Referencing

While preparing any literary material on any topic information can be taken to improve the content of that particular topic. It is important to address this source of information properly. The process of addressing the source of information is called referencing. Referencing is a very important step while preparing a material. Any information taken from other source other than oneself should be referenced properly to acknowledge others peoples’ work. In a project prepared, any information taken should be properly referenced to validate the information.

Referencing of a material/content can be done in many different processes. One of the most effective ways of referencing information is via the ‘Harvard System’ (also known as name and date system).

In this system initially the information used in the project is cited inside quotation marks and then just beside the quoted remarks ‘Surname of the author along with his/hers initials’ and ‘date of the publication of source’ is presented. The author and date then becomes the part of project itself.

Some examples:

     ·       ’protein has been one of the most basic source of child nourishment in eastern Europe’ Alferdario B. (2003) Healthy eating: a whole diet approach.         

     ·       ‘To every action there is equal and opposite reaction’ Newton I.

(1648)  Newton’s third law.

 ·       ‘Strawberries contains more vitamin C than oranges’

British Nutrition Foundation (2003) Healthy eating: a whole diet approach [online] London: British Nutrition Foundation. Available from: http://www.nutrition.org.uk/home.asp?siteId=43&sectionId=325&subSectionId=320&parentSection=299&which=1 [Accessed 11^th August 2005].

Referencing is a very important step as it provides credit to the author and the research conducted to gather and collect the information. It is a way of showing respect to others information and using it at the same time for personal benefit.