Tips for Referencing Papers, Reports and Other Written Work

When preparing all written work, take great care to fully acknowledge the source or sources of all ideas, language, diagrams, charts, or images (including but not limited to drawings, designs or photographs) etc. which are not your own. If you intentionally appropriate the ideas, images or language of another person and present them without attribution, you are committing plagiarism. This includes the purchase or acquisition of papers, or other material from any source. For specific questions consult with the instructor, but the following rules must be observed:
- Any sequence of words appearing in your essay which are not your own must be enclosed in quotation marks and the source identified in a manner designated by the instructor.
- A paraphrase should not be enclosed in quotation marks, but should be footnoted and the source given.
- An interpretation based on an identifiable source must be so attributed.

If you wish to seek assistance from another student (i.e., proofreading for typographical errors), consult your instructor to determine if such assistance is permissible. If permitted, the instructor may require that such assistance be acknowledged in the written work.

There are many referencing styles, so the next pages are links to reputable referencing styles from US Colleges. If you are unsure which to use, please speak to your professor or lecturer.