How to Reference in an Essay (3 Simple Tips)

Helpful Professor
9 Mar 201904:26
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video provides an essential guide to referencing for university students, explaining the importance of in-text citations and reference lists. It covers the basics of citing sources, such as author names and page numbers, and the need for corresponding detailed references. Common referencing styles like APA, Harvard, Chicago, and MLA are mentioned, with advice on finding and using a cheat sheet for the specific style required.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Referencing is essential at the university level as it provides evidence that your writing is based on expert opinions and facts.
  • 🔗 In-text citations are notes within the text that direct the reader to the source of the information, typically including the author's name and a year or page number.
  • 📝 Each in-text citation should have a corresponding reference list entry that provides more detailed information about the source.
  • 📑 The reference list is crucial as it allows readers to locate and verify the sources you've cited in your essay.
  • 📈 There are common referencing styles such as APA, Harvard, Chicago, and MLA, each with its own specific rules for citations and references.
  • 👨‍🏫 It's important to know which referencing style is expected by your teacher or institution for your essay.
  • 🔍 To understand a specific referencing style, search online for guides or PDFs that provide detailed instructions on how to format citations and references.
  • 🖨️ Printing out a referencing style guide can serve as a handy 'cheat sheet' while writing your essay to ensure correct citation format.
  • ✏️ Pay attention to punctuation as it varies between referencing styles and can impact the professionalism of your work.
  • 📈 The video promises to cover advanced referencing strategies in the next installment, such as the frequency and placement of citations within a paragraph.
  • 🌐 The speaker promotes an online course for more in-depth guidance on essay writing and referencing, suggesting additional resources for improving academic writing skills.
Q & A

  • What is the main purpose of referencing in academic writing?

    -The main purpose of referencing in academic writing is to provide evidence that the information presented is based on expert opinions and facts, which helps the reader verify the credibility of the content.

  • What are the two elements of referencing mentioned in the script?

    -The two elements of referencing mentioned are the in-text citation and the reference list citation.

  • Where can an in-text citation be placed within a sentence or paragraph?

    -An in-text citation can be placed at the end of a sentence, at the start of a sentence, or somewhere within a paragraph.

  • What information is typically included in an in-text citation?

    -An in-text citation typically includes the author's name and either the year or page number, depending on the referencing style used.

  • What is the purpose of a reference list citation?

    -A reference list citation provides more detailed information about the source, allowing readers to locate and verify the source of the information cited in the text.

  • What details are usually included in a reference list citation for a journal article?

    -For a journal article, a reference list citation usually includes the article's title, the journal's name, and additional publication details.

  • What are some common referencing styles mentioned in the script?

    -Some common referencing styles mentioned are APA, Harvard, Chicago, and MLA.

  • How can you determine the referencing style you need to use for your essay?

    -You can determine the required referencing style by asking your teacher or instructor what style they expect you to use for the essay.

  • Why is it important to use the correct punctuation in your citations and references?

    -Using the correct punctuation is important because it makes your work look professional to the marker and can contribute to building higher marks.

  • What is the recommended method for ensuring you follow the correct referencing format?

    -The recommended method is to find a PDF guide for the specific referencing style, print it out, and use it as a 'cheat sheet' while writing your essay.

  • What additional advice is given in the script for improving referencing skills?

    -The script suggests watching more advanced videos on referencing strategies, such as how often to reference, where to place citations within a paragraph, and how many references are needed based on essay length.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Introduction to Referencing Basics

This paragraph introduces the importance of referencing in academic writing at the university level. It emphasizes that essays should not solely rely on personal opinions but should be backed by expert opinions and facts. The speaker explains that referencing is crucial to show that the information presented is factual. The paragraph also mentions an online course for those who need to learn how to write essays and reference properly. The basic elements of referencing, such as in-text citations and reference lists, are introduced, and viewers are encouraged to stay tuned for more advanced strategies in the next video.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Referencing
Referencing is the academic practice of acknowledging the sources from which information is derived in a written work. In the video, referencing is central to the theme as it helps students understand how to properly attribute ideas and facts to experts, which is crucial for building credibility and avoiding plagiarism in academic essays.
💡In-text citation
An in-text citation is a brief reference within the body of the text that indicates the source of a quote, paraphrase, or statistic. The video explains that it typically includes the author's name and either the year or page number, depending on the referencing style. It is a key element in the script, illustrating how to give credit for information used in an essay.
💡Reference list
A reference list is a comprehensive collection of all the sources cited in an academic paper, providing full details for each source. The video emphasizes the importance of having a corresponding reference list entry for every in-text citation, enabling readers to locate and verify the sources of information.
💡Academic essay
An academic essay is a piece of writing that presents a case, argument, or analysis based on research and evidence. The video's theme revolves around the proper construction of academic essays, with a focus on the necessity of expert opinions and factual support, which referencing helps to establish.
💡Referencing styles
Referencing styles are the standardized formats used for citing sources in academic writing, such as APA, Harvard, Chicago, and MLA. The video script discusses the importance of adhering to a specific style as dictated by an instructor or academic institution, and provides guidance on how to find and use a cheat sheet for the correct format.
💡Punctuation
Punctuation in the context of referencing refers to the specific rules for using commas, periods, and other marks in citations and reference lists. The video points out that correct punctuation is a key aspect of professional-looking and correctly formatted references.
💡Citation
A citation, as mentioned in the video, is a formal reference to a published or unpublished source. It is used to credit the original author and to allow readers to find and verify the information. The term is used in the script to describe both the in-text citation and the full reference list entry.
💡Author
In the context of the video, the author is the individual who has written the source material being cited. The author's name is a critical component of both in-text citations and reference list entries, as it identifies the origin of the information being referenced.
💡Expert opinions
Expert opinions are the viewpoints or analyses provided by individuals with specialized knowledge in a particular field. The video script highlights that in academic writing, it is important to support arguments with expert opinions to lend authority and credibility to the essay's claims.
💡Facts
Facts, as discussed in the video, are statements that can be proven to be true and are often used as evidence to support arguments in an academic essay. Referencing is essential for establishing the factual basis of an essay, ensuring that the information presented is reliable and verifiable.
💡Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of using another person's work without proper attribution and presenting it as one's own. The video indirectly addresses the issue of plagiarism by emphasizing the importance of referencing, which is a tool to avoid such academic dishonesty and to give due credit to original sources.
Highlights

The importance of referencing in university essays to support facts and expert opinions.

Referencing establishes the credibility of the information used in academic writing.

In-text citations are notes indicating the source of information within a sentence or paragraph.

In-text citations typically include the author's name and year or page number.

Every in-text citation must have a corresponding reference list citation for detailed source information.

Reference lists provide more details such as article or book titles and publication information.

Understanding the referencing format required by the academic institution or instructor is crucial.

Common referencing styles include APA, Harvard, Chicago, and MLA.

To ensure correct referencing, use a cheat sheet or guide specific to the required style.

Punctuation is a key aspect of referencing that varies between styles and impacts professionalism.

The video offers a basic guide on referencing for those new to academic writing.

Advanced strategies for referencing will be discussed in a follow-up video.

The presenter suggests downloading a PDF guide for the specific referencing style used.

A cheat sheet helps in maintaining consistency and accuracy in citations and references.

The video is part of a full online course offered by Essay Gardens for further essay writing guidance.

The full online course provides in-depth tutorials on writing top-notch university essays.

For more lessons and resources, visit Essay Gardens' website through the provided link.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Referencing BasicsUniversity EssaysCitation StylesAcademic WritingAPA FormatHarvard StyleChicago StyleMLA FormatIn-Text CitationsReference Lists