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Guide to referencing main page: Home

Welcome

Finding resources and building your research skills.

At West Suffolk college we want to you to enjoy your learning as much as possible. Our Love Your Research Video Series is designed to help you along the way. We help you understand what books, eBooks and other digital resources, such as academic journals, newspapers and videos, are available to support your learning. You will also find tips on how to select the best, most reliable and valid academic evidence for your work, along with lots of support on how to reference.

Love your Research

Search everything using our discovery service. 

Use a basic search strategy. Don't just type in your assignment title.  Start with one or two key words, check how many results you get then use AND to add more key words. Use the filters or the advanced search to narrow down your results.

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Referencing Support - making it easier for you.

Referencing can seem overwhelming and trying to remember the brackets and commas and what to include can be frustrating.  So, it is important to understand why you need to reference.

For degree students it is essential you make it clear where your evidence, information and ideas come from and to make sure you cannot be accused of plagiarism.

Referencing your work correctly is also important for other reasons:

  • To help those who read or mark your work to easily identify, locate and read the sources you have used
  • To ensure there is academic integrity throughout your work.
  • Showing you are able to reference and evidence your research correctly gives your work kudos as it shows you have done the required research and impacts your grades.
  • Evidencing your work is a life skill for your future career and can help gain respect in your chosen industry if you go on to write reports at work or even publish work yourself.

We have loads of supporting resources for you to help with referencing.  Try our simple Referencing Game and learn what order to put the information in at your own pace.