At the University of Canberra, the most common system is author-date (Harvard or APA). Some disciplines use a different referencing system, such as Vancouver or Chicago. In these two systems, instead of in-text references, you may be required to use either endnotes or footnotes. But, in all referencing systems, you will need a list of references.
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Always check with your lecturer which referencing system is used in your discipline and follow it.
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In whatever system you use, you should use references to support your argument, showing where you got your ideas, and that these ideas are from reliable sources. The following examples use the Harvard system of referencing. For example:
While there have been attempts over the years to train dogs to sing, such training has generally not been successful (Collins 2006).
Sometimes you may want to disagree with the sources too.
For example:
Although Shrensky (2005) claims that dogs can sing, a study by Collins (2006) suggests that such training has not proved to be successful.
Generally your references will be a summary or a paraphrase of the original.
Summarising means summing up the main idea of a text: it could be a single paragraph, a chapter, or a book. You can summarise in a sentence, a few sentences, a paragraph, or longer.
For example:
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs covers psychological, safety, social, esteem and self- actualisation needs (Campling et al. 2006, p. 99).
Paraphrasing means re-telling what the original author said in your own way. You should have started to do this in making your notes.
For example:
According to Campling et al. (2006, p. 99), self-actualisation is the highest level of needs and concerns the human need for self-fulfilment.
In some disciplines, it may be helpful to use a few well-chosen quotations (perhaps two or three in a 2000 word essay).
A quotation (that is, the exact words of the source) must be shown by using inverted commas, or quotation marks, or by indenting. Alternatively you could use italics. For quotations, you must give the page number.
For example:
a short quotation
Shrensky indicates that dog training can be undertaken only by a professional. She proposes that training dogs to sing is ‘a highly specialised art which can only be perfected after years of careful study.’ (Shrensky 2005, p. 6)
OR
a long quotation
Shrensky indicates that dog training can be undertaken only by a professional. She proposes:
Training dogs to sing is an art which has been developed over centuries of intensive research. It is a highly specialised art which can only be perfected after years of careful study and diligent preparation. (Shrensky 2005, p. 6)
However, there has been much debate about both her methods and results. Many researchers in the field have pointed out that …
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You should always give a reference in the text for ideas, graphics, statistics and words that you have taken from another source. Every in-text reference must link to a full citation in the Reference list (or bibliography) at the end of your essay.
If you’re not sure whether to reference or not, do.
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Quiz Section
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The following is an academically acceptable paraphrase of: “‘Unity in Diversity’, the Indonesian national motto, is an admirable statement of both fact and hope. It is also a reflection of the immense diversity within the Indonesian state that will always pose challenges, some great, some small, to central control and its authority” (Osbourne 1995, p. 161).
Despite its precept, ‘Unity in Diversity’, Indonesia’s central authority will continue to be contested by the disparate elements of this profoundly diverse nation (Osbourne 1995, p. 161).
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copying from my sources; my lecturer will know which ones they are