NOTE* The Microsoft Referencing tool is still using APA 6th edition referencing - check our APA 7 guide to make sure your references are correct when using it.
Excellent video on APA referencing and the Word referencing tool.
1. Click the link above
2. Select the resource type
3. Select the format
4. Use the example to create the reference for your particular resource
Construct and test your references with this free online tool.
If you would like to know if you can use content produced by a generative AI tool such as ChatGPT as part of your research, please check with your teacher or Lead Educator.
Please note that there are potential risks associated with using information from generative AI sources. You may find that the information given is out of date or otherwise incorrect and should not be treated as an academic source.
If you would like information on how to create references from generative AI sources, please see the La Trobe University academic referencing tool page.
Referencing is a way of acknowledging the sources you have used to support your arguments in an essay or assignment. Importantly, referencing will avoid plagiarism!
Plagiarism is passing off someone else's work as your own, be it ideas, graphics or statistics, and is as serious an offence as cheating in an exam.
APA (American Psychological Association) referencing is used by many departments at Kangan Institute and Bendigo TAFE including Business Management and Justice and Legal Studies.
An important part of academic writing is the research process and finding evidence from information sources that support your arguments and contention of your assignment topic.
When you refer to this evidence in your assignment you must reference.
You can include the information in your assignment by using a direct quotes or by writing the information into your own words by paraphrasing or summarising.
Direct quotes
When you take an exact phrase, sentence or sentences from a resource you must reference this information as a direct quote in your assignment.
You must include:
Short quotes are integrated into the sentence you are writing. Short quotes are 40 words or less for APA referencing.
When you add the direct quote to your writing you can either include the reference at the end of the quote as shown in Example 1 or at the beginning by mentioning the author in the writing and introducing the quote as shown in Example 2.
| Example 1 | To gather information on your financial position "make a list of things like your assets, debts, sources and regular income'"(Brown & Koch, 2004, p. 49) |
|
Example 2 |
Brown and Koch (2004, p. 49) suggest to "make a list of things like your assets, debts, sources and regular income". |
Long quotes are separated from the main text. You need to create a new paragraph and indent the writing from the main text. Do not use quotation marks.
Example:
The Style Manual (Snooks, 2002, p. 220) explains how to cite government publications,
Citation of government publications generally follows the…..
Paraphrasing, summarising and writing information in your own words
When you write your assignment you will support your arguments and assignment question with evidence found in your reading. You must reference where you get your information from even when you write this into your own words.
You must include:
When you paraphrase or summarise your writing you can either include the reference at the end of the piece of writing as shown in Example 1 or at the beginning by mentioning the author in the writing and introducing the evidence as shown in Example 2.
| Example 1 |
When attending an interview at a bank for a personal loan you must be well prepared (Brown & Koch, 2004). |
|
Example 2 |
Brown & Koch (2004) suggest that it is vital to be well-prepared when attending an interview for a personal loan at a bank. |
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