WHAT IS REFERENCING

Referencing is the practice of acknowledging the sources of information that you

use in your writing or research. It involves providing a reference for each source
that you have cited in your work, so that your readers can easily find and consult
the original source themselves if they wish.

There are several different styles of referencing that are used in academic writing,
such as the APA style, the MLA style, and the Chicago style. Each of these styles
has specific guidelines for how to format your references and how to cite sources
within your text.
Referencing is important because it helps to establish the credibility of your work
by demonstrating that you have conducted thorough research and are using reliable
sources. It also helps to avoid plagiarism, which is the act of using the ideas or
words of others without proper attribution. Plagiarism is considered a serious
offense in the academic world and can result in serious consequences, including
loss of grades or expulsion from school.

KEY REASONS WHY REFERENCING IS IMPORTANT

1. To give credit to the original authors or sources of information that you have
used in your work.
2. To provide evidence to support your ideas and arguments.
3. To allow your readers to verify the accuracy and reliability of your sources.
4. To show that you have conducted thorough research on your topic.
5. To avoid plagiarism and demonstrate academic honesty.
6. To contribute to the larger body of knowledge on a particular subject and
provide context for your work within the broader field.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF REFERENCING

Advantages of referencing:
1. Gives credit to original sources: Referencing allows you to give credit to the
original authors or sources of information that you have used in your work.
This is important because it acknowledges the contributions of others and
helps to establish the credibility of your work.
 2. Provides evidence to support your ideas: By citing sources, you can provide
evidence to support your ideas and arguments. This helps to increase the
persuasiveness and credibility of your work.
3. Allows readers to verify the accuracy of your sources: By including
references in your work, you allow your readers to verify the accuracy and
reliability of your sources. This is important because it helps to build trust
and confidence in your work.
4. Shows that you have conducted thorough research: Including references in
your work demonstrates that you have conducted thorough research on your
topic and are using reliable sources.
5. Avoids plagiarism: Referencing helps to avoid plagiarism by properly
attributing the ideas and words of others to their original sources.

Disadvantages of referencing:

1. Can be time-consuming: Properly citing and referencing sources can be a

time-consuming process, particularly if you are using a lot of sources or if
you are using a citation style that is unfamiliar to you.
2. Can be complex: Different citation styles have different guidelines for how
to format your references, and it can be challenging to remember all of the
rules.
3. Can be distracting: If you include too many references in your work, it can
be distracting for your readers and take away from the overall flow and
coherence of your argument.
4. Can be subjective: The choice of which sources to include in your work can
be subjective and may be influenced by your own biases or the expectations
of your audience.

COMMON REFERENCING STYLES

There are many different styles of referencing that are used in academic and
professional writing. Here are some of the most common styles:
1. APA (American Psychological Association) style: This style is often used in
the social sciences and is known for its use of in-text citations and a
reference list at the end of the document.
2. MLA (Modern Language Association) style: This style is commonly used in
the humanities and is known for its use of parenthetical citations and a works
cited page at the end of the document.
 3. Chicago style: This style is widely used in the humanities and social
sciences and is known for its use of footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography
at the end of the document.
4. Harvard style: This style is widely used in the UK and is known for its use
of in-text citations and a reference list at the end of the document.
5. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) style: This style is
commonly used in the field of engineering and is known for its use of in-text
citations and a reference list at the end of the document.

The elements in the reference "Smith, J. (2020). The impact of social media on
youth. Journal of Social Media, 45(3), 180-195" can be grouped as follows:
• Author: Smith, J.
• Title: The impact of social media on youth
• Publication date: 2020
• Publication information: Journal of Social Media, 45(3), 180-195 (journal
name, volume and issue number, page numbers)
This reference is in APA style, which follows a specific format for citing and
referencing sources. In APA style, the reference includes the author's name, the
title of the work, the publication year, and the publication information (such as the
journal name and volume and issue number). It is important to follow the specific
guidelines of the citation style you are using to ensure that your references are
properly formatted.

Each of these styles has specific guidelines for how to format your references and
how to cite sources within your text. It is important to choose a style that is
appropriate for your field and to follow the guidelines consistently in your work.

Here are the general guidelines and formats for some of the most
common referencing styles:

APA (American Psychological Association) style:

• In-text citations: APA style uses author-date citations in the text, with the
author's last name and the year of publication in parentheses. For example:
(Smith, 2020).
• Reference list: The reference list should be alphabetized by the last name of
the first author and should include the full details of each source, including
 the author's name, the title of the work, the publication year, and the
publication information (such as the publisher or journal name).
• Example:
Smith, J. (2020). The impact of social media on youth. Journal of Social Media,
45(3), 180-195.

MLA (Modern Language Association) style:

• In-text citations: MLA style uses parenthetical citations in the text, with the
author's last name and the page number in parentheses. For example: (Smith
123).
• Works cited page: The works cited page should be alphabetized by the last
name of the first author and should include the full details of each source,
including the author's name, the title of the work, the publication year, and
the publication information (such as the publisher or journal name).
• Example:
Smith, John. "The Impact of Social Media on Youth." Journal of Social Media, vol.
45, no. 3, 2020, pp. 180-195.

Chicago style:
• Footnotes or endnotes: Chicago style uses footnotes or endnotes to provide
citations in the text, with a number in the text corresponding to a footnote or
endnote at the bottom of the page or at the end of the document. The
footnote or endnote should include the author's name, the title of the work,
and the publication information (such as the publisher or journal name).
• Bibliography: The bibliography should be alphabetized by the last name of
the first author and should include the full details of each source, including
the author's name, the title of the work, the publication year, and the
publication information (such as the publisher or journal name).
• Example:
1. John Smith, "The Impact of Social Media on Youth," Journal of Social
Media 45, no. 3 (2020): 180-195.
Harvard style:

• In-text citations: Harvard style uses author-date citations in the text, with the
author's last name and the year of publication in parentheses. For example:
(Smith, 2020).
• Reference list: The reference list should be alphabetized by the last name of
the first author and should include the full details of each source, including
the author's name, the title of the work, the publication year, and the
publication information (such as the publisher or journal name).
Example:
Smith, J. (2020). The impact of social media on youth. Journal of Social Media,
45(3), 180-195.

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) style:

• In-text citations: IEEE style uses a numbered citation system in the text, with
a number in square brackets corresponding to a reference in a list at the end
of the document. For example: [1].
• Reference list: The reference list should be numbered in the order that the
sources are cited in the text and should include the full details of each
source, including the author's name, the title of the work, the publication
year, and the publication information (such as the publisher or journal
name).

Example:

[1] J. Smith , "The Impact of Social Media on Youth," Journal of Social Media,
vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 180-195, 2020.

It is important to note that these are just general guidelines for each of the
referencing styles mentioned. Each style has specific rules and guidelines that
should be followed, and it is recommended to consult a style guide or manual for
more detailed information.
It is also important to choose a style that is appropriate for your field and to be
consistent in your use of the style throughout your work. It is common for different
fields and disciplines to have their own preferred styles, so it is important to check
with your instructor or editor to determine the appropriate style to use for your
work.
REFERENCING ELEMENTS
There are several key pieces of information that should be included in a reference
when citing any source. These can vary slightly depending on the specific style
that you are using, but generally, a reference should include the following
elements:
• Author: The author of the source should be listed, usually by their last name
and first initial. If there are multiple authors, they should be listed in the
order that they appear on the source.
• Title: The title of the source should be included, along with any additional
information such as the title of a journal or the volume and issue number.
• Publication date: The date that the source was published should be
included.
• Publication information: This can include the name of the publisher or
journal, the volume and issue number (if applicable), and the page numbers
of the source.
• URL or other identifying information: If the source is a digital document
or is available online, it is often helpful to include the URL or other
identifying information such as a DOI (digital object identifier).
It is important to be as complete and accurate as possible when citing sources, as
this helps to ensure that your readers can easily locate and verify the information
you are using. It is also important to follow the specific guidelines of the citation
style you are using, as different styles may have slightly different requirements for
how to format your references.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of using the ideas or words of others without proper
attribution. It can occur when someone presents the work of others as their own,
either intentionally or unintentionally. Plagiarism is considered a serious offense in
the academic and professional world and can have serious consequences, including
loss of grades or expulsion from school, revocation of a professional license, or
damage to one's reputation.
There are several types of plagiarism, including:
• Copying and pasting from a source without citing it: This is perhaps the
most obvious form of plagiarism, where someone simply copies and pastes
 text from a source into their own work without giving credit to the original
author.
• Paraphrasing without citing: Paraphrasing involves rewording a source in
your own words, but it is still necessary to cite the original source. Failing to
do so is considered plagiarism.
• Using someone else's work as your own: This can include submitting
someone else's work as your own, such as turning in a paper that you
purchased online or that was written by a friend.
• Self-plagiarism: This occurs when someone reuses their own previously
published work without proper attribution.
•
To avoid plagiarism, it is important to give credit to the original sources of any
ideas or words that you use in your work. This can be done through proper
referencing and citation, using quotation marks when necessary, and clearly
indicating when you are using the work of others. It is also important to be careful
when using online sources and to check that you are not inadvertently copying
content from a website or other source. Plagiarism can often be avoided by
carefully planning and organizing your research and writing process, and by being
mindful of the importance of proper attribution.