What's referencing about?
Getting Referencing Right at Laidlaw
Referencing might feel fiddly and time-consuming, but it's a big part of being a good scholar—and it helps you avoid plagiarism. (That’s essentially the academic word for ‘cheating’).
Why Do We Reference?
When you write assignments, of course you’re sharing your own ideas — but those ideas are shaped by what you’ve read, seen, or heard. Referencing is how you show your reader where those influences come from. It’s also a way to give credit to others and stay honest in your academic work.
Did you know the word plagiarism comes from an ancient word meaning kidnapper? When we don’t cite our sources properly, even accidentally, we can end up stealing someone’s ideas without meaning to. Referencing keeps your work yours — and it shows you’re engaging with a bigger conversation in your field.
What Referencing Style Should I Use?
The gist of referencing is pretty simple. You insert “citations” in the body of your assignment, like when you’re quoting something specific, to note the source of that idea or quote. At the end, you include a “bibliography” (list of all sources mentioned). The details of how to format citations and bibliography are quite precise, so you’ll need to follow some guidelines.
At Laidlaw College, your school determines which style to follow:
- School of Theology – Use SBL Style
- Schools
of Counselling and Education, and Te Wānanga Ihorangi – Use APA Style
Tools to Help You
You don’t have to do it all manually! Tools like Zotero let you:
- Collect and save sources
- Insert in-text citations
- Automatically create your bibliography
They do take a little setup, but save loads of time in the long run.
Tips for Success
- Keep track of source info while you’re reading—don’t leave it till the end. Note down page numbers. Make sure you are careful about keeping track of quotes, so that you don't confuse them with your own writing.
- Take notes in a system that works for you (notebook, spreadsheet, or software).
- Use the Laidlaw guides—they’re made to help you get this right.
Referencing isn’t just a box to tick—it’s how you show you’ve done the mahi, and how you honour the voices that came before you. If in doubt, reach out to your lecturer or the Student Support team!