Writing Skills:

Referencing for academic

purposes

Read critically
When, Where, Who, What, Why
Ask questions about:

When was the information written (how old or recent is it)?

Where did you find the information (academic journal,
science or government website, media report, advertising)?
Who wrote the information and for what purpose (is the
writer a credible authority on the topic is the writing biased
in any way)?
What does the information say (is there a hidden purpose)?
Why was the information written in the first place (is it
directed at a particular audience)?
Can you use or apply what you are reading ?

How to create a discussion and

support your ideas
State your ideas, a concept or general
argument (in your own words)
Support your position with reference to
previous research or proven ideas
If you are comparing divergent ideas or
concepts compare and reference ideas
supporting both sides of the discussion

You are Thinking Critically when you:

Identify

the relevant/important ideas

Understand underlying logic and connecting ideas
Identify and evaluate arguments
Recognise inconsistencies/mistakes in reasoning
Take an independent viewpoint (and support it)
Can interpret and rigorously analyze the facts
Can form a conclusion and interpret meaning from
inferences (i.e. suggestions or premises)
Separate fact from opinion, and recognize biases

What is Critical Thinking?

ACADEMIC HONESTY:
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism occurs:

Penalty for
Plagiarism

If you copy/quote or refer to the

work of others and do not give them
credit for their work (by formal
referencing).

If

you use the data/diagrams or text

from books, journals or any
electronics sources (internet etc)
and do not indicate the source of the
information used or reference it
properly.
If

you copy any part of the work of

other students and submit it as your
own.

Zero marks will be

awarded for any
assignment
containing
plagiarized material.

Using References

You need to provide references :

When you use the ideas or refer to the work of
other people to support your discussion
you must give them the credit

Note: The ideas and work of others:

= their intellectual property
= their original words/ideas
(the ideas of others are not original for you)

Wherever possible
use the primary source!

Read the original publication to make sure

that the true meaning of the source
document has been accurately reported
the secondary source may give only part
of the information to support a point of
view.

What must be referenced

Ideas expressed by others, in print or verbally
(even if these are re-written in your own words)
Including all information quoted or obtained
from journals, books, the internet or conference
proceedings
Graphs, pictures or tables obtained from any
source

Direct quotations

Text or quotations taken directly from

another source must be enclosed by
quotation marks and referenced

Paraphrasing
Whenever you summarize the words or
ideas of others in your own words
(paraphrase) you must give credit to the
person(s) who had the original idea or who
did the original research.

What is Collusion?
Collusion occurs when two or more students
work together and:
submit

part or all of the same piece of

written work for marking and claim it as their
own
How to avoid collusion when students are
working together !
-Students

can read, research and share

information as a group:
-But!
-Each

student must prepare all written

assessments individually and not copy any
part from the work of other students .

Penalties for
Collusion!
All students presenting the
same (or a very similar)
piece of written work will
receive a mark of ZERO
for the assessment if it is
determined that the
students have colluded
(intentionally or unintentionally) in any way.

What does not need to be

referenced

Your original ideas or personal opinions

Information that is considered general knowledge

However:
In academic writing you must be able to
support your ideas with reference to research
which has rigorously tested theory and validates
your ideas and assumptions.

The Harvard System

The ANU uses the Harvard Referencing System

Author(s)
Date/year of publication/conference
Title of article
Title of publication/journal etc.
Pages/volume/folio
Publication company (for books only)
Where published (for books only)
Full web address (www articles & journals)

Examples of in-text referencing:

Books: (Wood et al, 1998, p 320)
Journal Articles: (Potter, 2001, p 578)
Magazine articles: (New Scientist, 2007,
Amniotic fluid supplies repair kit for later
life, vol. 2586, p9)
Website: (Hartcher and Garnet, 2006,
Bird Flu threatens misery for millions
www.smh.com.au/news/national)

Bibliography Referencing:
Books: Wood J.M., Williams, M.S. in Textbook of
Influenza, K.G. Nicholson, R.G. Webster, A.J. Hay Eds.
(Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK, 1998) pp 317-323.
Publications of NGOs etc.
Kilbourne E.D. (1969) Bulletin: World Health
Organisation. 41, 643
On-line Journal articles and reviews:
Webby R.J. and Webster R.G. (2003) Are We Ready for
Pandemic Influenza? Science, 302, 1519-1522.
www.sciencemag.org
Hartcher and Garnet, (Feb 16, 2006) Bird Flu threatens
misery for millions, www.smh.com.au/news/national)