Referencing is a standardised method of acknowledging the sources of information and ideas that you have used in your assignments. All of the concepts, theories, opinions, direct quotations, facts and figures that you include in your work must all be referenced using a consistent style.
Why reference?
Referencing is necessary to avoid plagiarism, to verify quotations, and to enable readers to follow-up and read more fully the cited author's arguments. Referencing also demonstrates to your lecturer that you have read widely on a topic and considered a variety of arguments and sources of information.