By Dib, Daniela
Analysis of Reference List and its Sources
A reference list
provides the information necessary for a reader to locate and retrieve any
source that is cited in the body of the paper (APA, 2010). References (or
reference lists) are included at the end of any paper. Each source cited must
appear in the reference list, and each entry in the reference list must be
cited in the text. There exist many manuals setting forth rules to cite sources.
Several papers follow the American Psychological Association (APA) style. APA
guidelines are most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. However,
there exist other manuals regarding references, and many papers follow these
other manuals´ guidelines and conventions. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate
a reference list and its sources, and analyze the format, style and guidelines followed.
The reference list under
analysis appears to follow the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. MLA
style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal
arts and humanities. According to Delaney (2007), this system is followed when
authors work with manuscripts in various humanities disciplines such as English
Studies, Language and Literature, Foreign Language and Literatures, and
Literacy Criticism. With respect to the present reference list, the shared
characteristic is that the sources have been retrieved from the web; however,
there are some differences that deserve to be mentioned. The first work in the reference list ("Blueprint
Lays Out Clear Path for Climate Action.") refers to an article of a
journal online. In this case the title of the article is written in the first
place between inverted commas, followed by a full stop. Then, the name of the
web site and the date of publication are stated. Finally, the word Web and the
date of access are mentioned ("Blueprint
Lays Out Clear Path for Climate Action." Environmental
Defense Fund. Environmental Defense Fund, 8 May 2007. Web. 24 May 2009. Environmental
Defense Fund. Environmental Defense Fund, 8 May 2007. Web. 24 May 2009).
With respect to the second work (Clinton, Bill. Interview by Andrew C. Revkin. “Clinton
on Climate Change.” New York
Times. New York Times, May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.), it can be stated that it
refers to an interview. The first name is the name of the person interviewed,
in this case the person is Bill Clinton. Then, it is followed by the name of
the interviewer: the reporter Andrew C. Revkin. After that, the name of the topic
between inverted commas, the name of the newspaper in italics and the date of
the interview are stated. Finally, the word Web, followed by a full stop, and
the date of access are mentioned. The last work in the reference list (Dean,
Cornelia. "Executive on a Mission: Saving the Planet." New York Times. New York
Times, 22 May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.) refers
to an article from a newspaper online. The reference starts with the last name,
followed by a comma, and then the first name, followed by a full stop. The
article´s name is written between inverted commas. Then, the newspaper´s name
in italics and the date and year of publication are mentioned. After that, the
word Web, followed by a full stop, is included. Finally, the date of access to
the article is included. An example similar to the third reference is the
following: Mushnick, Phil. "Sterling Continues to Call it Wrong." New York Post N.p., 23 Apr. 2012. Web. 2
Jan. 2013.
All in all, reference
lists are to be included at the end of any paper because they are relevant for
readers to locate a source cited. APA
guidelines and conventions are commonly used to cite sources within the social
sciences. However, it is of utmost importance to consider that are many other
conventions that may be applicable. So, in order to be able to locate a source
successfully, it is essential to be familiar with such guidelines that may have
been applied.
References
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