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Partner Student Library Services

For students studying with FedUni at a partner institute - TAFE, undergrad, postgrad, in Australia and outside of Australia

Referencing overview

Do Not CopyWhy do we reference?

  • ​To acknowledge other people's work in your assignments
  • To demonstrate you have researched and understood the topic
  • To enable the reader to find your sources
  • To avoid unintentional plagiarism

What needs to be referenced?

  • Exact quotes
  • Paraphrased or summarised sources you have read or consulted
  • Graphs, images, tables and diagrams
  • Results from the analysis of data, data, procedures and methods

What is plagiarism?

  • Copying and pasting text from the internet, from a textbook or other materials, without referencing
  • Paraphrasing and re-writing the work of others without referencing
  • Not acknowledging other people's work in your work
  • Passing off other people's work as your own

How to reference

Study Skills Website

The Study Skills website gives fantastic advice on referencing. Within the "How to reference..." pages are examples for referencing journal articles, books, conference papers, lecture or class materials and more. The examples also provide an indication of the quality of the source, whether it is a superior source, or a less preferred source to use.

YouTube clips

The FedUni Library YouTube channel hosts excellent videos on how to reference using APA and Chicago Note styles. View the APA referencing ones here: 

FedCite (APA)

To check a reference as you go, try FedCite (APA) to find in-text and reference list examples. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The General Guide to Referencing

The Federation University General Guide to Referencing (pdf 3.1 mb) provides information on how to reference in APA, MLA, Australian Harvard and Chicago Note Styles.

EndNote

What is EndNote and how can I use it?

Turnitin

What is Turnitin?

  • Turnitin is text matching software
  • It compares text in student assignments with electronic texts on the internet, in publications, websites and student assignments from all over the world
  • Turnitin provides students and staff with an Originality Report which highlights similarities in your assignment to other internet content

What does an Originality Report show?

  • Underlines and colour codes where text matches occur
  • Links from matched text to original sources
  • Indicates the proportion of matched text in your assignment and provides a percentage "score" called a Similarity Index
  • The "score" does not indicate plagiarism has occurred.
  • There is no set "score" to aim for before submitting your assignment to your lecturer.

What you need to do with your Originality Report

Check that the highlighted matched text in your assignment is referenced correctly.  You need to make sure you have included the in-text citation in the body of your work and you have a corresponding reference at the end of your document.

The text will remain highlighted and continue to contribute to your similarity index score. This is okay! If you have acknowledged other people's work and have referenced correctly there is no more action to take. 

Where do I go to use Turnitin?

  • Select “Turnitin” from the Study Help tab in Moodle, or click here.
  • Submit your assignment once only under a “Turnitin Submission # - Single Use” link.
  • View and take action on the Originality Report as suggested above.
  • There is no need to re-submit to the Turnitin Moodle.  Second submissions through the Turnitin Moodle will result in a 24 hour delayed response.
  • Submit final assignment through your course Moodle or as directed by your lecturer.