Reference List – Most university assignments require a referencing method for their dissertation or research papers. Latrobe referencing style is one of the formats. But, what is the purpose of referencing? Why do universities advise students to include their references?
Well, referencing lets you acknowledge how the work of other past researchers and writers helped you.
But how do you create a reference list? What information do you place on that list? That is what we will discuss in this article.
Information that you should include in your references
Students often think of the name of various books when considering the word “referencing”. But, referencing extends beyond books and involves ideas, comments or information from any sources that helped you complete your work.
When you reference, you use concepts and words from sources like –
- Brochures or pamphlets.
- Newspapers or magazines
- Journal articles or books
- Letter, e-mails or online discussion forums
- Electronic resources like websites
- Advertisements, documentaries, television programs or films.
- Personal interviews and
- Sources from tutors or lecturers.
Do you use diagrams, charts, illustrations or pictures in your dissertation? Then you should also include them in your reference list. But, whether or not you’re using Latrobe referencing, there still are exceptions.
Details that do not require referencing
However, there are cases when you complete a paper and do not include any references. Some of those instances are –
- Write down your observations and results of an experiment to file a report.
- Write down your personal experiences, say, over a reflective journal.
- Note down your thoughts, personal comments or the conclusions in the assignment.
- Explain your analysis.
- Include familiar information that people are well-acquainted with in their life.
- Apply generalized facts or information which varies across several disciplines. So, it’s always best to clarify them with your tutor.
Other types of referencing
You’ll find several different referencing types available; however, the two most commonly used are – MLA referencing style Harvard referencing for the author’s name and date. The other one is Vancouver referencing for numeric values.
The Harvard referencing style uses the author’s surname and the publication year. So, in the end, you should list the references alphabetically. But remember to place the publication year right after the author’s name.
If you’re referencing multiple works from the same author, separate them by placing letters after each year. Like – Turner, 1998a and Turner, 1998b.
If you’re quoting from your work, use quotation marks to enclose your text. Do not forget to place the page numbers of the quotation. But take care to use direct quotes, which you can apply by paraphrasing or rewording the data.
Vancouver referencing (numeric system)
The Vancouver referencing system is number-based. Texts carry numbers in a numerical sequence at the end as references. The numbers follow an ascending order as 1, 2, 3 etc. You can also use superscripts or brackets to place the numbers.
If you place direct quotes, use quotation marks to enclose your texts. But do not forget to include the page numbers of your quotations. Again, it’s best to use direct quotes and paraphrase or reword the information.
Conclusion
A proper referencing list is essential as it’ll help your readers to understand your information sources. In addition, referencing increases the quality and authenticity of your research work.
Summary
Always provide authentic information while working on your reference. It’ll improve the quality of your content and make it better.
