Unisa Referencing Style

Unisa Referencing Style

Every student and prospective candidate is encouraged by the University of South Africa to cite any material, assignments, and supporting documentations that will be turned in to the school. Moreover, the essence of referencing is to allowing you to acknowledge other writers and researchers for their contributions to your works.

Citing projects ensures that the information you are sharing is not only based on your own opinions. Any academic paper that uses the ideas, words, or research of other authors must include citations. Unisa constantly requires reference to be attached to any files that will be submitted to them because, it is a way to provide evidence to support the assertions and claims in your own assignments and documentations.

Even though every institutions have their own style in referencing their works but students or any potential candidates must always ensure to include proper references so that readers can track down the material they have used. Keeping track of all the sources you use for reading and research for a project is the greatest approach to ensure that your references are accurate. This article will provide you everything Unisa referencing style entails.

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What Is Referencing:

Referencing is a standardized method of acknowledging the sources of information and ideas that you have used in academic writing.

Types Unisa Referencing:

There are two (2) types of references(citations) can be distinguished, namely:

• In-text references, found in the middle of a text. It may be in sentences or paragraphs.
• In a list of references at the end of an assignment. It is detailed.

Unisa Referencing Style:

• University of South Africa uses the Harvard method, however , it is the prerogative of the lecturer or module coordinator to prescribe the style to be used. Also consult your study guide.

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What Kind Of Information Needs Referencing?

Printed books are not the only sources that require acknowledgement. Any words, ideas or information taken from any source requires a reference. You also need to reference when you reprint any diagrams, illustrations, charts or pictures. Here are some examples listed below:

• Books and journal articles
• Newspapers and magazines
• Pamphlets or brochures
• Films, documentaries, television programs or advertisements
• Websites or electronic resources
• Letters, emails, online discussion forums
• Personal interviews

How Are The Unisa Referencing Presenttion Style:

The References section is an alphabetical list of only the sources that were cited in the text. Citations must be provided as shown in the examples below.

• Journal articles: Name(s) and initial(s) of author(s), year of publication, title, unabbreviated title of journal, volume (not issue number), and pagination, e.g. Johnson DW & Johnson RT 1999. Gifted students illustrate co-operative learning. Educational Leadership, 50:60-61.

• Books: Name(s) and initial(s) of author(s) or editor(s), year of publication, title, volume, edition, place of publication, and publisher, e.g. Van Zyl R (ed.) 1994. Recent advances in classroom research. New York: McGraw-Hill.

• Chapters in books: Name(s) and initial(s) of author(s), year of publication, title of chapter, editor(s), title of book, place of publication, and publisher, e.g. Dukzec S 1988. Gender issues. In: Hicks D & Brown J (eds). Education for peace. London: Routledge.

• Unpublished theses / dissertations: Squelch J 1991. Teacher training for multicultural education in a multicultural society. MEd dissertation. Pretoria: University of South Africa.

Purpose Of Unisa Referencing:

It shows the writer’s knowledge of the subject, avoids plagiarism, and also enables readers to check and examine cited sources, and acknowledges the work of others.

Avoiding Plagiarism:

• By making a clear differentiation between the author’s own ideas and those taken from other sources, referencing assist to avoid deliberate plagiarism.

Giving Credit:

• It respects others’ influences to the discipline, respects their intellectual property, and upholds moral academic standards.

Supporting Arguments:

• Citations support the author’s declarations and demonstrate that their views are supported by accepted knowledge and study.

Enabling Verification and Further Research:

• The references allow readers to find the authentic sources, approve the information provided, and learn more about the subject.

Demonstrating Research Skills:

• Citations demonstrate that the author has done wide study and is knowledgeable about the relevant works in their field.

Maintaining Academic Integrity:

• Writers reserve the integrity of their work and enhance the general legitimacy of the academic community by appropriately citing their sources.

What To Avoid In Unisa Referencing:

• Never refer to an author’s first name or to the title of a source in the main body of an academic document.
• Never include the initials of authors in citations; only their surnames.

Unisa Contact Details:

Student enquiries

• 0800 00 1870

Ethics Hotline

• 0800 075 278
• unisa@thehotline.co.za

Main campus:

• Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria

Every student and prospective candidate is encouraged by the University of South Africa to cite any material, assignments, and supporting documentations that will be turned in to the school. For more details, visit the Unisa official website page.

OTHER LINKS:

UNISA Online Application 2026-2027

Unisa Forum

Unisa Application For Teaching Higher Certificate