Referencing

[gemfyre]

This is a rant I just wrote on the MLPTP. I liked it so much I decided to stick it here for prosterity.

Sure referencing is well and good. But I have a major gripe about it.

I am doing Biology. I have read books and watched documentaries on this kind of stuff ever since I could read and understand it. So when it comes to writing a lab report I just write a heap off the top of my head. Now, how the heck am I going to know exactly where each piece of information came from? I don't, it's a combination of years of reading and watching. I usually just write the report. Then look through a few of my textbooks and the odd journal and find something relevant and bung that in just so I can reference it and not lose marks for not referencing. I still get all over marked lab reports "reference?" pointing to most of the info. I DON'T KNOW where I got that info from, believe me if I knew I would tell you but it's probably from some documentary I watched when I was 8 years old or something.

So is it better to be honest and say, "yeah, I did read/hear/watch this somewhere but I can't remeber where." or fudge the reference just to please the tutors??

Comments

[redmalice.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean, i have the same problem. I also think it is ridiculous for people to expect you to reference every -single- thing you say. It means an essay is just full of other peoples ideas you've read and swapped around into your own words. I'm paranoid i'll get caught with plagarism and get kicked out of uni though :P

[loftykitten.livejournal.com]

I absolutely agree! Like it's our fault that we're smart and actually absorb some of the information. I've been known to write down my brain as a reference. It didnt fly to well.

[terrycat.livejournal.com]

yup. Definitely.
and btw, i love the kitten pic.

[loftykitten.livejournal.com]

aw, thanks! I love my little kitty icon. I keep thinking I'll change it to a picture of my real kitty one of these years, but I've grown quite attatched to it

Point Of View

[shrika.livejournal.com]

I know for certain that part of the reason why we get asked to reference stuff is because our lecturers learn new stuff to and they want to be able to grab the book and soak up the information themselves.
I do understand what your saying but I also understand where they are coming from too... Learn to look from more than your point of view