Year 9 Science
Inquiry Skills
Evaluating Sources of Information
Referencing
Referencing is a method of acknowledging sources of information and ideas that you have used in your assignment. It gives your work academic honesty and credibility, it also helps you to avoid plagiarism and allows others to follow up the sources.
A reference list (or bibliography) is a list at the end of your work, of all the sources of information you have used for your assignment.
It must be correctly formatted according to the system your school uses.
MLC uses the APA system (6th Edition).
Incorrect
Correct
Tools for Referencing
In-text Citations
In-text citations are written at the exact point you use someone else’s words or ideas in your work.
There are two methods:
- Paraphrasing
- Direct Quote
See the examples below of the two methods.
The in-text citation is in a different colour for you to easily identify.
(Victoria University Library, 2016)
(Swinburne Online, 2017)
Method 1: Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is when you have used someone else’s thoughts and ideas but in your own words.
In-text citation format
At the end of the sentence:
(Author’s surname, year of publication, p. xx).
OR
At the start of the sentence:
Author’s surname (year of publication, p. xx) ….
Original Text
Paraphrase and in-text citation example
While Dieback pathogen spores can spread via surface and sub-surface water flows, as well as from plant root to root contact, it is human activity that causes the most widespread mode of transmission (Dieback Working Group, 2015, p. 4).
OR
The Dieback Working Group (2015, p.4.) explains that while Dieback pathogen spores can spread via surface and sub-surface water flows, as well as from plant root to root contact, it is human activity that causes the most widespread mode of transmission
Reference List
Dieback Working Group. (2015). Managing Phytophthora Dieback in Bushland. Retrieved from
https://www.donnybrook-balingup.wa.gov.au/Profiles/donnybrook/Assets/ClientData/Documents/DWG-Managing-Phytophthora-Dieback-in-Bushland-Ed-7-2015.pdf
Direct Quote
Direct Quotes are when you copy word for word exactly what the author has written or spoken. Use double quotation marks around the quote. Then give the author’s surname, year of publication, page number. (Give the page no. only if provided).
It is recommended that direct quotes should not take up more than 5-10% of your assignment.
Original Text
Ross River virus is not fatal but it can be debilitating. The symptoms typically include “flu-like symptoms” such as fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain and a general feeling of fatigue.
Direct quote & in-text citation example
The symptoms of Ross River virus “include “flu-like symptoms” such as fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain and a general feeling of fatigue” (Cameron, 2014, para. 3).
OR
Cameron (2014, para. 3) states that symptoms of Ross River virus “include “flu-like symptoms” such as fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain and a general feeling of fatigue.”
Reference List
Cameron, W. (2014, March 25). Explainer: what is Ross River Virus? The Conversation. Retrieved
from https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-ross-river-virus-24630
Citing Images
Example
Figure 1: Disease cycle of Crown Gall (Thiessen, 2017)
Note:
- In APA graphs, photographs, illustrations and charts are all examples of figures.
- Italicise the word figure
- Include the in-text citation below the image or table
- In your work refer to the images, tables etc by their figure number e.g.
Figure 1 clearly shows…
OR
The Crown Gall disease cycle (see Figure 1) begins…
Reference List
Thiessen, M. (2017). Disease cycle of crown gall [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/MaureenThiessen/mg-plant-pathology
Format, Punctuation, Capital letter, Abbreviations
You must format in-text references with the correct punctuation and abbreviations and capital letters as shown above.
Give the page no. only if provided. For online information provide the paragraph number.
Page number abbreviation: p.xx
Paragraph number abbreviation: para. xx
References
Background [Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background
Swinburne Online. (2017, March 5). APA Referencing Guide – How To Reference [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/0X3iqxWr47s
Victoria University Library. (2016, November 16). APA Referencing: the basics. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/191910171