Department of Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies

GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF

REPORTS AND ASSIGNMENTS IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT & ENERGY STUDIES

Compiled by the Geography, Environmental management and Energy Studies Department

Supported by all departmental staff

*Referencing guidelines prepared with assistance from the University of Johannesburg

Referencing Technique: Harvard Style

January 2016
 ii

Table of Contents
1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1

2. Technical Aspects .......................................................................................................... 1

2.1. General Technical Aspects ..................................................................................... 1

2.1.1. Font selection: ................................................................................................. 1

2.1.2. Headings and Sub-headings: ........................................................................... 1

2.1.3. Paragraph settings: .......................................................................................... 2

2.1.4. Page layout: ..................................................................................................... 2

2.1.5. Page breaks:.................................................................................................... 2

2.1.6. Page numbering: ............................................................................................. 3

2.1.7. Spelling and Language: ................................................................................... 3

2.2. Structure and Content of the Text ........................................................................... 3

2.1.1. Title Page and Plagiarism Declaration .................................................................. 3

2.1.2. Preliminary Pages ................................................................................................ 4

2.2.3. Main Body of Assignment and Writing Style ......................................................... 4

2.2.4. Figures and Tables .............................................................................................. 5

2.2.5. The Use of Numbers and Units of Measure .......................................................... 5

2.3. Final Rounding Off .................................................................................................. 6

3. Referencing ................................................................................................................... 7

3.1. The use of references ............................................................................................. 7

3.2. In-text referencing/Citations .................................................................................... 8

3.3. Reference list .......................................................................................................... 9

1. Introduction

Each student in this department is required to submit a number of written assignments (or
‘seminars’) per semester course at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. At undergraduate
level, these assignments count significantly towards your semester mark. One of the outcomes
for all your undergraduate modules is that: “You must specifically be able to convey your
knowledge in the form of a written assignment.” These Guidelines regulate the format of those
assignments. All assignments that you submit to the Department must comply with
these guidelines. If you do not follow these guidelines, you will may be penalised (i.e. marks
will be deducted). These Guidelines also apply to postgraduate assignments, research
reports, theses, etc.

2. Technical Aspects

The following section discusses technical aspects, i.e. How you assignment should look.

2.1. General Technical Aspects

2.1.1. Font selection:

 All typing must be in “Arial”. Use 11 pt or 12 pt for the main text of your document.
 Larger fonts and/or a combination of BOLD and italics may be used to differentiate
different levels of headings

2.1.2. Headings and Sub-headings:

 Heading position: Align headings against the left hand margin. Do not place headings
and sub-headings in the centre.
 Heading numbering: The Metric system should be used when numbering your different
sections and subsections, e.g. 1. INTRODUCTION; 1.1. Background; 1.1.1. Research
problem, etc. Avoid using A., B. C….. Do not number beyond the third or fourth level.
For these lower order sections use Roman numerals (i), (ii), (iii)…
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 Use a decreasing hierarchy of emphasis for the sequence of sections and subsections,
e.g.

1. Introduction

2. Data Gathering
2.1. Weather Data

2.1.1. Temperature

(i) Minimum

 HINT: Use the convenient Styles option under the ‘Home’ tab to automatically format
your headings. To do this you will need to modify each style (e.g. Heading 1, Heading
2, Normal, etc.) to your chosen heading and sub-heading emphasis hierarchy. To
modify the Styles, right click on the specific Style you wish to modify.
 Do not allow a heading of a section/subsection to occur as the very last line of a page,
and then start with the following text at the top of the following page. This can be
controlled by adding a page break between the previous section’s last paragraph and
the new heading/subheading.

2.1.3. Paragraph settings:

 Text should be justified - distributed between the page margins evenly. Justified text
gives your assignment a polished look.
 The main text should have 1.5 line spacing, with a space after each paragraph. This
can be set by assigning these properties under the ‘Home’ tab or by modifying the
paragraph style Normal.

2.1.4. Page layout:

 Design your page based on A4 size paper.

 Set the margins as 2.5 cm Left, Top and Bottom. Set the right margin at 2.5 cm, or 3
cm if you wish to leave extra space for a binding margin.

2.1.5. Page breaks:

 To jump to a new page, enter a page break. Avoid using the enter key as a space bar
to create a string of paragraph marks (back to front “P”), because as soon as you add
or delete a few words, you page spacing will jump around.
 Add a continuous section break between your preliminary pages and your main text.
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2.1.6. Page numbering:

 Page numbers for the main text are in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3 …), etc.).
 Preliminary pages (excluding the Title Page) are numbered in Roman figures [i, ii, iii…].
 To correctly add your preliminary page numbers (i, ii, iii) and your main text page
numbers (1, 2 ,3) you will have need to add a continuous page break between these
two sections.

2.1.7. Spelling and Language:

 When writing in English, use the British spelling, not the American spelling, e.g. use
metre and not meter; behaviour, not behaviour; labour, not labor, centre, not center.
 Computer ‘language selection’ on your word processor must be set accordingly in
MSWord to “English United Kingdom”.
 Always use correct, appropriate language. Consult a dictionary or thesaurus frequently
if you are not ‘good at languages’. Consider consulting a language expert to edit your
document if your command of English is not up to standard. Also try the spell and
language checks on your PC (remember to set it to “English United Kingdom”
beforehand!). It is frustrating for the reader (and the evaluator) to have to read a
document containing spelling errors and poor language usage.

2.2. Structure and Content of the Text

2.1.1. Title Page and Plagiarism Declaration

 The title must be written clearly in large letters at the top of the page, followed by:
o The name of the author (in smaller lettering)
o His/her student number
o Course name
o Date of submission
o Name of the lecturer or supervisor(s).
 Do not add photo’s /pictures /coloured edges etc. to this page.
 The title page is not numbered.
 The plagiarism declaration should come after the title page. The official departmental
plagiarism declaration can be found at the end of this document and on ULink.
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2.1.2. Preliminary Pages

 Preliminary pages refer to those pages that appear before the main body of your
assignment.
 Each assignment must have a “Table of Contents” (not to be entitled “Index”). The
Table of Contents (ToC) must contain main headings and subheadings as well as the
number of the page on which the relevant heading begins.
 Do not enter a dotted line from the heading to the page number – simply added an
automatic ToC.
o HINT: To add an automatic ToC, your headings and sub-headings should be
formatted using different Styles as selected on the Home tab in Word. The
option to add an automatic ToC can be found under the ‘Reference’ tab.
 The type and size of the font in the Table of Contents must be identical to the type and
size of the font used in the body of the assignment text (or the ‘Normal’ Style setting)
 You may include a “List of Figures” and/or “List of Tables”, including the page numbers,
after the Table of Contents. This is required only if the document has numerous figures
and tables, and is appropriate for dissertations and theses. This option can also be
found under the ‘Reference’ tab.

2.2.3. Main Body of Assignment and Writing Style

 You have read extensively on the topic, and have compiled notes on what each author
wrote – and now it is time to start with your own work. Everyone has their own, unique
writing style. We can only give you some general guidance on the conventions of
assignment writing.
 Generally within the Department of Geography, Environmental Management and
Energy Studies we have two different writing styles. The writing style is dependent on
the subject and topic.
o Within Physical Geography subjects, e.g. Pedology, Biogeography,
Geomorphology, Environmental Management, GIS, etc., one would employ a
scientific writing style using scientifically objective statements throughout
o Within Human Geography subjects, e.g. Urban Geography, Tourism
Geography, Population Geography, etc., one would employ a more journalistic
style of writing.
o The above guidelines are a generalisation. Please consult your lecturer if you
are unsure of the writing style required for your specific assignment.
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 Every assignment has an Introduction and a Conclusion. The Introduction

introduces the reader to the topic, and the Conclusion briefly summarises the most
important conclusions or results that were reached.
 Exclamation marks (!) and question marks (?) are very seldom used.
 Substantiate your factual information by using scientific references. The correct usage
of these is discussed under 3. Referencing Techniques.

2.2.4. Figures and Tables

 It serves no purpose to include figures/tables/diagrams in your document without

referring to them in your text.
 Figures and tables should be an integral part of the argument that the author is
developing i.e. the figures or tables should illustrate a point being made, or present
evidence to support a claim made in the text.
 Any photograph or diagram or map is also referred to as a figure.
 Every figure and table should be explicitly referred in the text, numbered consecutively
in the order of first reference.
 Use simple numbering 1, 2, 3 … except in a dissertation where you the numbering
may include the chapter number (e.g. Fig. or Table 2.1, 2.2…).
 Figures and tables should appear at the next convenient place after the first mention.
 Refer to figures as follows (Figure 5) or (Table 2). Avoid using phrases such as: “See
Figure 5.” or “Table 5 below.” If you have followed the convention, the intelligent reader
will know where to look for the illustration referred to.
 Every figure and table must have its own caption. E.g. ‘Figure 1: Rivers in South Africa.’
or ‘Table 1: Population of Gauteng.’ Please adhere to the punctuation shown – colon
after the number, full stop at the end.
o A table caption always appears above the table.
o A figure caption always appears below the figure.
 If the table or figure is your own work and from material you have collected, you should
acknowledge this by stating that the author is the source. The source is written in the
caption, e.g. Stream patterns in the Melville Koppies (Source: Author)
 If the figure or table is not your own work you need to provide the source in the caption.
E.g. Figure 1: Rivers in South Africa (Source: Harmse, 2015).
o Do not forgot to put this in-text source in your reference list.

2.2.5. The Use of Numbers and Units of Measure

 Always write out the numbers zero to ten, but not 11 to infinity, except when these start
a new sentence, e.g. ‘Between seven and nine babies are born per minute, while 315
 6

die every day.’ and ‘Forty-four people saw the...’ However, always use digits for figures
and tables (e.g. ‘Figure 21’ or ‘Table 12’).
 Standard International metric measurement units should be used throughout. Pay
attention to correct use of the SI system units e.g. 15 Ha of soil and not 15 ha; 500 mm
of rain and not 50 cm of rain; there are 6 orders of magnitude difference between 1
MG and 1 mg.
 Imperial measurements and weights (mass) must be converted to SI units, e.g. 1 inch
= 25,4 mm, 3.3 feet = 1 metre, 1 mile = 1,6 km, 1°C = 5/9 (°F - 32), where C = Celsius
and F = Fahrenheit, 2.2 pounds = 1 kg, 1 pound = 454 g. Write 0,5 and not 1/2, 0,33
and not 1/3, etc. Use the ISO ‘thousand million’ and not the American ‘billion’.
 Do not use the symbols of elements or molecules as part of your text, e.g. ‘Water is
scarce...’ is correct but ‘H2O is scarce...’ is incorrect. ‘Iron-rich soil...’ is correct, but
‘Fe-rich soil...’ is incorrect.
 All graph axes must be labelled with the appropriate quantity and units e.g. “Vehicle
speed (m/s)”.
 All tables must have units in the column headings as appropriate, or in the caption.

2.3. Final Rounding Off

This section deals with the final rounding-off of your assignment for evaluation:

The excellent and perfect typing and printing of an assignment on a good-quality word
processor and printer (preferably a Laser or Inkjet printer) is a prerequisite. It is a fact that
the lecturer who evaluates your assignment will be impressed with a neatly typed text, devoid
of typing errors. This could earn you additional marks (Remember: ‘First impressions are
lasting!’). If you do not have your own computer/printer, use one of the numerous computers
and printers made available for use by students at UJ and in our Department.

A document that is full of typographical errors can be extremely frustrating to mark, so a typed
document is no guarantee for good marks. Similarly, a good document of poor print quality
immediately creates a negative impression.

The contents as well as a typed document containing no errors count tremendously towards
the marks, which is why a typed document must be proofread and the errors corrected before
submission.

Always use paper that is at least 80 g/m2 thick (standard photocopy grade). Thinner paper will
result in difficulty reading the assignment as the printing on the next page will show through.
 7

Figures/diagrams/photographs/tables must be edited properly. High quality scanned or

digitally printed figures/tables/photographs/photocopies are acceptable. English titles may be
retained, but you must allocate your own serial figure or table number to the figure/table (e.g.
Figure 14.6 from a textbook may become your own Figure 3).

A scientist always remains impersonal when writing a scientific report, e.g. ‘This author has
found that...’, or ‘According to this researcher, the....’, or ‘The authors are of the opinion that...’
Although it often leads to an awkward style, the convention for scientific writing is still to avoid
use of the first person, thus do not write: ‘I think that...’, or ‘We are of the opinion that ...’, etc.

Remember: CONSISTANCY IS KEY!

You must remain consistent throughout the report in using terms referring to
figures/tables/diagrams, spacing between paragraphs, referencing, etc. For example, do not
write about ‘The nature of erosion’ on page 1, and ‘The characteristics of erosion’ on page 2;
do not write ‘Refer to figure 1’ on page 1, but ‘See Fig. 2’ on page 2. Consistency in using
terms/units/punctuation in a scientific report is very important because if you are inconsistent
in your writing, your research procedures may also be inconsistent, and your results will be
under suspicion.

3. Referencing

3.1. The use of references

Statements, ideas or facts drawn from the published works of other authors and incorporated
in your text must be acknowledged properly. This is called ‘referencing’.

Why do we have to reference?

 To let the reader know whose ideas you are using.

 To acknowledge someone else’s work.
 To enable your reader to check your information.

Generally, you should make use of recently published literature in your referencing, preferably
postdating the year 2005.

There are many referencing styles in use. The first requirement after selecting a certain style,
is that each document is consistent in the use of that referencing style, i.e. irrespective of
where you obtained your information, the reference has to be adjusted to conform to the style
 8

selected. In the Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies,

one method is preferred, the adjusted Harvard method, which is widely used in the
humanities and some sciences, particularly human geography.

Referencing is two-fold; it includes both in-text referencing and a reference list. Each
component is as important to the other

3.2. In-text referencing/Citations

In-text referencing or citations are short references within your text that correspond to the full
reference provided in your reference list.

Table 1: Rules for In-Text Referencing

Source Explanation Example(s)

In general, when accepted,

established facts are quoted form During later years the idea of the
One author another author’s work, only the parallel retreat of mountain slopes
author’s surname and the year of was developed (King, 1953).
publication are cited in text.

If two authors publish work together

Two authors Rocks move down slope (Marsh
both author’s surnames are
(published together) and Dozier, 2005)
provided in-text.

If three or more authors publish work

together, the Latin et al. is used.
Only the first author’s surname is Rainfall over the Kruger Park
Three or more authors provided. Et al. should always be in increased by 100 mm per year
(published together) italics. (Yarmouth et al., 2003)
“et al.” stands for the Latin “et alia”
which means “and others”.

If you give a direct quotation for

“The human population is
Direct quotes from another author(s)’s work, the page
increasing at an alarming rate”
source number is cited with the author’s
(Pounds, 2004, p.12).
surname and the year of publication.

If a particular author publish two or

Author with two or more works in the same year, the The earth is already
more sources letters “a”, “b” … are added after the overpopulated (Botha, 2006a), yet
published in the same year. These letters are also used in every year more and more babies
year the reference list to distinguish are born (Botha, 2006b).
between the two sources.
 9

Glaciers are powerful erosional

agents (Davies, 2005; Strahler,
2004).
If you refer to the works of more than
one author simultaneously, either
Referring to the works
their names can be arranged
of more than one OR
alphabetically, or the dates of their
author simultaneously
works chronologically. You must be
CONSISTENT throughout your text
Glaciers are powerful erosional
agents (Strahler, 2004; Davies,
2005).

During later year, King (1953)

developed his idea of the parallel
retreat of mountain slopes.
If you are referring to an author in-
Referring to an
text, only the year (and page number
author(s) in-text OR
if necessary) are provided.

King (1953, p.2) was of the

opinion that “XYZ”.

If you are referring to an

The Vaal Dam has high levels of
organisation, you need not write out
eutrophication (DEAT, 2009).
the whole organisation name for
Referring to an each citation, you can state the
organisation in-text abbreviated organisation name. The
(Ref List: DEAT (Department of
full name and the abbreviated name
Environmental Affairs and
must both appear in the reference
Tourism), 2009:…)
list.

3.3. Reference list

At the end of your report, place a list of all the sources that you consulted in preparing your
report. This is known as ‘Reference List’, ‘Source List’ or ‘Consulted Literature’. Avoid the term
‘Bibliography’ because a bibliography very often refers to a list of all possible sources that deal
with a particular subject, which you most probably do not have!

References must be listed alphabetically according to the surnames of the authors. The
surname of the first author should be given as the first word of a reference item, followed the
author’s initials. Do not use figures or symbols such as ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘A’, ‘B’, bullets, etc. that precede
the author’s surnames.

The following table illustrates examples of how to reference different sources using the
Harvard method of referencing. Please pay very close attention to the punctuation and
emphasis (italics or underlined) of specific parts of the reference.
Table 2: Reference List Rules

Source General Form Example(s)

Book with one Hattingh, P.F. 2001: Fluvial erosion: an analysis. New York: McGraw-
Author, A.A. Year: Title of work. Location: Publisher.
author Hill.

Author, A.A. and B.B. Author. Year: Title of work. Location:

Publisher.
Book with two or Cox, C.B. and P.D. Moore. 2010: Biogeography: an ecological and
more authors evolutionary approach. New York: Wiley.
Author, A.A., B.B. Author and C.C. Author. Year: Title of
work. Location: Publisher.

Author, A.A. (Ed.). Year: Title of work. Location: Publisher

Book with (an) Eccles, R.G., B. Cheng and D. Saltzman. (Eds.). 2010: The
editor(s) (edited Landscape of Integrated Reporting: Reflections and Next Steps.
Author, A.A. and B.B. Author. (Eds.) Year: Title of work.
book) Massachusetts: Harvard Business School.
Location: Publisher

Author, A.A. Year: Title of work. (Edition.). Location: King, L.C. 1953: South African Scenery. (2nd Edition.). Edinburgh:
Edition of a book
Publisher Oliver & Boyd.

Chapter in a book Author, A.A. Year: Chapter title. In Title of book. Location: Capra, F. 1983: The systems view of life. In The turning point: Science,
(not edited) Publisher, pages. society and rising culture. London: Fontana Press, 10-34.

Elkington, J. 2004: Enter the Triple Bottom Line. In Henriques, A. and

Chapter in an edited Author (chapter), A.A. Year: Chapter title. In Editor, A.A. and
J. Richardson (Eds.). The Triple Bottom Line: does it all add up.
book B.B. Editor. Title of book. Location: Publisher, pages.
London: EarthScan, 1-16.
 11

Book with an
institution,
Organisation Name. Year: Title of Work. Location: JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange). 2011: Background and
organisation or
Publisher. Selection Criteria. Johannesburg: JSE.
association as
author

E-book without a doi Goudie, A. 2013: Arid And Semi-Arid Geomorphology. Available from
Author, A.A. Year: Title of work. Available from:
(Digital Object
http://www.xxxxxx.
Identifier) http://0-eds.b.ebscohost.com.ujlink.uj.ac.za/eds.

Ruzzier, M.K. and M. Ruzzier. 2009: A two-dimensional approach to

E-book with a doi Author, A.A. Year: Title of work. doi: xxxxxxx. banding: Integrating identity and equality. doi: 10.1108/S2042-
1443(2009)0000001007.

Author, A.A. and B.B. Author. (Eds.) Year: Title of work.

Mackwell, S.J., A.A. Simon-Miller and J.W. Harder. (Eds.). 2014:
E-book with (an) Available from: http://www.xxxxxx.
Space Science: Comparative Climatology of Terrestrial Planets.
editor(s) (edited e-
Available from: http://0-
book) Author, A.A. and B.B. Author. (Eds.) Year: Title of work. Doi:
site.ebrary.com.ujlink.uj.ac.za/lib/ujlink/detail.action?docID=1083869.
xxxxxxx.

Author, A.A. Year: Title of chapter. In Title of e-book.

Available from: http://www.xxxxxx.
Goudie, A. 2013: In Arid And Semi-Arid Geomorphology. Available
Chapter in an e-book
from: http://0-eds.b.ebscohost.com.ujlink.uj.ac.za/eds.
Author, A.A. Year: Title of chapter. In Title of e-book.. Doi:
xxxxxxx.

Author, A.A. and B.B. Author. (Eds.) Year: Title of chapter.

Del Genio, D.A. 2014: Physical processes control the Earth’s climate.
In Editor, A.A. and B.B. Editor. Title of e-book. Available
In Mackwell, S.J., A.A. Simon-Miller and J.W. Harder. (Eds.). Space
Chapter in an edited from: http://www.xxxxxx.
Science: Comparative Climatology of Terrestrial Planets. Available
e-book
from: http://0-
Author, A.A. and B.B. Author. (Eds.) Year: Title of chapter.
site.ebrary.com.ujlink.uj.ac.za/lib/ujlink/detail.action?docID=1083869.
In Editor, A.A. and B.B. Editor. Title of e-book. Doi: xxxxxxx.
 12

Author, A.A., B.B. Author and C.C. Author. Year: Title of Clatworthy, M. and M.J. Jones. 2001: The effect of thematic structure
Journal article article. Title of the journal/periodical, volume (issue): page on the variability of annual report readability. Accounting, Auditing &
numbers. Accountability Journal, 14 (3), 311–326.

Broveli, M.A., M. Minghini and G. Zamboni. In press: Public

Journal article in Author, A.A., B.B. Author and C.C. Author. In press: Title of participation in GIS via mobile applications. Journal of
press article. Title of the journal/periodical, doi: xxxxx. Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing,
doi:10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2015.04.002.

Junior, R.M., P.J. Best & J. Cotter. 2013: Sustainability Reporting and
Author, A.A., B.B. Author and C.C. Author. Year: Title of
Journal article online Assurance: A Historical Analysis on a World-Wide Phenomenon.
article. Title of the journal/periodical, doi: xxxxx.
Journal of Business Ethics, doi: 10.10007/s10551-031-1637-y.

Clayton, A.F. 2014: Integrated Reporting vs Sustainability Reporting

Unpublished Author, AA. Year: Title of thesis. Unpublished qualification in South Africa: An analysis of the transition into a new era of corporate
Thesis/Dissertation thesis/dissertation. Location: Institution. reporting. Unpublished MSc dissertation. Johannesburg: University of
Johannesburg.

Internet
Author, A.A. Year. Title of internet page. Available from: Tindale, A.B. 2007: New Ideas on Slope Formation.
site/document with
http://xxxxxx. [Accessed on Day Month Year]. http://www.altavista.digital.com/slope. [Accessed 2 March 2008].
an author

UNEP (United Nations). 2007: Convention on Biological Diversity.

Internet
Organisation. Year. Title of internet page. Available from: Available from:
site/document from
http://xxxxxx. [Accessed on Day Month Year]. http://www.unep.org/urban_environment/pdfs/bckgrndcitiesbiodiv.pdf.
an organisation
[Accessed on 23 June 2015].

Author, A.A. Day Month Year. His/Her position and

Meyer, D. 22 June 2015. Dean of Science, University of
Communication institution. Type of communication, to name of person who
Johannesburg. Email to Clayton, A.F.
the commination was to.
 13

Department. Year: Title of document. Location: Publisher.

DEAT (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism). 2005:
Government
Environmental Reporting. Integrated Environmental Management
documents Department. Year: Title of document. Available from:
Series 17. Pretoria: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
http://xxxxxxx. [Accessed Day Month Year].

Country. Year: Name of legislation. Location: Publisher

Republic of South Africa. 1998: National Environmental Management
Legislation
Republic of South Africa. Year: Name of legislation. Pretoria: Act 107 of 1998. Pretoria: Government Printer.
Government Printer.

Rogerson, J. 2013: Changing hotel spaces in Johannesburg: South

Conference Author, A.A. Year: Title of paper presented. Name of Africa’s major city, 1990-2010. Life in a Changing Urban Landscape
proceedings Conference. Dates. Location: Organisation. Conference. 21-26 July 2013. Johannesburg: IGU Urban Geography
Commission.

Author. Year, Month, Day: Title of Article. Newspaper or Lamb, J. 1970, October, 20. The perfect plants for lazy gardeners.
Newspaper/Magazine
magazine title: page numbers. Western Australian: 5.
 PLAGIARISM DECLARATION

Department of Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies

Title: _____________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Full name: ________________________________________________________________

Student number: ___________________________________________________________

Course: __________________________________________________________________

Lecturer: _________________________________________________________________

Due date: _________________________________________________________________

1. I understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the University’s policy in this

regard.
2. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is to present someone else’s ideas as
my own. I know that I would plagiarise if I do not give credit to my sources, or if I
lift sentences or paragraphs from a book, article or internet source without proper
citation. Even if I only change the wording slightly, I still plagiarise when using
someone else’s words without proper citation. I have written my own sentences
and paragraphs throughout my essay and I have credited all ideas I have gained
from other people’s work.
3. Where material written by other people has been used (either from a printed source
or from the internet), this has been carefully acknowledged and referenced. I have
used the Harvard convention for citation and referencing. Every significant
contribution to and quotation in this essay from the work of other people has been
acknowledged through citation and reference.
4. I declare that this assignment is my own original work.
5. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of
passing it off as his or her own work.

… ………………………
Signature

……………………………

Date