In academic writing, it's essential that you cite (state) your sources of information and ideas. To ensure readers know where you found the information you must include references.
You need to reference all the sources that you use in your assignments - by citing them in the main body of your assignment (an in-text reference) and compiling a full reference list at the end of your work.
A number of guides are available to help you get to grips with referencing:
The following will help you correctly reference legal resources.
Anonymised Document
In Text
…at NHS Trust A (2017) the procedures for discharge are clearly drawn up.....
Reference List
ANONYMISED TRUST, Year of publication. Title of document. City or County where published ( leave out if this could identify source): Anonymised Trust [unpublished]
NHS TRUST A, 2017. Guidelines for discharge from hospital. Hampshire: NHS Trust A [unpublished]
NHS TRUST A, 2017. Guidelines for discharge from hospital. NHS Trust A [unpublished]
This is how you would reference the NMC Code of Practice
Reference list
NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL, 2018. The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. London: Nursing and Midwifery Council [viewed 1 June 2021]. Available from: https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/nmc-code.pdf
Your in-text reference would would be:
....(Nursing and Midwifery Council 2018) or The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018).....
Use this format for internal documents and policies. Some of the information you would usually put in might not be available, so you cannot include it.
In text
…aims to provide a top-class university education for all those qualified and able to benefit (Southampton Solent University 2015).
Reference list format:
AUTHOR, Year of publication. Title of document. Place of publication (if known): Publisher (if known) [viewed date if online]. Available from: URL (if known) [unpublished]
Example with place of publication and publisher (online)
SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY, 2015. Building an excellent university 2015-2020. Southampton: Southampton Solent University [viewed 29 July 2019]. Available from: http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/vco/southampton-solent-university-strategy-2015-2020.pdf?t=1541075154683 [unpublished]
Example without place of publication and publisher (online)
SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY, 2015. Building an excellent university 2015-2020 [viewed 29 July 2019]. Available from: http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/vco/southampton-solent-university-strategy-2015-2020.pdf?t=1541075154683 [unpublished]
Example of print document
SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY, 2015. Building an excellent university 2015-2020 [unpublished]
This tutorial will show you some "hacks" to help make the process of producing the reference list easier. It does not touch on the tricker in-text citation process. Please note that none of the hacks is foolproof, you do still need to understand your referencing style to detect any errors. But all the hacks definitely do help
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RefWorks is a tool to help you to manage your references. You can export references directly from the library catalogue, databases and even Google Scholar directly into RefWorks and format them into Harvard SSU or other style as required. There is also a tool that can grab webpages and import them into account.
If you use RefWorks it will do most of the work for you, but it will make mistakes as it can only work with the data it can see - garbage in, garbage out. Check the output before submitting your assignments.
Visit the RefWorks LibGuide for help in setting up your account
Watch the video on setting up a RefWorks account and adding references
This short video will demonstrate some additional tools you may wish to use
Take this tutorial to help you decide what kind of source you are trying to reference. If you recognise the type of source in front of you, it will help you get the reference right at the end of your piece of work.
