What’s the point of referencing?

You can read an essay submitted by a UK higher education student for an essay writing competition sponsored by LearnHigher. The set title was ‘What is the point of referencing?’ and there was a maximum word limit of 1,500 words.

• The essay is a good example of how academic writers can integrate their own views and experiences into an essay alongside referenced evidence from external sources.
• The essay is accompanied with tutor comment.

Student essay in response to a 2009 LearnHigher competition on ‘What is the point of referencing?’. Together with a tutor commentary, the essay sets out and explores three for referencing: to construct, structure,  support and communicate arguments; to link work to the existing body of knowledge; and how referencing can add credibility to academic work.