Charles Sturt University - Learning Skills

How Do I Reference My Paper?

Many students express feeling frustrated and constrained in their writing efforts because of the need to include references within their academic paper. Correct referencing, however, is an important part of academic writing.

The academic world is all about knowledge building and the primary reason for citation, therefore, is that it encourages and supports the collective construction of academic knowledge (Walker & Taylor, 2006, pp. 29-30). Referencing also forms an essential part in avoiding any tendency towards plagiarism.

Referencing styles at CSU

Check here for the style of referencing required by your School. It's also good practice to check your Subject Outline to verify the referencing style required in each subject.

1. APA (American Psychological Association)

Test yourself: APA Referencing QuizQuestion mark

  • APA Referencing Summary - the revised CSU guide to referencing, based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.).
  • For the times when you need a more comprehensive set of reference examples, download Chapter 7, Reference examples, in Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. This electronic version is available in the CSU Library Electronic Reserve collection.
  • APA resources - available at CSU Library Services
  • Perrin's Pocket Guide to APA Style (3rd ed.). This publication is available from the Co-op Bookshop.
  • APA Style.org website resources

2. Chicago

3. Harvard (Author/date style)

4. MLA (Modern Language Association)

Referencing software

  • Endnote - EndNote is bibliographic management software that helps manage references and produce reference lists in a variety of standard referencing styles (eg. APA, Chicago, MLA ...).

Students are able to install EndNote on their own computer by borrowing the CSU installation CD-Rom from the Library. CSU Distance Education (DE) students may request a loan of the CD-Rom directly from the Library catalogue, or by downloading EndNote from the DIT core software page.

Students should refer to the Library website for full information and guidance on using EndNote.