University libraries

Before writing

Always keep the precise reference of the documents you use in your research, to avoid having to return to them afterwards.

• by reading: note the source, the page,
• by attending a conference: note the speaker, the title of the conference, the date
• by watching a video: note the author, producer, web page address...

Make sure there are no gaps in the references (missing elements such as date, page).

• reread your notes and add to them regularly
• check "copy and paste

Take advantage of bibliographic management software like ZOTERO or Mendeley (free); BibTeX (for LaTeX - free); Endnote (paid),
Find a selection of tutorials on our Zotero workshop page
This software is very practical for all stages of the process

• retrieve references (books, articles, images, etc.)
• complete the precise information associated with an extract or idea
• associate note-taking with pdf,
• associate the pdf with its bibliographic reference
• insert references directly as footnotes or in author-date format, depending on the style chosen for your text
• insert a bibliography in the chosen style.

During the writing process

• Cite only documents for which you have complete and precise references (author, title, date, etc.).
• Start with the original source of the idea, not with subsequent authors.
• "Quote only documents you've had your eye on and used, not documents quoted by someone else. If you quote someone quoted by someone else, say so."(source)
• Present your references in the body of the text and your bibliography in a coherent and consistent manner.
• Don't quote the same source too often, as this may show a lack of research or openness.
• Don't overuse quotations or paraphrases, to the detriment of your analysis and personal work, even if... "When in doubt, it's always better to quote (better a useless quotation - and they rarely are - than a case of proven plagiarism)".

A few questions to ask yourself:


 

source: University of Angers, "Vous avez un doute" ("You have a doubt")