One important reason for referencing is to avoid plagiarism, which is defined by the University of Melbourne (n.d.) as “the act of representing as one's own original work the creative works of another, without appropriate acknowledgment of the author or source.” However, there are other reasons why it’s important to reference correctly.

1. Why reference?
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2. 1. Shows that you read widely &
have good breadth & depth of
knowledge
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3. 2. Supports your claims,
arguments & ideas
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4. 3. Avoids unintentional plagiarism
by ensuring sources are
acknowledged correctly
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5. 4. Shows WHO/WHAT you read
• show that you based your
argument on credible, reliable,
expert sources
• your argument is only as
strong as the evidence it is
based on
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6. Academic Skills
Enabling students to realise their full academic potential and achieve excellence
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills