When writing a dissertation, it’s vital to reference your sources clearly. This will not only show how your work fits in with existing research, but also demonstrate your academic skills and prevent accidental plagiarism.
But referencing can be a fiddly business, with the variety of systems available only confusing matters further. Worry not though! We have a few referencing tips you can use to make sure your citations are up to scratch.
A style guide is a document in which your university or faculty sets out the stylistic requirements for your written work, including the preferred referencing system. If you’re ever confused about how to reference your sources, the first thing to do is check your style guide.
Citing sources clearly with a consistent formatting style throughout will make your work much easier to follow. Consistency and clarity are therefore two of the most important factors in referencing.
Many people worry their work doesn’t have ‘enough’ citations, but, as with many things in life, quantity is no substitute for quality. Use citations to evidence your points or indicate that you’re drawing upon particular thinkers, not simply so you have lots of names in your reference list.
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As you do your research, make sure to note down the bibliographic details of each source you consult as you go. Then, when you compose your reference list, you’ll have all the information you need easily accessible, saving significant time and effort.
Most of the sources you cite will probably be books or journal articles, but make sure you’re familiar with how to cite less conventional sources as well. This includes things like audio-visual material and unpublished works, but even encompasses live performances and personal correspondence.
There are various software packages available to help you manage your references, such as Endnote and Mendeley. In addition to these, online citation generators can also be used to partially automate the chore of referencing.
Even if you’re using reference management software, remember to double check your in-text citations and your reference list before handing in your work, as sometimes errors will occur and require manual amendment.
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