Learning proper citation and referencing technique is an essential skill that all university students should learn to master. But it takes time and practice to become proficient at doing so. To complicate matters, there are different styles such as APA and IEEE – all with different sets of rules and guidelines. In addition to proper referencing technique, it is essential you also learn how to paraphrase and/or summarize information from the sources you consult into your own work without plagiarizing content.
As undergraduate students you probably rely heavily on the use of search engines to locate information to guide and inform your understanding of topics. Thus, it is imperative that you are able to identify what constitutes a credible online source, as not all information is created equal. Almost anyone can post information online and speak like an authority on the subject. Learning to thinking critically about factors such as authorship and bias is important, if you are to chose the most reliable and credible sources of information.
Citation and Referencing Basics
Write it in your own words – a guide to paraphrasing and summarizing
In Text Citations & Referencing using Word
Evaluating the credibility of online sources of information
Where to find citation information (i.e. author/date) on a webpage?
In text citations for personal communication