Academic honesty

Reminder 

It is very important that you check the assignment guides for your subjects, as there may be some additional details that you need to follow. You may be penalised for not conforming to your subjects' requirements.

Academic Honesty: FAQs

What is referencing?

Referencing refers to the practice of acknowledging the sources of your ideas when you are writing assignments, examinations, reports and other material associated with your course of study.

Why reference?

Referencing is an important part of writing because it adds to the shared knowledge of all involved in an academic area. Referencing also enhances your writing by:

Using others ideas in your academic writing without appropriate acknowledgement is regarded as a form of intellectual dishonesty. By using referencing properly, you will avoid plagiarism, which may lead to serious disciplinary penalties.

What is APA Referencing?

APA Referencing is the refencing system developed by the American Psychology Association and is widely used by universities worldwide for citation and creation of reference and bibilography lists in academic writings.

What is citation?

A citation is the way you tell your readers that certain material in your work come from another source. It also gives your readers the information necessary to find that source again, including:

Why citation?

Giving credit to the original author by citing sources is the only way to use other people's work without plagiarizing.

Doesn't citing sources make my work seem less original?

Not at all. On the contrary, citing sources actually helps your reader distinguish your ideas from those of your sources. This will actually emphasize the originality of your own work.

When do I need to cite?

Whenever you borrow words or ideas, you need to acknowledge their source.

What is a reference list?

A reference list is the list which only includes sources you cited in the text. The resources you have read but not used in the text should not be included in the reference list.

What is a bibliography list?

​In contrast to a reference list, a bibliography list is the list of relevant sources you have read for background reading or for further reading.

The library recommends using APA Referencing as the standard referencing style for students' academic work.

Please note that certain subjects may require different referencing styles. IB History, for example prefers MLA. For assignments, you are recommended to consult your teacher before selecting the referencing style.