CBE - School of Economics Guide: Referencing and Citation

Referencing is a way to demonstrate that you have extended your reading, learning, and comprehension by using relevant and up-to-date sources.

•  To let the reader know whose ideas the writer are using.

• To give recognition to the original author of a text, opinion, idea, fact, image, etc.

•  To enable your reader to check your information.

•  Sources confirm the completeness of the research.

•  Quotations and references lend authority to the argument, view, etc.

•  The source list can be consulted by the reader to verify information in the text.

Primary sources refer to the material the author has written, like all the works written by Shakespeare.

Secondary sources are written as interpretations, criticism, research, etc. about a subject or an author. An interpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedies will be categorised as secondary material on his tragedies. The tragedies themselves will be the primary sources.

It is an online research management, writing and collaboration tool. It is designed to help researchers easily gather, manage, store and share all types of information, as well as generate citations and bibliographies.

If you need to manage information for any reason, whether it be for writing, research or collaboration, RefWorks is the perfect tool

The University of Johannesburg offers training on RefWorks.

Please consult with your subject/faculty Librarian for more information and training in your campus.

• Only registered students and staff at the University of Johannesburg have access to RefWorks

• It is accessible anywhere on and off campus as long as you have internet connection