Style+Guide+for+Assignments

There are many styles used to present reports and to list the references you have used in the preparation of your assignment.

The **Harvard or author-date system** is one system. At MUFY you are required to use the Harvard system as it is outlined in this Style Guide. The Oxford or footnoting system is another form of referencing that you may use at university.

Every research task should be accompanied by a bibliography, or Reference List, if you have used resources to assist you to find information for your work.

When writing assignments ask these questions:

If someone else’s, I must acknowledge this.
 * **Are these my own ideas or someone else’s ideas?**

If so, it is a quotation.
 * **Have I written six or more words in the exact sequence they appear in someone else’s work?**

If yes, include a reference to where the supporting information is found.
 * **Can I add authority to my work by indicating where the information comes from?**

When compiling a bibliography, remember that Google is not a web site. It is a search engine that finds information on the Web for you. Do not include Google in your bibliography.

**General Information about IN-TEXT REFERENCES**

**Quotations**

Quotations are used to acknowledge the work or ideas of other people. You must acknowledge other sources to avoid plagiarism and so that others can further explore the ideas you are presenting.


 * A quotation is followed by a reference to the source
 * A short quotation is incorporated into your own sentence using quotation marks
 * A longer quotation is placed as a separate paragraph and indented from your own work without using quotation marks
 * Indirect quotes are those which are paraphrased from the original into your own words and perhaps summarise the ideas of the author.

In the Harvard or Author-Date system, footnotes are not used, but a short reference, called an **IN-TEXT REFERENCE**, to the author and date of the publication is made in the assignment immediately after the reference to the resource from where the information came.

**General rules**


 * The author’s surname and date of publication are listed in brackets immediately after the reference is made. Eg, (Sweeney, 2011)


 * Page numbers must be given if a direct quotation is made.


 * Write the quotation inside “quotation marks” if it is directly taken from another source.


 * Use … if you have missed out some words from the original quotation.


 * Insert a word inside [] if you have added that to make a quotation read more fluently if you have left out part’s of a sentence.

Examples:

“In Melbourne,…ducklings… [are the] cause of about half the city’s wildlife emergency calls throughout spring.” (Osman-Chin, 2008, p19)


 * **If the author’s name is integrated into your writing, you only need to place the date in the brackets.**

eg. In her article about wildlife in Melbourne, Rachael Osman-Chin refers to copper head snakes as being less adventurous than other snakes. (2008)

eg. Effective learning spaces (2005) is a useful resource for schools about to embark on the redesign of classrooms and libraries.
 * **If there is no author, a brief title description is used.**


 * **If the same author is responsible for a number of books or articles, the letter a, b, c, etc is added to the date to distinguish between publications.**

eg. (La Marca, 2005a)

**Reference List** A reference list or bibliography is attached at the end of the assignment that shows the reader the full information about the sources referred to in your assignment. It is arranged in alphabetical order by the author’s last name, or by title if there is no author listed. This is referred to as End-text referencing.,It should be a single list of **all** **print and non print resources** you have used to prepare your assignment or essay. Do not create separate lists for books and websites.

**Print resources**

As a general guide, your end-text references for print resources will include the following:

**Author** - Last name, first name or initial. **Date of publication** – from the verso (page after the title page) **Title** – as listed on the title page, not the front cover of the book **Publisher** **Place of publication** – choose one, the Australian place if listed.

Author’s last name, First Name or Initial. Date. __Title__. Publisher’s name, Place of publication.

**Books**

One author: Chambers. Aidan. 1983. __Introducing books to children__. Longman, Melbourne.

Two or three authors: Kernan, Brian and Bloggs, Freda. 1995. __Effective learning spaces__. Random House, Sydney.

Four or more authors: Wilks, Suzie and others. 1998. __Changing rooms__. Hodder, Sydney.

**Article in a Journal or Newspaper**

Include the author, if given, the title of the article, the title of the newspaper, the full date and the page number on which the article appeared.

Field, Melissa. 2008. //Costume change// __Sunday Herald Sun magazine__, 10 February p12-15.

**Encyclopedia (print version)**

Include the title of the article, the year the encyclopedia was published, the title of the encyclopedia, the publisher of the encyclopedia and the place where it was published.

//Olympic Games// 2009. __World book encyclopedia__, Vol 12. World Book, Chicago.

**Non-Print Resources**

As a general guide, your end-text references should include:

**Author** – may be an individual or a company (eg. Melbourne Water) **Date of creation or last update** – check at the bottom of the home page for the date the page was last updated or a copyright date. **Title** – of the webpage **[Medium]** – could be Internet site, Podcast, Video, CD, DVD, CD ROM, poster **URL** – the address of the website. NOT GOOGLE **(Date accessed)** – the date you used the website or resource.

Author’s last name, Author’s first name or initial. Date of Publication. __Title__ [Medium]. URL (Date you used)

**Internet - Website**

__ASICS: sound mind, sound body__. 2008 [internet] __www.ascic.com.au/technology__ (10 Feb 2008)

**Article from Wiki such as Wikipedia**

List under the title of the entry, the year of last edit, the title of the wiki, the full date, URL and the date you viewed the article.

//Ebola//. 2006. __Wikipedia the free encyclopedia__,[wiki] last edited 15.58, 20 October. __http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola__ (20 October 2006)

**Document from an online database** (eg Digital Age)

Include the title of the article (list the author if it is given first). The year of publication. The title of the journal, the full date and the page the article appeared in the original journal. Title of the database, the medium, the URL and the date you used the article.

//Closing in on Ebola//. 2009. __The Age__, 3 October, p18 in __Digital Age__,[online database] __www.ffx.libraryedition.com.au__ (23 February 2011)

Bond, S J. 2001. //When they built the ship Titanic//. __Time International__, 2 January, p20-3 in __Electric Library__ [online database] __http://www.elibrary.com.au/edcuation__ (23 February 2011)

**Online image** (eg located from searching on Google Images or similar)

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 1997. //Martian terrain// [online picture] __NASA__. [] (2 July 2010)

**Online Video clip**

O’Mera, S. 2000. //Lava flows//. //Movies of Mount Etna// [online video clip], Volcano __world__ [internet]. __http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/movies/night_flow.mov__ (23 February 2011)

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