Essay Writing: The Basics

Referencing Your Essay

A feature of academic writing is that it contains references to the words, information and ideas of others. Referencing is a system that allows you to acknowledge the contributions and work of others in your writing.

All academic essays MUST contain references. Referencing guards against plagiarism, a serious academic offence. Plagiarism is copying someone else's words or ideas and presenting them as your own.

Make sure you are familiar with the referencing style your faculty or school requires. Most Schools/Faculties have guides specifying the system they prefer. Often Schools/Faculties don't mind which system you use as long as it is consistent. If this is the case, use the system you are most comfortable with.

Reference Lists

Remember to list all the books and articles you use for the essay in a Reference List. This is a list of all works cited in your essay, and should be the final page.

Next: Handing your essay in


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