Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this section you should be able to
[Level 1, Skills - Citing and referencing in Library Research Skills Framework]
These Learning Outcomes will support you in achieving your module learning outcomes:-
Module SOES1017 Learning Outcomes
Instructions:
What is citing and referencing?
When you use information from sources such as books, journals, webpages, film or other sources you need to show where the information came from and where the reader of your assignment can locate the source if they want to look at it.
Referencing is an essential part of the academic writing process in all subjects including Ocean and Earth Sciences. You reference to acknowledge where you have used other people's work, ideas or theories. Most referencing styles use two stages:
Citation - you put a note or in-text citation in your text when you refer to other peoples work (when you have directly quoted, paraphrased or summarized in your own words someone else's original text/words)
Reference list - you include a list of the works you have referred to at the end of your writing. You include the full details for each source which someone else can use to find the original sources you have used.
You should reference to avoid plagiarism. Your citations and references show the breadth, depth and quality of your reading and research and the evidence on which you are basing your arguments, theories and conclusions. Referencing correctly prevents you loosing marks in your assignments.
At the University of Southampton schools or departments recommend which style you should use in your work.
Look at our Citing and Referencing guide and find which referencing style you should use and find the style guide which will show you how write correctly formatted references.
How to create a reference
The online guide to referencing Cite Them Right shows you examples of how to create correct citations and references for just about every type of source that you will come across during your studies. It shows how to create references and citations in the Harvard style which is widely used at the University of Southampton.
(You need to be connected to the VPN to access 'Cite Them Right')
The video below shows some examples of how to reference journal articles and books in the Harvard Style following guidance from Cite Them Right.
A text-only version of the contents of the video is available: Referencing and citing online sources [WORD]
Email to confirm that you have competed the module
Library Orientation Programme: Referencing - Session 3: Skills for Study activity
Important note: When formatting a reference in your own work always refer to Cite Them Right for guidance on the layout and order of the details of the source.
Is there anything to help me with formatting my citations and references?
Referencing software like EndNote Online can help you to manage and organise your references and cite them consistently in the documents that you write. The software will take care of all the intricacies of formatting the citations and references in the style you are using. See our Academic Skills website for more information about referencing software
Take the quiz to test your understanding of the referencing style used by the School of Ocean and Earth Science
Now go to the Reading and Evaluating session