#tfmsreferencing

[tipsforstudents-blog]

This is also a great link for understanding when to reference.

However, I wanted to point out that you can get caught-out with your wording, particularly when discussing ‘general  or common knowledge’ as described in this link.

If you use wording such as ‘ Research shows...’ or ‘It has been shown...’ or ‘There is evidence...’,then your MUST provide a citation, even if you are referring to something that might be common knowledge.

I would be very careful about making any statements or claims with common knowledge. Ensure that you are not trying to make an unsubstantiated claim just because you ‘think’ it might be common knowledge

[tipsforstudents-blog]

This is a great guide to help you understand when to reference.

While many students seem to have a grasp on the technicalities of APA referencing, it is more an understanding of when and why that catches many of you out. This should help.

[tipsforstudents-blog]

Constructing an Academic Essay: Getting Started.

I once heard a professor tell an auditorium full of first year undergrad Arts students, “Your opinions don’t matter”. As far as the academic writing world is concerned, he is correct. Unless your idea, argument or ‘opinion’ can be substantiated by an academic citation, it doesn’t count. The art of academic writing is a delicate process of ‘construction’ and your building materials are your references. Use poor references, then your construction is weak.  Avoid references and your essay tumbles to the ground in a heap. You start by gathering your resources. Do your research, do your reading and takes your notes. These form your strong foundations. You need to know what materials you have before you can get started. How you choose to put the materials together depends on your clients’ demands (your assessment task) and your architectural genius. I suggest that in this stage of research you keep your invoices (keep a list of your references) so that you can pay your bills more easily at the end (I mean…. cite correctly!). See this post for help: http://tipsformystudents.tumblr.com/post/135963439937/microsoft-word-2010-citations-bibliographies-and?is_related_post=1 

  Some students try to start building before they have gathered their resources and then struggle to maintain the integrity of their essay, or worse, they forget to pay their bills. Be warned, the bank of plagiarism charges very high interest! Once you have gathered your materials you need to PLAN. Don’t just turn up with your tool belt and hope for the best. Sketch out the essay, brainstorm, mid-map. Your brain is never as efficient as you think. A lot of ‘thinking’ comes out on paper/screen, so spend a decent amount of time PLANNING. Anyone in building will tell you that a poorly planned and designed building will cost you a lot of time and money in the long-run. So plan FIRST. Now you can start constructing your essay….