University of Limpopo

Faculty of Science and Agriculture

Department of Physiology and Environmental Health

2020 Academic Year

SHEL011: Health Education and Life Competencies I
(Scientific Writing/Language)

Module Lecturer/Coordinator: Mr A Malatji

(Major 4)
Contents

PLAGIARISM .............................................................................................................................................. 1

METHODS OF REFERENCING ................................................................................................................. 1

MODE(S) OF REFERENCING ................................................................................................................... 2

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................. 4

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PLAGIARISM
Although there may be various definitions of the term ‘plagiarism’, this, in actual fact, is a
criminal offence. Scholars such as Siewierski (2015) argue that the term refers to an act of
copying without giving references/acknowledgement. However, think of plagiarism as an
academic theft of information without giving credit to sources (for students/scholars).

Plagiarism can happen in different ways at different environments. For example, it can be at:

 School,
 Work and/or,
 Parliament.

For your safety, you are required to reference every time you decide to quote/cite/adopt
sources. While at that, remember the following:

METHODS OF REFERENCING
There are different methods of referencing available for your use. Depending on preference,
institutions can choose which one to use, and stick to it (but it is also possible to choose two
or more, per discipline). For instance, the University of Limpopo prefers Harvard Method of
referencing. The following are some examples:

 Harvard
 Vancouver
 Modern Language Association (MLA)
 American Psychological Association (APA)
 Chicago/Turabian
 Cape Peninsula

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It is important to know that each and every method of referencing has got:

MODE(S) OF REFERENCING
1. In-text

This mode can appear in either a:

 Paraphrase or Part of the body

 Direct quote. paragraphs

A paraphrase occurs when only the main idea is extracted from the original source, and
expressed by one’s own words. This is characterised by the word ‘that’, preceding the idea.
Only the source’s surname and year of publication can be included.

Study the example below:

Malatji (2020) argues that SHEL011 tests always come as a prophecy. (Not compulsory to
give a page number).

On the other hand, a direct quote happens when there are no alterations/changes to the
source’s wording. The characteristics are a coma (before) and quotation marks (after). For
example:

Malatji (2020:40) argues, “SHEL011 tests always come as a prophecy.” (Page number
compulsory).

2. Post-text
This is either a:
 List of references or
 Bibliography.

The format for the two is the same, but the length may not be. A list of references is a
compilation of strictly the sources that appear in the text whereas a bibliography has
additional sources.

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Remember: “You can have a list of references within a bibliography, but you cannot have a
bibliography within a list of references.”

Study the formats below and master the categorise respectively:

 Surname, initial(s). year. Book Title. Place of publication: Publisher.
Book

 Surname, initial(s). year. Title of Journal Article. Title of Journal. Volume(Issue):

Pages.
Journal

 Surname, initial(s). year. Title of Internet Article. Retrieved date, available at <URL>
Internet

*The prophecy shall be as outlined above!*

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REFERENCES
Gillet, A. Hammond, A. & Martala, M. 2009. Inside Track: Successful Academic Writing.
England: Pearson.

Siewierski, C. 2015. An Introduction to Scholarship. Cape Town: Oxford University Press.