As students move into higher education, it is really important for them to use references in their work and to know how to do this following a standard reference system.

The objective of this unit is to introduce students to the conventions of academic writing and to the notion of intellectual property rights. They need to know how to acknowledge sources and to show evidence of research, and they need to understand the risks of being accused of plagiarism.

The unit look as different elements of referencing - quotations, footnotes and endnotes, bibliography - based on the Vancouver system of referencing. It also shows students how to reference materials from electronic sources. In the follow-up activities at the end of the unit, there are links to websites on the Harvard system and students are encouraged to compare the two systems.

The use of the internet makes it much easier to copy material from many sources, and there are also misconceptions about what is allowed. Students may think they can copy material that is in the 'public domain' (e.g. on internet pages or in newspapers) without referencing, or they may think it is OK to copy and use images. Teachers should take every opportunity to reinforce the message that students' work should be original, and that material that is not their own must be identified as such and referenced. No image can be used without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Students might not use a formal system of referencing at school, and different universities and subjects use different systems, but you can establish the principle of referencing (e.g. quotes and sources) and discuss the importance of referencing with students.

Extension

• Discuss with peers what is expected of you in different subjects at school. Are the requirements consistent across subjects?
• Look at how material is referenced in different books, and on articles on the internet.
• Carry out research to find out about cases of plagiarism and discuss the issues in class.