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Preparing your assignments? University referencing guide for beginners

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For most university courses, you'll write countless essays and assignments. While referencing may not be everyone's cup of tea (and you'll eventually realise just how much of a pain it can be), it is compulsory after all, so it's best to master it from the very beginning.

It's important to ALWAYS reference your sources, and remember that plagiarism is a SERIOUS OFFENCE that could get you academically excluded, so stay far away from it.

An in-text citation is the reference that is used when you quote something or someone in the body of work such as an essay. The reference list or bibliography is the full citation with all the source's details that goes at the end of the body of work.

Here are some of the main referencing styles used in universities and their in-text and reference list citation formats of books, websites and journals:

1. The Harvard method 

For books:

Harvard style referencing

For websites:

In-text citation:

(The author(s) and date created)

Reference list:

Author(s) surname, initial. (Date of publication). Website Title. Available at: http:// link (Access date: date accessed).

For journals:

In-text citation:

(The author(s) and date published)

Reference list:

Author(s), initials. (Year of publication). 'Article title' Journal title Volume of journal, issue number of journal. Page range of article.

2. APA Style Referencing

American Psychological Association (APA).

For books:

apa style referencing

For websites: 

In-text citation:

(Author surname, year, p.)

p= page number

Reference list:

Author(s) surnames, initials. (Year Month Date published). Article Title. Retrieved from URL.

For journals: 

In-text citation:

(Author surname, year, p.)

Reference List

Author(s), year of publication, Article Title, Journal Name, volume number, issue number, page number range of the article.

3. MLA Style Referencing

Modern Language Association (MLA)

For books:

mla style referencing

For websites:

In-text citation:

("Title of page" Year published)

Reference List:

Author’s Last name, First name. “Title of the Article or Page.” Title of the Website, Name of the Publisher, Date of Publication in DD/MM/YYYY format, URL.

For journals: 

In-text citation:

(Author surname and page range)

Reference List:

Authors Last name, first name. "Article Title." Journal Title Series Volume. Issue (Year Published): Page(s). Print.

4. Chicago Style Referencing 

For books:

Chicago style referencing

For websites:

In-text citations:

(Author surname and Year Published)

Reference List:

Author surname, first name. Year. "Page Title" Website Name. URL

For journals:

In-text citations:

(Author surname and year published) 

Reference List:

Author surname, first name. Year. "Article Title". Journal Name volume (issue no.): pages used.

5. AMA Style Referencing 

American Medical Association (AMA)

For books:

ama referencing style

For websites:

In-text citation:

(Author surname and date)

Reference List:

Author surname First name initial. Page Title. Website Name. URL. Published Year. Accessed date.

For journals:

In-text citation:

(Author surname and date)

Reference List:

Author surname First name initial. Journal name. Year of publication: volume number, issue number, page numbers.

Is there any kind of referencing style used at university that you feel should be included? Let us know by emailing us at chatback@Parent24.com.

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