The Enigma of Referencing in Research Writing

There is actually some magic about completing the thesis writing. Thesis writing relies on primary and secondary research. Every secondary research must be thoroughly referenced. This is a great way to acknowledge the work of others. Giving the previous researchers the due respect that they have earned from contributing something original in the filed.

In your research writing, the introduction and discussion will contain formation about the research of others. You work will be to build up upon the existing research. To place your research project in the context of previous findings in the field. It is essential to quote the work of others, which is generally acceptable. Mostly it is about paraphrasing the work of some other research that is very relevant in your field. As citing previous research work is important, it is all the more important to create a bibliography or reference list of all of the sources that you use. Furthermore, it is important to indicate within the text the source of the information. Any data, conclusion that is not a direct result of your own research must be acknowledged.

How to Format an in Text Citation

The most common method to use an in-text citation is to follow the MLA and APA style. In reality, there are a number of different ways one can reference the source. Consult your thesis advisor or the journal where you wish to publish your work, to know the exact format in which the bibliography must be written. Another important thing to remember while writing the bibliography is to choose a single style because mixing the styles makes things unclear to the reader.

When to Use an in Text Citation

It is better to use as much as citation when possible in order to be avoid being accused of plagiarism. However, sometimes citations are not necessary especially for things that are common knowledge in your field of research. But it always best to err on the side of caution. In case you are using your class notes then you could cite the source as a textbook, which is totally acceptable.

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