Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

About sources of information: Should I reference ideas from books?; Should I reference ideas from newspapers?; Should I reference ideas from journals?; Should I reference ideas from magazines?; Should I reference ideas from the Internet?; Should I reference ideas from TV?; Should I reference ideas from the radio?; Should I reference ideas from videos, films and DVDs?; Should I reference ideas from lectures?

About types of information: Should I reference illustrations?; Should I reference tables and graphs; Should I reference programming codes?

About how information is used: Should I reference quotations?; Should I reference paraphrases?; Should I reference summaries?

About common knowledge: Is there anything I don't need to provide a reference for?; What if I already knew something before I read it?

About where you acknowledge the source of your information: Where do I write the information about the source I have used?

About the reasons for acknowledging sources: Why do I have to acknowledge my sources?

About sources of information

Should I reference ideas from the Internet?: Yes. It is a common misunderstanding that information on the Internet does not need acknowledgement. You should use material found on the Internet with caution, as it may be unreliable or out of date.

Should I reference ideas from TV?: Yes. While you are listening, you should note the program name and the date of broadcast. Sometimes it is possible to obtain a transcript to check that you have heard correctly.

Should I reference ideas from the radio?: Yes. While you are listening, you should note the program name and the date of broadcast. Sometimes it is possible to obtain a transcript to check that you have heard correctly.

Should I reference ideas from videos, films, DVDs?: Yes. There are specific conventions for referencing visual media. You can find out how to do that by consulting a reference guide such as that in the Faculty of Business's Guide to Writing Assignments..

Should I reference ideas from lectures?

It depends. There are three possibilities:

If the lecturer mentions something which is general knowledge, there is no need for the lecturer, or you, to provide a reference.
If the lecturer presents her/his own idea, you should reference this as the lecturer's idea.
If the lecturer presents another author's idea, you should refer to both sources: the original author, and the lecturer who presents the idea. However, in most cases, instead of relying upon your lecturer's reference, it will be more valuable for you to read the original author yourself.

Should I reference illustrations?: Yes. You need to acknowledge the source of drawings, photographs, graphs, designs and all other examples of non-verbal information that you use in your work.

Should I reference tables and graphs: Yes, you need to acknowledge the source of any tables or graphs you use.

Should I reference programming codes?: Yes, you need to acknowledge the source of any programming codes you use.

Should I reference quotations?: Yes. You should also be very careful when you quote. You should use quotation marks, and you should not change any words.

Should I reference paraphrases?: Yes. Even though you are expressing the information or ideas of someone else in different words, you must still acknowledge the source of the information or ideas.

Should I reference summaries?: Yes. Even though you are expressing the information or ideas of someone else in different words and in a briefer form, you must still acknowledge the source of the information or ideas.

Is there anything I don't need to provide a reference for?: You don't need to provide a reference for 'common knowledge' - for information that is shared by many people. It is sometimes difficult to know what is and what is not common knowledge in your field of study. If you read or hear the same information many times from different sources, it is probably common knowledge. Common knowledge usually includes major historical events, famous people and geographic areas that are known about by educated people throughout the world, not just in the country in which they occurred.

What if I already knew something before I read it?: If it is not common knowledge, you should provide a reference. This shows your reader that the idea is held by an expert in the field. It also demonstrates to your lecturer that you have been reading academic texts.

Where do I write the information about the source I have used?: You need to acknowledge the source of your information in two places: (1) in the text of your writing at the point where you use someone else's ideas or information; (2) in a list at the end of the end of your assignment. There are different ways of doing this. See Referencing.

Why do I have to acknowledge my sources?: Because the university requires it.; So that your reader can track where your ideas came from.; To show that you have read the key sources on your topic.; To show respect for the research and ideas of other people - their 'intellectual property'.