Harvard (Author/Date) Style

Acknowledging Sources

"To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use another person's work. This means that whenever you use information obtained from another source including ideas, examples, theories or opinions, you must give a full reference to that source."

Language and Learning Skills Unit's Referencing Guide Acknowledging Sources

Department of Information Systems recommends the Harvard Style, but it is not mandatory to do so (the key to referencing in your assignments is to be consistent in the style you choose). Full referencing is expected in all your assignments. Failure to reference a source may result in a mark of 0 (zero) for any assignment.

This guide: A brief guide to Harvard style. It is an author-date style (it does not have references as footnotes or a numbered referencing system.) There are two key components:

1. In-text citations, which appear within the text
2. A bibliography or reference list, at the end of the text

All references which are summarised in-text must be provided in full in the reference list; similarly, all references given in the reference list must be cited within the text.
[Animated overview in a new window].

Further information: Snooks & Co. Style manual for authors, editors and printers (rev. 6th ed.) Milton, Qld: John Wiley and Sons. [Catalogue entry]

Useful publications:

• The DIS Style Guide (pp 18-25) covers the Harvard referencing system.
• Communication skills handbook : how to succeed in written and oral communication (2003) Jane Summers, Brett Smith.
• Assignment and thesis writing. (2001) Jonathan Anderson, Millicent Poole.
• The elements of style. (1999) William Strunk, E. B. White.
• How to write a thesis: a guide to the research paper. (1994) Harry Teitelbaum.