Referencing
 

Why do we need to reference?

There are two reasons for referencing and these are:

1.    To acknowledge the work of others from whom you have drawn your ideas; and

2.    By identifying the sources it will allow you to backtrack and allows others to identify the reliability of your sources, their bias and their currency.

 

What is the difference between references and a bibliography?

References or a reference list refer to a list of resources that you have actually used in your assignment, whereas a bibliography also includes other resources that you read but did not use in your assignment. Generally what teachers want at the end of an assignment is a reference list.

 

Are there different ways of writing up a reference?

Yes. In our world it is sometimes hard for everyone to agree to do things in the same manner and this is certainly the case for referencing! You will find that different organisations request references to be supplied using a certain method or referencing system. The author-date system, also known as the Harvard system, is one of the common methods used in referencing and is the one used in your Student Organiser. Each method of referencing seeks to be comprehensive, accurate, clear and consistent. At this College you will be expected to submit your reference lists using the Harvard system of referencing as outlined in your student organisers and as given below.

                                                                                                                                                                 Structure of individual references

Note: The title of a resource must be underlined if it is handwritten or italicised if typed.

If a second line is required for a reference then indent it by five spaces. If you cannot find some of the required information then check with library staff.

BOOK WITH NO AUTHOR 
Chess for Beginners (1999) Lawson Books, Sydney: 42.

BOOK WITH ONE AUTHOR 
Harker, J.(1990) Ancient Egypt. Collins, London: 14.

BOOK WITH TWO AUTHORS 
Omri, B. and Summers, V. (1985) Plants and Animals. Arrow Books, Melbourne:
      20-21.

BOOK WITH MORE THAN TWO AUTHORS 
Holt, D. and others (1979) Planet Earth. Viking, Adelaide: 26.

BOOK WITH AN EDITOR 
Johnson, P. (Ed.) (1988) Water Pollution in Western Australia. Fremantle Arts Press,
      Fremantle: 8-9.

CD-ROM 
Africa (1994) In Microsoft Encarta Multimedia Encyclopedia [CD-ROM] Microsoft,
      Redmond, Washington.

EMAIL 
Condren, B. (1999) Disadvantages of Plastics. Email to S. Sampson [on-line]
      Location: condrenb@oustanm.com.au [1999, Feb. 8]

ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY 
Chocolate (1982) In The World Book Encyclopedia. Vol.3. World Book Inc., Chicago:
      1042-1043.

INFORMATION ACCESSED THROUGH INTERNET 
Prizker, T. (no date) An Early Fragment from Central Nepal [on-line] Location:
      http://www.ingress.com/~astanart/pritker.html [2000, Dec. 12]

Spain (2000) The World Factbook 2000 [on-line] Location:
      http://www.odci.gov/cia/publication/factbook/geos.sp.htm [2001, Nov. 15]

Top tips mean big savings for sheep farmers (1997) CSIRO media release 97/225
      [on-line] Location:
      http://www.csiro.au/communication/mediarel/mr1997/mr97225.htm [2001, Jun. 7]

INTERVIEW 
Smith, R. (1993) Telephone interview. Aug. 20

MAGAZINE ARTICLE - AUTHORS KNOWN 
Ward, D. and Sneeuwjagt, R. (1999) Believing the Balga. Landscope . Autumn: 10-16

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - AUTHORS KNOWN 
Stein, T. and Fitzpatrick, C. (1994) Local prices leave bad taste. The West Australian.
      Jul. 23:3.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - NO AUTHOR 
Copters made the drop (2000) Advertiser. Jan. 24: 5.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - FROM CURRENT SOCIAL/ ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 
McCathie, A. (2001) Mad cow disease sends Germany organic. Australian Financial
      Review in Current Environmental Issues. Feb. 5: 8.

PAMPHLETS - AUTHOR, DATE AND PLACE UNKNOWN 
Diamonds. [pamphlet] (no date) Communications Branch, Department of Mines
      Western Australia, (no place).

PAMPHLETS - AUTHOR UNKNOWN 
Recycling of Solvent Wastes. [pamphlet] (1990) Environmental Health Branch, Health
      Department of Western Australia, East Perth.

SOUND RECORDINGS (audio cassettes) 
Teale, L. (Speaker) (1976) Bush ballads. [sound recording] Perkins and Ross,
      Sydney.

SUBSCRIBED ON-LINE DATABASES (examples: Electric Library, EBSCOhost)
Milliken, R. (1994) Olympic games: urban rivalry disrupts Sydney plans 
     Independent [on-line] Electric Library Australasia

Nash, J. (1997) Is it El Nino of the century? Time Australia [on-line] EBSCOhost

TELEPHONE INTERVIEW 
Waller, R. (1993) Telephone interview. Aug. 20

VIDEO RECORDINGS 
Baird, T. (Producer) and Asquith, A. (Director) (1986) The Importance of Being Earnest
      [video recording] Rank Video, London.

 

Example of a Reference List

 There are four rules to follow when constructing your reference list and these are as follows:

1. The reference list should always be listed in alphabetical order.
2. In the alphabetical sequence do not count ‘The’ or ‘A’ at the beginning of titles.
3. If a second line is needed for a reference, then indent it.
4. Leave a one line space between each reference.

 Below is an example of how a reference list should be laid out.

Reference list

The Cartouche of Pharaoh Ramses II [on-line] (1996) Location: http://www.humaities.ccny.cuny.edu/history/q/qwriting/ramtile.htm [2000, Dec. 15]

Clayton, P.A. (1994) Chronicle of the Pharaohs. Thames and Hudson, London: 146 - 155.

Gore, R. (1991) Ramses the Great. National Geographic. April: 2 - 39.

Lemonick, J. (1995) Secrets of the Lost Tomb. Time. May 29: 56 - 62.

Ramses the Great [on-line] (1997) Location:
      http://www.uk.sis.gov.eg/egyptinf/history/html/ramses.htm [2002, Oct. 15]

Ramses II (1996) In The World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia [CD-ROM] World Book,
      Chicago

Shaw, I. and Nicholson, P. (1995) British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt. British
      Museum, London: 240 - 24.