Harvard Referencing

What’s up, science and IT students? And a shout-out to my fellow engineers as well! Whether you’re in first year or fourth year, you’ve probably noticed that the university is pretty much against plagiarism. I mean, I guess it’s kind of understandable. If you just steal other people’s work the whole time, you’ll get a fancy piece of paper at the end, and not learn anything to deserve it. Continue reading Harvard Referencing

The “Joys” of Academic Referencing

selfie Everybody loves a good 1500 word essay, but by far the best part about academic writing is the referencing that comes with it. Yes, we are kidding. But seriously, referencing is a very important skill to have when studying at university, as it ensures that your work gives credit where it’s due. Avoiding plagiarism is a very important thing when writing academia. There are a number of different referencing styles that are in use at the university, and whichever you use depends on your course. Here in this post we’ll give you a brief overview about 285736_514505705244967_163577496_nreferencing, including the styles we use, where to find help, and some of our tips on how to do it best. Continue reading The “Joys” of Academic Referencing

Referencing for n00bs

So if you are anything like me, you probably find referencing the absolute worst part of writing assignments. I sit there for hours trying to smash out an assignment because, as usual, I’ve left finishing it off to the last minute, then just when I think I’m done…SURPRISE!!! There is still a whole reference list to go that, for some stupid reason, fails to write itself every time.

So if this sounds like you, keep reading, because I have some wonderful solutions for you.

Believe it or not, there are some awesome phone apps that can reference for you. You just need to download the app, search for your book — or if you’re real lazy, scan its barcode — select the reference style you want and BAM! You have yourself a correctly referenced book!
Some of these apps that I know of include:

  • Easybib (FREE!)
  • Easy ultimate referencing ($2.49)
  • RefME (FREE!)

Another way to make referencing less of a drag is to save your references in Microsoft word (convenient right?). So here’s how to do it:

  1. Click on the references tab up the top
  2. Click insert citation > new source
  3. Select the type of source, chuck in all the details and write in a little tag in the bottom left so you know what the reference is in your future list

Heypresto! Like magic, all the hard work is done for you. Now you just have to put the reference into your actual assignments. That is done like so:

  • In-text reference
    • Click references> insert citation > then just click on the reference you need!
  • Reference list
    • Click references> Manage sources > copy all the references you need into the ‘current list’ box
    • Now click references> bibliography> references. And now a reference list should magically appear where ever your cursor was

So these are just a couple of tricks I use to make life a little bit easier when referencing. If you know of any more then comment below and we will add it in. Hope this makes everyone’s life a little bit easier.

– Damon

Library Resources: Mt Helen

BecAhh the library. That magical big building that holds all the answers to the universe. Okay, maybe not the universe, but it can sure help you with a whole lot of things that you probably never knew about.

Have you ever found yourself stuck on an essay question and having no idea where or how you should start your research? Not too sure about your references? Or maybe you need some help finding some books or online articles? Then look no further than the library! That’s right, the library is your one stop shop for all things essay, research, and loads more! You name it, the library will be able to help. So you’re thinking, ‘how can I access this great help and make sure my work is in tip-top shape before I submit it?’ Not to fear, because I have had the opportunity to sit down and have a chat about all things library with one of our very own Federation University librarians, Alana.

What resources are available to students?

There are a variety of resources available to students. They range from classes that run at the start of each semester to quiet study spaces. The classes that run at the start of each semester cover everything from general library skills to how to use the catalogue to find journal articles or books. They cover referencing and even help students evaluate their information. These classes generally run up to four or six weeks depending on demand. The classes are free and you can enrol online via this link or access it through the library website.

Can the library help with referencing?

Yes, the library can definitely help with referencing and has its very own General Guide to Referencing. The library can also help you with finding and understanding subject guides that are full of course specific info.

Can the library help with using the databases (finding journal articles)?

The library can help show you how to utilise the databases online to ensure you find exactly what you are looking for. The classes at the start of each semester cover how to use the databases but if you wanted some extra information you can come in and just ask for some help. The online data bases hold 90% of the libraries journal articles.

How do I borrow a book, log on to the computers and print?

The library offers help sheets that cover all the basic library information you need to know as a student. They cover general things like borrowing a book, how to print and how to reference. These sheets are available on stands in the library and they are also available online.

Does the library offer a proofreading service?

No the library does not provide a proof reading service but they can help you with using the databases to find articles or they can refer you to a Learning Skills Advisor. The Learning Skills Advisors do not provide a proofreading service either, but do provide support and can offer some direction or help you develop your own proofreading skills.

Can I borrow a book from another university through Federation University?

Yes you can. There is a program called Bonus plus. Bonus plus has 12 participating universities and the idea of it is that you can request a book from a different university and the book will be sent here. There is also another way you can borrow books from other universities and it is called Caval Borrower. Being a Caval Borrower is ideal if you are a student that lives away from the university campus and who may live closer to another university. A Caval Borrower can go to the university that is more convenient for them to travel to, to physically borrow a book.

Does each library floor have a different purpose?

Yes, every floor does has a different purpose. Downstairs is where the multimedia is stored as well as the law collection and some journals. The ground floor is where students have access to the computers. The first floor has newspapers, fiction, and children’s literature and teaching resources. It’s also where the IT training room is. The IT training room is great if you need access to a specific computer program. The top floor is where the main collection is kept. There are two sections to this area, one being the larger books down the bottom (the quarto collection) and the other being the main collection. They both have their own labelling system.

What are the library’s opening hours?

The Libraries opening hours can be found online via the main subject guides page.

Monday- Thursday: 8:30am- 8:00pm

Friday: 8:30am- 5:00pm

Saturday & Sunday: 1:00pm-5:00pm

Are there any designated study areas in the library?

Yes. They can be found on most library floors. The downstairs floor has desks available. The ground floor has tables that can be used for group work. The first floor also offers tables and also has several rooms available for students to study. These, however, cannot be booked and are on a’ first there, first served’ basis. The top floor offers students the opportunity to study in silence at silent study bays.  As a Federation University student you also have access to other study areas at other campuses. The SMB campus library offers some great study areas!

Can Federation University students borrow from any campus?

Yes, Federation University students can borrow books from any campus and return them to any campus.

What are the key things that a student at Federation University should know about the library?

  • It’s not just books
  • They can help with referencing and finding information
  • Good study spaces
  • Ask any questions (they are here to help)

Also for students who would like some extra help, after 5pm the library is less busy and they can spend more time with you helping you find what you need.

So now that your brain is full of useful information about the library, why don’t you drop on in, say hi and start using the library resources!

-Bec

 

3Rs Workshops

IMG_0938With the first week of uni coming to end, it’s time to brush up on important skills that students will need when the time comes for assignments. For many of us, this means writing reports or essays. This might seem daunting at first, especially if you’re a first year student and not familiar with the new expectations at uni, which include finding appropriate academic resources and referencing those resources.

Students looking to refresh their writing and research skills should look at the 3Rs (Researching, Referencing and wRiting) workshops. The 3Rs are a series of workshops that are normally run by your campus’ library in the first few weeks of a semester. They are currently being offered at the Mt Helen and Gippsland campuses. These workshops range from general library skills such as looking for journal articles to important writing skills, such as how to structure essays or reports. The 3Rs are an excellent resource to be taken advantage of early on in the semester. It’s arguably better to get on top of these skills now than waiting for the week before the assignment is due (I may be writing from experience).

If you aren’t able to attend the workshops, don’t fret, because there are a number of online resources that can be accessed via the 3Rs Moodle shell, which students are automatically enrolled in. However, attending the library workshops gives you the opportunity to ask questions in person, which is always a good thing.

Interested in getting involved? You can find a list of workshops and enrol at the Fed Uni library skills website (http://federation.edu.au/library/assignment-and-research-help/skillsworkshops/library-skills).

Luoxi.

Library Videos

IMG_0585“How the heck do I reference in APA/Chicago/MLA style?” Honestly, I swear that writing/formatting your work properly in all the different styles is one of the most common problems that ALL students have. Not just first years, even students in their fourth years go and double/triple check their work just to make sure they actually formatted it right. I know I certainly still need to check twice before submitting.

What all these people -don’t- know, is that the university’s library has actually uploaded a bunch of stuff online to help with all kinds of academic problems. Don’t know how to reference your journal article in MLA? The library has the answer. Not sure how to make subheading in APA style? The library has the answer.

If you go to the Federation University website, and click the little ‘Library’ tab up the top, all kinds of useful stuff gets thrown at you. If you look on the left, you’ll see some tabs like ‘assignment and research help’, and ‘course-related resources’. If you’re having trouble referencing, go to course-related resources and click on ‘general guide for the presentation of academic work’. If you’re having trouble actually finding resources to reference, go to ‘assignment and research help’ and check out the ‘library skills classes’ that the library runs!

If there’s anything you can’t find or aren’t quite sure of, go and ask the librarian! I know some people have a hard time asking questions to people they don’t know, but don’t underestimate librarians, they get bored just like everyone else and will often leap at the chance to use their knowledge to help a student with an honest question!

The two morals of this story are 1; the university library site has good stuff on it, and 2; librarians are super smart and often really nice, treat them with respect and use them as the fantastic resource that they are!

Have fun!

~Brodie.