Referencing Sources Worksheet

Name:

Date:

Students researching with books and computers

📚 What is Referencing?

Referencing means telling your reader where you found your information. It's like giving credit to the author - just like saying "thank you" when someone helps you!

Why do we reference?

✅ To show we're honest about our sources

✅ To help readers find the same information

✅ To avoid plagiarism (copying without credit)

✅ To show our research is reliable

1. In your own words, why is referencing important when writing notes?

📖 Two Ways to Use Sources

🔗 Method 1: Direct Quote (copying exactly)

Example: According to the research, "New Zealand has over 600 bird species, making it one of the most diverse countries for birdlife" (Department of Conservation, 2023).

Key parts:

• Quotation marks " " around the exact words

• Author or source name in brackets

• Year of publication

✏️ Method 2: Paraphrase (your own words)

Example: New Zealand is home to more than 600 different types of birds, which makes it an incredibly rich place for bird diversity (Department of Conservation, 2023).

Key parts:

• NO quotation marks (because it's your words)

• Same meaning but different words

• Still need the source in brackets

2. What's the main difference between a direct quote and a paraphrase?

Direct quotes use quotation marks, paraphrases don't

Paraphrases don't need references

Direct quotes are always better

There's no difference

🎯 Your Turn - Practice Task

Source Information:

Article: "Climate Change in New Zealand" by Dr. Sarah Williams, published in Environmental Science Today, 2024

Original text: "New Zealand's average temperature has increased by 1.2 degrees Celsius over the past century, leading to significant changes in weather patterns."