GEOS1100: Research Skills: Save and cite

It is important to save your references as you select them.  

Some ways to do this:

• Create a folder for your references 
• Download and save PDFs
• Keep a record of website URLs and the date of access
• Keep notes
• Email references to yourself

You might also consider using Referencing software such as Endnote to save and organise your references, but attendance at a training class is highly recommended before you start using it to avoid pitfalls later on.

You must cite all the references you use in your report correctly. This is called referencing.

Referencing is a standardised way of acknowledging sources of information and ideas used in your assignment. It identifies the sources and allows the reader to follow up the works you have cited.

Referencing involves the use of an author date citation in the text and a bibliographic listing of all references used at the end of the work.

It is important to reference all your citations thoroughly and accurately to avoid instances of plagiarism, which is severely penalised by the University.

There are many different referencing styles. Many courses in the School of the Environment use the APA referencing style but check the GEOS1100 course outline and ask your lecturer to make sure. For further details about referencing and to view style guides go to UQ Library Referencing Style Guides.