Presenting evidence

Tuesday 19 June 2018

We have already seen that as a student you will be expected to

draw on existing ideas, data and other knowledge to inform your

thinking, as well as to develop and support arguments. In your work

is important that you acknowledge the resources that you have

used. If you are able to present evidence effectively through

referencing, your work will be more convincing and successful.

During this session we will cover the following topics:

INTRODUCTION

• what we mean by the phrase‘presenting evidence’

• why we acknowledge others’ work

• how expectations can vary across subjects

• an example of a referencing system: Harvard

• strategies for presenting evidence effectively

• what happens when we fail to acknowledge others’ work…

WHAT DOES ‘PRESENTING EVIDENCE’ MEAN?

• demonstrating where your research and ideas come from –

‘present your evidence’

• reminder: to construct a convincing argument you need to

provide supporting evidence

• where you use somebody else’s work, you are expected to

acknowledge the original author – matching academic conventions

• how you do it (convention) varies, but the principle of

acknowledging the source is the same

• an ‘author’ can be an individual, many people, or an organisation

• there are consequences for failing to do this…

Some key principles:

• Assad

• Jennifer

• Becky

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY EVIDENCE?

Evidence across the disciplines:

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

turns opinions

into academic arguments

helps audience to follow

your line of thinking

shows the marker that you

have undertaken research

adds credibility

to your arguments

referencing is likely to be

markedreader/audience can follow

up points of interest

and there are consequences if you don’t…

Indirect citation in the text: where you put someone else’s work or

ideas into your own words. This aids how your work ‘reads’ and suggests

you may have interpreted rather than reproduced someone else’s work.

HARVARD REFERENCING SYSTEM: COMPONENTS

Direct citation in the text (short): useful when the original words

have a ‘high impact’ or are fundamental to the topic.

Direct citation in the text (long): where you want to cite a

quotation of more than one sentence - this should be indented in the

text. This should be used sparingly as they are not your own words.

Reference list or bibliography: so that the reader can follow up

citations from the text (or presentation) that were of particular

interest. It also means your text doesn’t become clouded by technical

bibliographical detail.

Direct or indirect citation in the text e.g.

In their research into the practices of students across three UK higher

education institutions, Lea and Jones (2011) found a reluctance to move

away from conventional ways of representing ideas within assessment.

HARVARD REFERENCING SYSTEM: HOW IT IS USED

The bibliographical detail within the

text helps us to find the full

reference within the Reference

list or Bibliography

The full reference provides us

with enough information to track

down the original paper, either

online or within a library.

HARVARD REFERENCING SYSTEM: HOW IT IS USED

Indirect citation in the text e.g.

Hepburn (2008) proposes that, contrary some success stories, the

industry was entering a period of decline.

HARVARD: CITATION IN THE TEXT

Direct citation in the text (long) e.g.

Despite high profile success stories, there is clear evidence

that the boom has passed and that the industry is beginning

to experience a downturn. Such is the benefit of taking a

broad view of market conditions, over individual case studies.

(Hepburn 2008, p. 29)

Direct citation in the text (short) e.g.

In her 2008 report Forecasts for Fashion, Hepburn points to the ‘clear

evidence that the boom has passed and that the industry is

beginning to experience a downturn (p. 29).’

Where you want to point to a specific piece of info e.g. According

to Smith (2004, p. 21) the availability to purchase online reduced the

power of high street retailers, accounting for a 13% drop in sales.

HARVARD: INDIRECT CITATION

With two authors e.g. The Paris fashion industry has remained

largely unaffected by global trends (Dunckel and Godin, 2007).

More than two authors e.g. Others point towards the cyclical

nature of the European fashion retail industry (Thomson et al., 1999).

With organisation as an author e.g. Business leaders feel that now

is a good time to invest (Confederation of Cosmetic Retailers, 2008).

Comparing different positions e.g. Despite the historical stability of

the fashion industry (Peppard 2006, Stewart 2007), Hepburn (2008)

forecasts the beginning of a downturn.

HARVARD: DURING A PRESENTATION

For best effect, aim to cite sources orally, on the accompanying

slide (where you are using them) and also in a reference list to be

shown or shared at the end of the presentation:

McKenna &

McAvinia 2011…

A book with a single author:

HARVARD: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Surname, Initial. (Year published) Title of book in italics.

Edition where not the first edition. Place of publication,

Publishing company.

James, D. (2000) The big book of birds, Denningston,

Denningston University Press.

James, D. (2005) The big book of birds, 2nd edn, Denningston,

Denningston University Press.

Where you cite an author who contributes a chapter in a book:

HARVARD: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Surname of contributor, Initial. (Year published) ‘Title of chapter

cited’, in Surname of Editor, Initial. (ed for editor) Title of book in

italics. Place of publication, Publisher, chapter pages.

Stantz, R. (2000) ‘The science of slime’, in Zeddmore, W.

(ed). A Sociological Study of the Spirit World, New York,

Tribeca Press, pp. 82-84.

HARVARD: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Surname of author, Initial. (Year published)‘Article title in single

quotation marks’, Title of journal in italics, volume, number, page

numbers if known.

Where you have used an article from a printed journal

Marshall, M.D. (2001)‘Elite Sporting Performance’, The

Journal of Being Really Good at Sport, vol. 30, no. 3, pp, 24-39.

HARVARD: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Surname of author, Initial. (Year published)‘Article title in single

quotation marks’, Title of journal in italics, volume, number, page

numbers if known. [Online].Available at: full URL (Accessed date).

Where you have used an article from an e-journal:

Marshall, M.D. (2001)‘Elite Sporting Performance’, The

Journal of Being Really Good at Sport, vol. 30, no. 3, pp, 24-39

[Online]. Available at: http://www.fictitiousreference.html/

(Accessed 15 June 2018).

Somewheretown University (2017) The new student accommodation

[Online] Available at http://www.swt.ac.uk/news/campus/2-

11967.html (Accessed 25 May 2018).

HARVARD: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Where you have used a photograph/image you found online:

Where you have used an online organisational report:

Somewheretown Communications plc (2015) Annual Report [Online]

Available at www.denningstoncommunications/reports/annual2015.pdf

(Accessed 12 December 2017).

I am the author. My book is called‘Real Type: Letterpress Doodles’.

My book is widely available thanks to my publisher Kelpie Press,

whose office is based in Falkirk.

The version that you will pick up from the second floor of the university

library is the second edition, which I updated in 2016.

A book with a single author – a quick exercise:

HARVARD: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Surname, Initial. (Year published) Title of book in italics.

Edition where not the first edition, Place of publication,

Publishing company.

HARVARD: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Smith, A. (2016) Reel Type: Letterpress Doodles. Falkirk, Kelpie

Press.

Smith, A. (2016) Real Type: Letterpress Doodles. 2nd edn. Falkirk,

Kelpie Press.

Smith, Alice. (2016) Real Type Letterpress Doodles. 2nd edn.

Falkirk: Kelpie Press.

Smith, Alice. (2016) Real Type: Letterpress Doodles. 2nd edn.

Falkirk: Kelpie Press. (Accessed 16 June, 2018).

A book with a single author – which of the following is correct:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Somewheretown Communications plc (2015) Annual Report [Online]

Available at www.denningstoncommunications/reports/annual2015.pdf

(Accessed 12 December 2016).

Compiled alphabetically by author surname:

HARVARD: REFERENCE LIST/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stantz, R. (2000) ‘The science of slime’, in Zeddmore, W.

(ed). A Sociological Study of the Spirit World, New York,

Tribeca Press, pp. 82-84.

Marshall, M.D. (2001)‘Elite Sporting Performance’, The

Journal of Being Really Good at Sport, vol. 30, no. 3, pp, 24-39

[Online]. Available at: http://www.fictitiousreference.html/

(Accessed 21 June 2017).

RESOURCES…

OU Harvard Guide to Citing References

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT USING EVIDENCE…

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT USING EVIDENCE…

Plagiarism: what is it?

Passing off the ideas, words or work of others as your own.

How is it detected?

Change in tone, dramatic change in quality of work, use of

‘Americanisms’, use of unusually advanced language, software

(Turnitin), tutors knowing the subject matter…

What forms does it take?

Using someone else’s ideas or words without acknowledgement,

copy-and-paste from the Web, getting someone else to complete the

work for you (including downloading), submitting a piece of

collaborative work without acknowledging co-authors…

UNDERSTANDING AND AVOIDING PLAGIARISM

What are the possible consequences…?

Is this plagiarism?

1. yes

2. no

Using an author's words but accidentally forgetting to put it in

quotation marks and to include a citation.

UNDERSTANDING AND AVOIDING PLAGIARISM

Is this plagiarism?

1. yes

2. no

Using a direct quote and acknowledging the author but not the

year of publication.

UNDERSTANDING AND AVOIDING PLAGIARISM

Is this plagiarism?

1. yes

2. no

Buying an essay prepared by someone else, but changing a few

sections and adding some of your own ideas.

UNDERSTANDING AND AVOIDING PLAGIARISM

We’ve seen that:

CONCLUSION

• There are good reasons for acknowledging others’ work or ideas

– if nothing else, be motivated to do so by the recognition that it

will earn you marks during assessment

• Students are expected to acknowledge information in a particular

way - and conventions may vary between subject areas,

departments and even colleagues in the same field

• It might be technical or seemingly less important than putting

your ideas across, however it really is integral to your work as a

critical thinker