, and often training, is readily available; encourage your students to make good use of any training because this type of software can be complex and can seem arcane to an inexperienced user. Using EndNote or an equivalent:
-Saves a huge amount of time by loading bibliographic data directly from a source without the user having to type information into fields
-Greatly improves the accuracy of recorded data
-Encourages students to record accurate bibliographic information
-When used with a compatible wordprocessing application, greatly reduces the likelihood that all references cited in the text will appear in the References list and vice versa.

Question 3

Why do you need to be precise about referencing conventions?

Answer 3

Each style has its own precise conventions; getting these right is part of a professional approach to writing and will be expected by lecturers and tutors. Inconsistent punctuation and formatting suggests inattention to detail, and readers can become suspicious about what else might have been overlooked. Finally, students who go on to pursue an academic career must publish research papers, and academic journals also expect referencing to be precise.

Question 4

What is plagiarism? Can you find your institution's policy on plagiarism or academic misconduct? What are the penalties for plagiarism? Write out the definition of plagiarism used by your institution and place it in a prominent position on the wall near your desk.

Question 5

What system of referencing is used by your college or department? If they don't use APA, bookmark on your computer one of the appropriate websites listed in this chapter.

Question 6

If you are using a single authored journal article for an assignment, what bibliographical data do you need to record for referencing purposes?