Reference list: An essential part of any research
While writing a thesis, you use various sources of information that are helpful in your research work. These sources can be journals, theses, conference papers, newsletters, magazines, illustrations, internet sources, government reports, etc. It is important that you must cite all these sources in your thesis. Citing your sources gives due credit to the original author who has inspired your research work or whose text you have quoted in your thesis. It also saves you from the dreaded plagiarism trap.
Why should every scholar pay attention to referencing?
1
To avoid plagiarism
No doubt that when you write a thesis, you search for knowledge and information existing in journals, internet, and various other mediums. However, it is important to mention these sources in your thesis so there remains no question of plagiarism.2
To make sources searchable
There is a proper format for citing sources, and citations usually come under the bibliography section of a thesis. You must know the right format of citing references in your thesis. Otherwise, the readers will not be able to find the sources that you have used.3
To give source details to readers
While citing a journal, book or periodical, you must mention the name of the publisher, title of the chapters, volume number, date of issue, page numbers, etc. in the References section of your thesis.4
To give Web source location to readers
If you have used the Internet, then also mention the complete URL of the referred website or link in the References section. In case of images, graphics, and graphs too, you must mention the source.5
To give due author credit for quoted text
If you have used a piece of text or passage from someone’s work, then mention it in quotation marks or block quotations by giving due credit to the original author. The readers will get to know that you have used it for support in your thesis.6
To make assessment easier
Citing references will help your professors and reviewers to assess your thesis. They will get to know how you have used the sources within the context of your original work.7
To avoid thesis rejection
Cite all the referred sources in your thesis to make it plagiarism-free. If you have used someone’s ideas or work, then it is advisable that you must mention the source. There are chances of rejection of your thesis if you have used someone else’s work and not given credit to them. Do mention each of the sources to avoid plagiarism, as well as rejection.Latest Posts From Our Blog
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