Reference list

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All of the sources you have cited in your assignment must appear in the reference list, which is placed at the end of your report before the appendices.

The purpose of a reference list is provide appropriate details to enable the reader of your report to locate and verify the sources you have used. It is important therefore that you provide full and accurate information for each source you have cited.

The best approach to compiling a reference list is to write down the details of each source you use as you are reading it. You can then compile your reference list quickly when you have finished your assignment. When editing your assignment, remember to check that all the sources cited in your assignment are actually included in the reference list.

Example reference list

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Look through the sample list of references. How are the references arranged down the page?

Comments

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Look at each reference carefully; can you identify a reference for:

• A book
• A magazine article
• An article from a journal or magazine on the world wide web
• An article from a commercial site on the world wide web

Comments

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What details do you need to write a reference?

Details such as the author or editor, title, and date of publication are required in a reference for all types of publications. However the format of the publication you are referencing will determine the other details required in the reference. For example, compare the following references for a book, a magazine article, and an article from the world wide web. Note: differences between the books and journal/magazine articles are in orange.

Book:

Author's surname, Author's first name or initial. (year of publication), Title of book, edition [if not first edition], Publisher's name, Place of publication

Journal or magazine article:

Author's surname, Author's first name or initial. (year of publication), "Title of article," Title of Journal, vol. volume number, no. issue number, date/month of publication, pp. page numbers of article.

Article from the world wide web:

If you can find the name of the author or editor -

Author/editor's surname, author/editor's first name or initial. (eds) [if appropriate] (last update or copyright date), "Title of page," ( Title of site), Available: URL (Accessed: access date).

If you cannot find the name of the author or editor of a website, commence your reference with the title of the page - "Title of page," (last update or copyright date), ( Title of site), Available: URL (Accessed: access date)

Writing a reference from a web page can be difficult because some web pages do not contain all of these details. If you have difficulty finding the details listed above write down as much information as you can find.