The
University Library guide to the Harvard style of referencing mentions that it
is very important to provide references in your work for the following four
reasons:
- To show anyone who reads your work that you understand the topic and can frame and demonstrate your own thoughts on this.
- To demonstrate that you have read widely and deeply.
- To enable the reader to locate where you obtained each quote or idea.
- By providing the original source of the material or ideas, you are acknowledging the ideas and thoughts of the original author.
There are various types of referencing.