At university you are required to show 'independent work'. This is not the same as original work where all the ideas are your own. Rather, it means that you are able to read, understand and compare the work of subject experts to inform your judgment. When you make an argument or express an idea, you can support it by linking it to what has previously been researched, said or written by authorities on the subject. This often involves 'reviewing the literature' on your subject topic.
Good academic writing builds on evidence. You might use Library sources such as books and peer-reviewed journal articles; primary research sources like interviews or survey data; or artworks, performances, or design objects. These sources of evidence will all need to be referenced.
Citing the work of published authors in your subject field is a very important feature of academic writing. If you can refer to other writers’ work and integrate their ideas with your own it shows that you have read, understood and considered the issues and perspectives that they raise.
Make sure you know which style of referencing your course assignment requires you to follow. Falmouth Harvard style is the most widely used style. See the Study Guide on Referencing to learn more about referencing conventions.
