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Libraries and Learning Skills

Agriculture and Horticulture

Information on the Library and the resources available to you as a distance learning student at the University of Lincoln

Book open on it's Bibliography with wording Referencing, Find the style of referencing recommended by your department

Referencing and Plagiarism

Referencing is important in academic writing and an essential part of any of your assignments. It:

  • allows you to acknowledge your sources,
  • gives academic credibility to your work,
  • demonstrates your knowledge of a subject area,
  • prevents accusations of plagiarism.

You should always reference a source when:

  • using a direct quote
  • summarising a theory
  • discussing someone else's opinion
  • using case studies
  • quoting statistics or visual data
  • but not when stating your own opinion, observation or experience.

Plagiarism is "the wrongful... publication as one's own, of the ideas, or the expression of the ideas of another" (Oxford English Dictionary)

Plagiarism Tutorial

Plagiarism tutorial

This short tutorial explains what plagiarism is and also gives you tips on how to avoid it. It takes about 20 minutes to complete

Referencing books

Cite Them Right

All assignments need to include correct references: this book shows you how. Cite them right is the renowned guide to referencing and avoiding plagiarism. It is an essential resource for every student and author, providing clear and comprehensive coverage of a crucial part of academic study. 

Referencing Handbook: Harvard 3rd Edition

   Front cover of Harvard referencing guide

NCFM uses Harvard referencing style.

Harvard Referencing Tutorial

Harvard Referencing Tutorial

This short tutorial explains why and when to reference and introduces you to the Harvard style of referencing.  It takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Subjects: NCFM