Citing and referencing
As explained in Reading and Planning, you are expected to read widely for your course work. Referencing and citation conventions provide evidence of your reading, demonstrating that:
- You have done a literature search and used a broad range of appropriate sources
- You have used the ideas of key writers/theorists
- Your point of view/argument has been influenced and shaped by credible academic sources
- You are not plagiarising another writer’s work or ideas – If you are unsure of what plagiarism is look at the Cite Them Right plagiarism information and ensure you are familiar with the University Regulations Regarding Plagiarism
Students of law are required to use a numeric system such as the one described in the OSCOLA Guide. History students use footnotes, not Harvard referencing. Check your module or programme handbooks for guidelines on what system you should use.
The pages below will help you understand different Harvard referencing conventions and when to use them.