Harvard Referencing Experts? Please help!!![confused]

[ladygaga14]

Hi,

So I am working on my personal statement for my MSc application and I want to mention a book I have read. How do I reference it in text (not a specific page, just a particular theory suggested in a book) I really dont want to flunk my application over something I should already know!!!

Thanks!

Is it not simply (author's surname, year of publication)?

Is it just one author of the whole book or is the chapter written by a different author? Just one author or two or more?

But generally citing an author would just be (Surname, Date) at the end of the sentence. Unless you are starting the sentence with "According to Surname (Date) the world is flat . .."

According to Cardiff University you'd do this:

Cooke, D.J. and Philip, L. 2001. To treat or not to treat? An empirical perspective. In: Hollin, C.R. ed. Handbook of offender assessment and treatment. Chichester: Wiley, pp. 3-15.

If it's for a personal statement, rather than an essay, wouldn't you need to add the full reference somewhere (footnote?).

That would be an edited book to go in a a reference list at the end Imperial not for citing within the text

Yes I think if you are going to cite a reference the full ref should go at the end too or it's a bit pointless

Thanks guys (although now, I'm more confused!) eek.....

To clarify I basically want to say.......... I found Dr greens theory on Green grass interesting in his book called why grass is green.

How would I do that?!

I am in no way an expert but I would write what you said with a [1] and then do the full fancy pants reference as a footnote (if only referencing a couple of books) or in references at the end if doing loads.

It would be 'In her book, Why the Grass Is Green (2001), Dr Green suggests an interesting theory...' wouldn't it?

I'd add a [1] in superscript after you named the book, then put the full reference in a footnote.

I'd go with what Claudia said

I'm just worried in case I make a costly error!

I don't know if you have to use referencing in an application. I have used Harvard referencing for essays and reports, but because I did my MSc at the same place I did my BSc, I didn't need to apply in writing with a statement.

If you have to write something 'formal' - as in a short essay, then within the text use the standard form of citation, as described by Claudia or monkey. The full details of the book go in the references section, in the format Imperial has shown. If you have to write something less formal then I'd lean toward what titchy suggests.

A [1] isn't Harvard referencing though is it?

Try using a Harvard reference generator, a decent one will give you the inline and full reference in Harvard style.

www.harvardgenerator.com/

Is one

I don't know the type of application you're making - it may or may not require a full reference at the end of the essay. If it does I would suggest using refme or something to write it out for you.

I would also check the style of referencing you should use - I don't know if Harvard is definitely appropriate (you could be correct though)!

Superscript numbers aren't Harvard style, although they're used in other systems like MHRA.

Hi, I teach referencing systems. Claudia has it right or (author, date) after the mention, followed by a full list of references at the end of the text. However the exact interpretation of the Harvard system will be provided by the university and it is a good idea to check. Try googling the name of the university and Harvard referencing. Harvard does not use numbers in the main text as a means of referencing, that's the Chicago method.

Quick note, hope it's not a grandmother>eggs thing!! don't forget to format your ref at the end correctly :)
Good luck!

Thanks so much everyone- your all so helpful.....loving being a forum member :)