EndNote Web: Why Referencing?

Referencing is a standardised method of acknowledging the sources of information you have consulted. Anything - words, figures, theories, ideas, facts - originating from another source and used in your assignment must be referenced (i.e. acknowledged).

"When you write an essay and include someone else's ideas you need to immediately acknowledge this original source. This is called referencing or citing and the detailed description you need to provide is called a reference or citation."

Referencing occurs in two areas in a written work:

• In-text Referencing: Providing basic information on your source of reference in your text itself.
• Reference List: Purpose is to help readers find the references used in your text.

• Don’t cheat. Plagiarism – using other people’s words and ideas without acknowledging where you got them from – is regarded as an enormous sin. Make sure your references are perfect.
• Try a fresh, original approach.
• Argue your case with your own point of view. Try to avoid formulas, clichés, and the obvious approaches.
• Illustrate your points with up-to-date examples.
• Don’t fill and essay with irrelevant historical detail.
• Check spelling and punctuation.
• Ensure your essay is the required length.
• Bring your subject to life!

Source: Reference techniques by Cronje, Murdoch & Smit, 2003.

You must provide in-text citations and a bibliograhy or reference list whenever you quote or paraphrase ideas from other authors, in order to:

• provide evidence for your arguments and add credibility to your work. It shows that you have sought out and considered a variety of viewpoints on a given topic.
• show the depth and scope of your research and give credit to authors for their ideas.
• help readers to locate and further explore the sources you consulted.
• avoid charges of plagiarism.

• Direct quotation - this is when you use the direct words of the author as they exactly appear in the text. This must be cited and enclosed in the quotation marks.
• Paraphrase - This is when you take a passage from a source and re-write it in your own words but the ideas or facts you are expressing are based on what you read. This must be cited as well but is not enclosed in quotation marks.
• Summary - A summary is similar to a paraphrase since you also re-write this piece of information in your own words. However with summary you select only the main ideas and and supporting details. This also needs to be referenced but is also not enclosed in quotation marks. 

Ask your module instructor/ coordinator/ tutor for the preferred citation style and if there are other special formatting instructions you should follow.

EndNote Web complements your EndNote Desktop library by allowing you to collect references when away from your desktop. It also enables you to share your references with your colleagues.  This guide will show you how to: 

Search and view EndNote Web references from any mobile device!