The why and how of referencing

How do I attend?

Go to The why and how of referencing and select 'Join Room' located at the bottom of the page. The room remains closed until the trainer has entered – this will usually be 15 minutes before the start time.

Benefits

Referencing is about signaling when sources have played a role in your assignments and at the same time giving due credit to other writers. This 1 hour interactive session will introduce you to referencing and why it is important when writing your assignments. You will also learn about how to construct references and where to go for help and support.

Who's it for?

This session is suitable for those who are new to referencing and those who would like a refresher.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this session you should know:

why referencing is important
what to reference when writing your assignments
how to construct references

Referencing styles

How you format your references will depend on the referencing style you are using. Most OU modules use Cite Them Right Harvard. More information concerning referencing styles can be found on the Referencing and Plagiarism page.

Downloads and further help

The slides and accompanying handout for this session are available to download.

The following online resources provide additional information and guidance:

Note this video uses the 12th edition of the Cite Them Right Harvard referencing style. As of July 2025, the 13th edition is the most recent. For the most recent guidance on formatting references, see the Cite Them Right section for printed books.