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#SearchSmart! Information Literacy Tutorial

This is a self-learning tutorial that addresses each stage of the research process, including: identifying information needs; selecting sources; finding high-quality, scholarly information; evaluating information; and using information responsibly.

In-text Referencing

In-text referencing is the method used to give credit to sources within the body of your work. It provides brief information about the source, such as the author’s last name, publication year, and sometimes a page number. This allows readers to locate the full citation in the reference list or bibliography.

  • Example:
    • Paraphrase with In-Text Reference (APA): Climate change is causing polar ice caps to melt more quickly, leading to higher sea levels (Smith, 2020).
    • Quote with In-Text Reference (APA): "Climate change is accelerating the melting of polar ice caps, leading to rising sea levels" (Smith, 2020, p. 45).

Paraphrasing (writing the ideas in your own words)

Paraphrasing involves rephrasing someone else's ideas or information in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. It's often used to simplify or clarify the original text. Even though the words are your own, you must still give credit to the original source.

  • Example:
    • Original: "Climate change is accelerating the melting of polar ice caps, leading to rising sea levels."
    • Paraphrase: Researchers have noted that the increasing pace of climate change is causing polar ice caps to melt faster, which in turn is raising sea levels.

Harvard Style:
The sentence starts with the surname of the author followed by the date and page reference in round brackets. 

Example:
Anderson (1987:73-74) advances three arguments against the death penalty. He contends that the death penalty is inhuman and no society that purports to be civilized can condone it. It has never been proved that the death penalty acts as a deterrent, and, furthermore, many innocent people have died in vain for the crimes committed by others....

APA Style
Note the punctuation is different: the date is followed by a comma and the pages are preceded by p. (1987, p.73-74.)

Example:
Anderson (1987:p.73-74) advances three arguments against the death penalty. He contends that the death penalty is inhuman and no society that purports to be civilized can condone it. It has never been proved that the death penalty acts as a deterrent, and, furthermore, many innocent people have died in vain for the crimes committed by others....

Quoting (writing the exact words of the author)

 

Quoting involves using the exact words from a source. Quotes are typically enclosed in quotation marks and must be attributed to the original author. Quotations are used when the original wording is important or particularly effective.

  • Example:
    • Original: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
    • Quote: Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Harvard Style
The sentence ends with the surname of the author, the date of the publication and the page references in round brackets.

Example:
"My arguments against the death penalty are three-fold. To do away with any human being is uncivilised and inhuman. There is no proof that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to heinous criminal acts... and it's a documented fact that many innocent men and women have been wrongly sentenced for the crimes of others" (Anderson, 1987:73-74)

APA Style
APA style is different: the date is followed by a comma and the pages are preceded by p.

Example:
"My arguments against the death penalty are three-fold. To do away with any human being is uncivilised and inhuman. There is no proof that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to heinous criminal acts... and it's a documented fact that many innocent men and women have been wrongly sentenced for the crimes of others" (Anderson, 1987, p.73-74)

 

Source: http://www.ufh.ac.za/library/InfoLit/ref4.html

Key Differences

Method

Description

Key Points

Usefulness

In-Text Referencing

Brief citation within the text.
  • Includes author’s last name, publication year, and the page number if it’s a direct quotation.
  • Helps readers locate the full citation in the reference list.

Provides source attribution within the text.

Paraphrasing

Rewriting the original text in your own words.
  • Must still credit the original source.
  • Useful for simplifying or clarifying information.

Simplifies or clarifies information.

Quoting

Using the exact words from a source.
  • Enclosed in quotation marks.
  • Must credit the original source.
  • Useful when the original wording is significant or powerful.

Preserves the original wording for impact.

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