Referencing and Academic Honesty (sometimes called academic integrity) are terms used to describe good academic practice. You must follow good practice when you include other people’s words and ideas in your work. This means words and ideas found in published sources in your subject area. You should show your tutors where you found your information by citing and referencing all sources. Your references also prove that you have carried out research for your assignments. If you aren’t careful about referencing, then you risk plagiarism. Find out more about avoiding plagiarism and developing good academic practice by enrolling on our MyBeckett module.
Find your referencing guide
Citing and referencing style and language
Keep detailed records about your sources as you do your research. As well as authors and titles, you will need to note down publication details. Follow the referencing guide for your course to find out what information to include (Quote, Unquote, APA or OSCOLA). You should also keep a record of page numbers for direct quotations, statistics and images.
Referencing is not hard, but it does require precision. Your tutors will expect the information, punctuation and formatting to be accurate. Allow plenty of time to check your referencing when you proofread your work.
Reference management software
Some students use referencing software. These packages can save time. However, you must know about your referencing style so you can check what the software produces. Allow yourself time to learn to use the software properly. Postgraduate research students may find referencing software especially useful for managing large numbers of citations. Find out more on the Library Reference Management Software page.
Further information
For more resources to help with developing your academic skills, please visit the Skills for Learning website.
