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School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences: Reference Techniques

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In-text referencing

Two reasons for referencing

To let the reader know whose ideas you are using

To enable your reader to check your information

Proper references must be given and must be cited in text

Use numbers (in text) and then list them in the order of appearance OR use surnames (in text) and list in alphabetical order.

At least 3 reference must be used.

 

How to reference a Journal Article

Reference to a Journal article:

Authors (Surname and initials followed by comma after each initial eg James, J & Snyman . M ) (date).

Title of  article. Journal Name, Volume number, first page number- last page number.

Examples

Morais, A.C., & Ferreira, S.T. (2005). Folding and stability of a coiled - coil investigated using chemical and physical denaturing agents: Comparative analysis of polymerized and non- polymerized forms of a tropomy. The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 37-1386-1395

Note : In text you will refer to it as Morais & Ferreira (2005)

How to reference a Book

Reference to a book:

( Authors) followed by surname with a comma and full stops after initials (date). Title. ( Edition). Place of publication: Publisher. Page numbers/ Chapter

Strunk JR., W., & White, E.B. (1979). The elements of style (3rd Ed.) New York: Macmillan. Chapter 4

In-text referencing

In-text referencing

In-text referencing should appear in the main body of the text to indicate the source of your information. Whenever you mention facts written by someone else, or when you include someone else's ideas. In-text reference may appear at the beginning of sentence or paragraph, or at the end of the sentence of paragraph.

Example:

Beginning of the paragraph/ sentence

Carr (2005:328) listed factors that may influence dental casting.

End of paragraph/ Sentence

Factors that may influence dental casting (Carr ,2005: 328). Note the location of brackets in the above examples. At the beginning of the sentence/paragraph. the surname of the author is not bracketed. At the end of sentence/ paragraph, the surname of the author is bracketed, together with the date and page numbers