#SearchSmart! Information Literacy Tutorial

We are not all inventors. Most of our thoughts or ideas are shaped by others.  When one does research you investigate the work of other researchers in depth in order to know the literature in a field. Only then can one add your own contribution to the subject area. 

Your lecturers will expect to see how you have used and applied material in your assignment. You have to acknowledge the authors of the works you have used. This is called "Referencing", also known as "Citing". Providing references for sources you used also lends credibility to your work, especially if you use authoritative sources.

Be sure to provide references to all types of sources you use, including:

• Books
• Articles
• Internet sites
• Interviews
• Government documents
• Nonprint media (DVDs, videotapes)
• Database sources, etc.

Elements of a Reference

A reference must include the following elements:

Source:

 Jewell, C. & Romane, L. (2009). "Crediting others' ideas".  Academic Integrity Tutorial. Illus. Sara LeBlanc. University of Waterloo (permission granted by authors).