Referencing (TAFE)

"You’ve probably heard that you should avoid secondary sources when possible. It’s true—if you find great information being quoted or paraphrased somewhere, it’s well worth your effort to track down the original source so you can read it for yourself and therefore cite it directly" (McAdoo, 2010).

Why use original source

• Reading the full text of the original source, you can verify that the context of the quote supports the point you want to make,
• finding and reading the original source, you will become better informed about your research topic.

It’s okay to cite a secondary source if you can't find the original work, or it is out of print.

In your text, name the original source and give the citation for the secondary source.

In your reference list, provide a reference for the source you read. This is known as the secondary source.

In-text citation

(Primary author, Year, as cited in Secondary Author, Year)

 (Ellis, 2007, as cited in Fotos & Nassaji, 2011)

Primary author (Year as cited in Secondary Author, Year)

 If the year of the primary source is unknown omit it from the in-text citation

 Mandela (as cited in Burnett, 2010)

 Schein (as cited in Gunning, 2001)

Reference List

 List only the secondary source (i.e. author/editor of the book read)

 Secondary Author. (Year). Title of Secondary Work. Publisher.

 Burnet, A. (Ed.). (2010). Chambers book of speeches. Chambers.

 Gunning, B. (2001). The role that humor plays in shaping organizational culture [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1101326392

 Nassaji, H., & Fotos, S. (2011).Teaching grammar in second language classrooms: Integrating form-focused instruction in communicative context. Routledge.