WHAT IS REFERENCING AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT?
A reference is an analysis which enables the reader to know the source of any borrowed statement, fact or idea within the text of a report, project or thesis. Referencing is very important in philosophical write-ups as it carries much marks; and the earlier you had learned how to reference your works, the better for you. Referencing makes your work look mature as it shows that you have consulted the ideas of professionals and authorities in the field. The way you would reference when writing assignments is very different from the way you would reference in tests and exams.
Referencing in tests and examinations
When you have to reference in tests and exams, it simply means you should refer to some of the sources where you got some particular information like a quote, statement or idea. This type of referencing is very simple and not technical. For example, in the process of trying to present a criticism (argument against a position), I can say ‘according to John Hick in his book philosophy of religion, he says........ or in order to buttress my point further, I would like to refer to an idea on reincarnation from the oxford dictionary of philosophy; it says.....’. It is so simple and straightforward. Doing this helps the lecturer to see that you have actually studied well. However, do not overuse this. Too much of referencing quotes would make your work look artificial.
Referencing in assignments
This is a quite technical aspect of referencing that you MUST learn. Assignments are given to you to take home and do properly. The ideas must be structured in your own original words but, it is expected that you should consult various sources and that what you write should be well thought out and structured. This is why referencing is important. It helps the lecturer to know those sources where you have gotten some of your points. If you simply copy ideas from books and you do not reference them, it is very wrong and would be penalized seriously. Such act is called plagiarism and is regarded as an academic crime abroad. There are two broadly used styles of referencing, which are;
i. The American psychological association style of referencing (the A.P.A style)
ii. The Kate Turabian style of referencing (also known as the Chicago style)
The A.P.A. style
This referencing style makes use of what is called ‘in text’ writing. When one wants to refer to a statement from any source, it would be included within the body of the text. Before or after the borrowed statement has been written in inverted commas, the author’s name, publication date and page number of the book which contains the statement being referred to, follows enclosed in a bracket. For example;
Universally, religious people believe and claim that God himself has revealed to mankind what is morally good and morally bad. In accordance, the major challenge is that there are conflicting accounts from various religious groups. In other words, ‘’God has become an object of struggle among His creations’’ (Clarkson, 1984, 26). The way forward as regards the...........
In situations where the borrowed statements are lengthy (maybe more than two lines) then the long quote could be paraphrased and written in a gulf form within the body of the text. For example;
Philosophy of religion represents a cardinal point where the issues as regarding the other worldly are expressed. In order to understand the nature of the philosophy of religion, some Ideas such as this should be considered;
‘Philosophy of religion is a second
Order activity which stands on its
own and separated from its subject
matter. Like science, it stems from
the organization of certain simple
laws thereby resulting in a major
framework’. (Hick.J, 1996, 120)
In order to comprehend how Philosophy of Religion is different from other disciplines that handle the subject matter of Religion, we would have to take a critical look at what...
Afterwards, at the end of the write-up or assignment, a reference of all the books cited or simply used (e.g. dictionary, periodical, yearbook, encyclopaedia e.t.c) would be;
· Then, the year of publication (in a bracket)
· Then, the title/name of the book (underlined)
· Then, the town of publication and the publishing company (enclosed in a bracket)
...for example
Reference(s)
1. Carnap.R, (1992) Scientific objectivity and theory, (London: Richardson gate publishers inc)
2. Ladison.F.U, (1965) Theoretical empiricism, (Bolton: Ogilvy and sons publishing company)
3. Popper,K, (1824) Causality and methodology (Canterbury: Rutherford publishers inc)
The Chicago style
This mode of referencing is best used for assignments which will have several chapters (like a 20 – 50 page project assignment). It is also known as ‘end-of-chapter’ referencing. This referencing style makes use of ‘end notes’. In the process of writing the assignment, any borrowed statement would be numbered consecutively as they occur. The numbers would be placed in brackets at the end of the statement after the full stop.
Afterwards, at the end of each chapter, all the numbered statements would be referenced (in an ‘end note’) according to their numbers within the main text. Unlike the A.P.A. style, referencing would be done at the end of each chapter and not at the final end page of the assignment/write-up.
Also within the ‘end notes’, some key terms are used. The main ones are;
· ‘ibid’: This term implies that the book which was immediately and formerly referenced, is exactly again referred to. In this case, only the pages could be different. For example; if I referenced a book by ‘Ogundowole’ (pg 16) in the number 2 of the end note and I still want to reference the same book in the number 3 of the end note, instead of me writing the full referencing details again, I would simply write ‘ibid. Pg 35’.
· ‘op cit’: This term implies that a book which has been quoted earlier before (but not immediately-formerly) is being re-referenced. In this case, the ‘name of the author’, ‘op.cit.’ and the ‘page of the book’ is written in a systematic manner. For example, if I referenced a book by ‘Bertrand Russell’ (pg 60) in the number 5 of the end note and I again want to reference the same book in number 12 of the end note, instead of me writing the full referencing details again, I would simply just write ‘Bertrand Russell, op.cit., pg 214’.
...below is an example of how the Chicago style of referencing works.
Natural law (law of nature) has been defined as a law whose content is set by nature and is thereby universal. (1) Natural law entails the use of rationality to evaluate human nature as well as deduce binding rules of moral behavior. Positive law, which refers to man-made law, is not the same as natural law. This is due to the fact that positive law derives from natural law, and that it is the law of a given political community, society, nation or state. Hence, natural law is a standard by which positive law can be criticized.
Several scholars have made immense contribution in the evolution of natural law. For example, Plato says ‘we live in an orderly universe. At the basis of this orderly universe or nature are the forms and most fundamentally, the form of the good which Plato describes as ’the brightest region of being’. (2) Aristotle also emphasized the distinction between ‘nature’ on the one hand, and ‘law’, ‘custom’ or ‘convention’ on the other. What the law commanded varied from place to place, but what was by ‘nature’ should be the same everywhere. (3) Cicero says that ‘both justice and law derive their origin from God. So, wicked and unjust statutes are not laws in any way. (4) Therefore, Natural law obliges us to contribute to the general good of the larger society.
From the fore-going, one thing is obviously clear about natural law, which is, it aims at preserving and protecting the natural rights of man, thereby making life more...
...at the end of the chapter, the following 'end note' reference would ensue. The page number(s) would be included as it was not shown within the body of the text (unlike the A.P.A. style).
Reference(s)
1. Higgins. T, (1995) Natural law ideals (Tema: Rock publishers Inc) pg. 85.
2. Randle. B, (1971) Morality in Ancient Greece (Overton: Bluebird publishing company) pg.60
3. ibid. Pg 82.
4. Higgins Thomas, op.cit, pg 9
GOOD LUCK!
