Academic writing depends on a system of transparent attribution — every claim, idea or piece of evidence that comes from another source must be acknowledged. This is not just convention; it is an ethical and intellectual obligation. Citations and references allow readers to verify your evidence and trace the development of ideas.
KEY TAKEAWAY: In Extended Investigation, correct and consistent referencing is directly assessed. It signals that you understand the norms of academic discourse — not just the content of your research area.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| In-text citation | Brief acknowledgement within the body of the text identifying the source of a specific piece of information |
| Reference list / Bibliography | Complete list of all sources cited, with full publication details |
Note: A bibliography sometimes includes works consulted but not directly cited. A reference list only includes works you cited in your text. Know which your style guide requires.
Different disciplines use different conventions. The key is to choose one style and apply it consistently.
| Style | Common In | In-text format |
|---|---|---|
| APA (7th ed.) | Psychology, education, social sciences | (Author, Year) |
| MLA | Humanities, literature | (Author page) |
| Chicago | History, some humanities | Footnotes or (Author Year) |
| Harvard | Many Australian universities | (Author Year) |
| Vancouver | Medicine, sciences | Numbered [1] |
For Extended Investigation, your school or teacher will typically specify the required style.
Journal article:
Smith, A. B., & Jones, C. D. (2020). Title of article. Journal Name, 12(3), 45–67. https://doi.org/…
Book:
Smith, A. B. (2019). Title of book (2nd ed.). Publisher.
Webpage:
Organisation Name. (2021, March 5). Title of page. Website Name. https://www.example.com
EXAM TIP: You will not be asked to produce a full reference list from scratch in an exam. However, you may be asked to identify what information is missing from a citation, or to explain why a particular piece of information is needed in a reference. Understand what each element of a reference achieves.
Cite:
- Direct quotations (exact words from a source)
- Paraphrased ideas (someone else’s ideas in your own words)
- Summarised arguments, findings or conclusions
- Statistics, data and research results
- Definitions or conceptual frameworks you adopt
Do NOT cite:
- Commonly known facts (“Australia is a federal democracy”)
- Your own original ideas and conclusions
- Information you gathered yourself through primary research
| Technique | Definition | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Direct quote | Exact words, enclosed in quotation marks with page number | When the exact phrasing is significant |
| Paraphrase | Author’s idea restated in your own words | Most common; shows you understand the idea |
| Summary | Condensed version of a longer argument or passage | For overview of a source’s key argument |
COMMON MISTAKE: Over-relying on direct quotations. Strong academic writing paraphrases and analyses, rather than stringing together quoted passages. Use direct quotes sparingly, only when the exact wording is important.
For a project involving many sources, consider using reference management software:
- Zotero (free, recommended)
- Mendeley (free)
- EndNote
These tools store citation information and generate formatted references automatically, reducing errors and saving time.
REMEMBER: Even with reference management software, check every generated reference for accuracy. Software frequently makes errors with unusual source types (e.g., government reports, translated works, online videos).
