harvard style powerpoint presentation

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• A-Z of Harvard references
• Citing authors with Harvard
• Page numbers and punctuation
• References with missing details
• Secondary referencing
• Example reference list
• Journal article
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• Online video
• Radio and internet radio
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• Chapter in a book (print)
• Collected works
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• Multivolume work
• Religious text
• Thesis or dissertation
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• Census data
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• Mathematical equation
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• Book illustration, Figure or Diagram
• Inscription on a building
• Installation
• Painting or Drawing
• Interview (on the internet)
• Interview (newspaper)
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• Act of the UK parliament (statute)
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• Birth/Death/Marriage certificate
• British standards
• Command paper
• European Union publication
• Government/Official publication
• House of Commons/Lords paper
• Legislation from UK devolved assemblies
• Statutory instrument
• Military record
• Film/Television script
• Musical score
• Play (live performance)
• Play script
• Song lyrics
• Conference paper
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• Discussion paper
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• Personal communication
• Published report
• Student's own work
• Tutor materials for academic course
• Unpublished report
• Working paper
• Referencing glossary

To be made up of:

• Author or tutor.
• Year of publication (in round brackets).
• Title of presentation (in single quotation marks).
• [PowerPoint presentation]
• Module code: module title (in italics).
• Available at: URL of VLE.
• (Accessed: date).

In-text citation:

(Whittingham, 2014)

Reference list:

Whittingham, D. (2014). 'History of warfare' [PowerPoint presentation].  L252: War studies.  Available at:  http://intranet.bham.ac.uk  (Accessed: 7 June 2014).

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Harvard Referencing Guide: PowerPoint Presentations

• Introduction to the Guide
• The Harvard Referencing Method
• Cite Them Right Style
• Referencing Example
• Cite-Them-Right Text Book
• Online Tutorials
• Reference List / Bibliography
• Introduction
• Short Quotations
• Long Quotations
• Single Author
• Two Authors
• Three Authors
• Four or More Authors
• 2nd Edition
• Chapter in an Edited Book
• Journal Article - Online
• Journal Article - Printed
• Newspaper Article - Online
• Newspaper Article - Printed
• Webpage - Introduction
• Webpage - Individual Authors
• Webpage - Corporate Authors
• Webpage - No Author - No Date
• Film / Movie
• TV Programme
• PowerPoint Presentations
• YouTube Video
• Images - Introduction
• Images - Figure from a book
• Images - Online Figure
• Images - Online Table
• Twitter Tweet
• Personal Communication
• Email message in a Public Domain
• Course notes on the VLE
• Computer Games
• Computer Program
• General Referencing Guide >>>
• APA Referencing Guide >>>
• IEEE Referencing Guide >>>
• Research Guide >>>
• PowerPoint Presentation

Audiovisual Media - Powerpoint Presentation

PowerPoint Pr esentation

E xample -  Presentation available online and accessible by anyone

The full reference should generally include

• Year (in round brackets)
• Title of the presentation (in italics)
• [PowerPoint presentation] in square brackets
• Available at: URL
• (Accessed: date)

In-text citation

Full reference for the Reference List

Example: PowerPoint presentation from a learning management system such as the VLE

• Author or tutor
• Year of publication (in round brackets)
• Title of the presentation (in single quotation marks)
• Module code: module title (in italics)
• Available at: URL of the VLE

Example : Full reference for the Reference List

Audiovisual Material

Film / movie

TV programme

PowerPoint presentation

YouTube video

Harvard Referencing Guide: A - Z

• APA Referencing Guide >>>
• Bibliography
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• Books / eBooks - 3 Authors
• Books / eBooks - Individual Chapter
• Books / eBooks - Introduction
• Books / eBooks - More than 3 Authors
• Books / eBooks - Single Author
• Chapter in an edited book
• Cite Them Right - Style
• Cite Them Right - Text book
• Conversation - Personal
• Direct Quotations - Introduction
• Direct Quotations - Long
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• Emails - In a Public Domain
• Emails - Personal
• Fax message
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Harvard Style Guide: Lectures/ presentations

• Introduction
• Harvard Tutorial
• In-text citations
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• Music/ audio
• Encyclopaedia and dictionaries
• Email communication
• Conferences
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• Book reviews
• Case studies
• Group or individual assignments
• Legal Cases (Law Reports)
• No date of publication
• Personal communications
• Repository item
• Citing same author, multiple works, same year

Back to Academic Integrity guide

Lectures or presentations

Reference : Author(s) Last name, Initial(s). (Year) 'Title of lecture/presentation' [Medium], Module Code: Module title . Institution. Day Month.

Example : De Burca, M. (2014) ' Geriatric radiography services in Ireland' [Lecture], RDGY30300: Clinical Practice of Radiography . University College Dublin. 11 May.

In-Text-Citation :

• Author(s) Last name (Year)
• (Authors(s) Last name, Year)
• De Burca (2014) described the complicated system of radiographic services...
• There is a complicated system of geriatric radiographic services in Ireland (De Burca, 2014).

Still unsure what in-text citation and referencing mean? Check here .

Still unsure why you need to reference all this information? Check here . 

Lectures or presentations (Online/Recorded)

Reference : Author(s) Last name, Initial(s). (Year) 'Title of lecture/presentation' [Medium], Module Code: Module title . Institution/Venue. Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Example : Dunphy, S. (2021) ‘History of Irish women in law’ [Recorded lecture], HIS2300: Modern Ireland . University College Dublin. 7 January. Available at: https://brightspace.ucd.ie/his2300/ (Accessed: 7 March 2021).

• Dunphy (2021) outlines the impact of the absence of female law makers...
• The absence of Irish female law makers has led to a system with a blindness to key aspects of daily life (Dunphy, 2021).

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How to Reference in a PowerPoint Presentation Harvard

PowerPoint presentations are a popular tool for presenting information and data in a visually engaging way. However, with the vast amount of information that can be included in a presentation, it is important to ensure that all sources are properly cited. This is where the Harvard referencing system comes in. In this article, we will discuss the importance of Harvard referencing in PowerPoint presentations and provide a comprehensive guide on how to use it effectively.

Table of Contents

Why Harvard referencing is important in PowerPoint presentations

Harvard referencing is important in PowerPoint presentations because it helps to establish credibility and authenticity. When sources are properly cited, it shows that the presenter has conducted thorough research and has used credible sources to support their arguments. Additionally, Harvard referencing helps to prevent plagiarism by giving credit to the original authors of the information used in the presentation.

Furthermore, Harvard referencing also allows the audience to easily locate and access the sources used in the presentation. This is particularly important in academic or professional settings where the audience may want to further explore the topic or verify the information presented. By providing clear and accurate citations, the presenter is facilitating the audience’s ability to engage with the material beyond the presentation itself.

Understanding the Harvard referencing system

The Harvard referencing system is a widely used referencing system that uses brackets in the text to cite sources, and a reference list at the end of the presentation to provide more detail about each cited source. The reference list should be organized alphabetically by the author’s last name, or by the title if there is no author. Each reference should include the author’s name, publication date, title of the work, place and publisher of publication for books, and the URL for online sources.

It is important to note that the Harvard referencing system is not the only referencing system available. Other commonly used referencing systems include APA, MLA, and Chicago. It is important to check with your instructor or supervisor to determine which referencing system is preferred for your specific project or assignment. Additionally, there are many online tools and resources available to help with the formatting and organization of references in the Harvard referencing system, such as citation generators and reference management software.

How to format in-text citations in Harvard style

In-text citations in Harvard style should be placed in brackets immediately after the information being cited. The citation should include the author’s last name and the year of publication. If the author’s name is mentioned in the sentence, only the publication year needs to be included in the citation.

For example:

“According to Smith (2020), the use of PowerPoint presentations has increased in recent years.”

“The use of PowerPoint presentations has increased in recent years (Smith, 2020).”

It is important to note that in Harvard style, if you are citing a source with multiple authors, you should include all of their last names in the citation, up to three authors. If there are more than three authors, you can use “et al.” after the first author’s name. For example:

“Several studies have shown the benefits of regular exercise (Jones, Smith, & Lee, 2018)”

“The benefits of regular exercise have been well documented (Jones et al., 2018).”

How to create a bibliography in Harvard style for PowerPoint presentations

The bibliography in Harvard style should be included at the end of the presentation and should list all sources used in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.

The format for a book reference is as follows:

Last name, First initial. (Year published). Title of book. Publisher.

The format for an online source is as follows:

Last name, First initial. (Year published). Title of article. Website name. URL.

It is important to note that when citing sources in Harvard style, you should also include the page numbers for any direct quotes used. Additionally, if you are citing a source that has multiple authors, you should list all of their names in the order they appear on the source. If there are more than three authors, you can list the first author followed by “et al.” Finally, make sure to double-check your bibliography for accuracy and completeness before submitting your presentation.

Tips for citing sources in PowerPoint presentations using Harvard style

When citing sources in PowerPoint presentations, it is important to be consistent and use the same citation style throughout the presentation. Additionally, it is important to include all necessary information in the reference list to make it easier for readers to locate the sources.

One important aspect of citing sources in PowerPoint presentations using Harvard style is to include in-text citations for any information or ideas that are not your own. This helps to give credit to the original author and avoid plagiarism. In-text citations should include the author’s last name and the year of publication, and should be placed within parentheses at the end of the sentence or phrase where the information is used.

Common mistakes to avoid when referencing in a PowerPoint presentation

Common mistakes when referencing in PowerPoint presentations include forgetting to include in-text citations, using incorrect formatting for references, and failing to include all necessary information in the reference list.

Another common mistake is not properly paraphrasing information from sources. It is important to put information into your own words and give credit to the original source. Simply copying and pasting information without proper citation is considered plagiarism and can have serious consequences.

Additionally, it is important to make sure that all sources used in the presentation are reliable and credible. Using sources that are not reputable can damage the credibility of the presentation and the presenter. It is important to do thorough research and use sources that are trustworthy and relevant to the topic being presented.

How to use Microsoft Office tools to create Harvard references in PowerPoint presentations

Microsoft Office tools such as Word and PowerPoint have built-in tools for creating references in Harvard style. To use these tools, select the “References” tab in PowerPoint and select the Harvard referencing style. You can then enter the necessary information for each source and let the software format the reference list for you.

It is important to note that while the software can format the reference list for you, it is still your responsibility to ensure that the references are accurate and complete. Make sure to double-check the information you enter and verify that it matches the source material. Additionally, if you are using sources that are not included in the software’s database, you will need to manually enter the reference information.

Examples of properly formatted Harvard references in PowerPoint presentations

Some examples of properly formatted Harvard references in PowerPoint presentations include:

Smith, J. (2020). The use of PowerPoint presentations. PublishingCo.

Online source:

Williams, S. (2019). The benefits of PowerPoint presentations. BlogName. https://www.blog.com/powerpoint-benefits/

Another example of a properly formatted Harvard reference in a PowerPoint presentation is:

Journal article:

Johnson, R. & Lee, K. (2018). The effectiveness of PowerPoint presentations in the classroom. Journal of Education, 45(2), 67-78. doi: 10.1080/00220671.2018.1434345

This reference includes the author’s names, the year of publication, the title of the article, the name of the journal, the volume and issue number, and the page numbers. It also includes a digital object identifier (DOI) which is a unique identifier for the article.

Best practices for creating a professional and accurate reference list in PowerPoint presentations

Some best practices for creating a professional and accurate reference list in PowerPoint presentations include being consistent with the citation style, including all necessary information for each source, and double-checking all references for accuracy and proper formatting.

Another important aspect to consider when creating a reference list in PowerPoint presentations is to ensure that the sources cited are relevant and credible. It is important to use sources that are reputable and reliable, such as peer-reviewed articles, academic journals, and books from reputable publishers.

Additionally, it is important to properly format the reference list according to the citation style being used. This includes proper indentation, punctuation, and capitalization. It is also important to ensure that the reference list is presented in a clear and organized manner, making it easy for the audience to read and understand.

How to handle referencing different types of sources, such as books, journals, and websites, in a PowerPoint presentation

Referencing different types of sources may require slightly different formatting in Harvard style. For example, book references include the place and publisher of publication, while online sources include the URL. It is important to refer to a comprehensive style guide for Harvard referencing to ensure proper formatting for each type of source.

In addition to proper formatting, it is also important to accurately cite your sources in your PowerPoint presentation. This means including in-text citations on each slide where you use information from a source, as well as a complete reference list at the end of your presentation. Failure to properly cite sources can result in accusations of plagiarism and damage to your academic or professional reputation.

Importance of citing sources correctly to avoid plagiarism

Citing sources correctly is important to avoid plagiarism, which is the act of presenting someone else’s work as your own. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense and can lead to severe consequences. Proper citation gives credit to the original authors and helps to maintain academic integrity.

In addition to avoiding plagiarism and maintaining academic integrity, proper citation also allows readers to locate and verify the sources used in your work. This helps to establish the credibility and reliability of your research. Furthermore, citing sources correctly demonstrates your understanding and appreciation of the contributions made by other scholars in your field.

How to edit and update references in a PowerPoint presentation

To edit or update references in a PowerPoint presentation, open the reference list and make the necessary changes to the information. It is important to ensure that all references are consistent with the established citation style and that all necessary information is included.

Ways to integrate your references seamlessly into your PowerPoint presentation design

To integrate references seamlessly into a PowerPoint presentation, consider using footnotes instead of in-text citations, or displaying the references in a separate slide. It is also important to use a legible font size and format the reference list using clear headings and bullet points.

Creating an annotated bibliography using the Harvard referencing system for your PowerPoint presentation

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources with brief summaries or evaluations of each source. To create an annotated bibliography using Harvard referencing, include the same information as a standard reference, followed by a brief summary of the source. The annotation should be a maximum of 150 words.

Harvard referencing is an important aspect of PowerPoint presentations that helps to establish credibility, prevent plagiarism, and maintain academic integrity. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can effectively use Harvard referencing in your own presentations and ensure that all sources are properly cited.

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• How it works

How to Cite a PowerPoint in Harvard Style?

Published by Alaxendra Bets at August 30th, 2021 , Revised On August 23, 2023

A PowerPoint is a .ppt extension file that is mostly used to prepare lecture presentations. Both teachers and students use it. Citing a PowerPoint is different from citing an online book or a PDF file in Harvard referencing.

Some institutions require students to cite and reference their (the students’) lecturers’ presentations. But some don’t. It should be checked with one’s institution first whether citing and referencing a PowerPoint presentation is even required or not.

In-Text Citation and Reference Formats with Examples

Citing and referencing unpublished powerpoint files.

If a student’s own lecturer course notes or PowerPoint slides are being sources in a text, they will most probably not be published or accessible online for readers. Format for citing and referencing such PowerPoint material in Harvard style is:

In-text citation: (Author Surname Year) OR (Author Surname Year: powerpoint presentation)

Reference list entry: Author’s Surname, Initial(s). Year. ‘Title.’ [PowerPoint presentation] Date. Institution name, Place of institution.

Note: Since the title of the PowerPoint file is written in single quotes within the reference list entry, it is NOT italicised.

For example:

In-text citation: Dlamini (2006) … OR

…. (Dlamin, 2006) OR

“…..” (Dlamini, 2006: PowerPoint presentation)

Reference list entry: Dlamini, N. 2006. ‘E-commerce trends in retail in South Africa.’ [PowerPoint Presentation] 4 November. Business Solutions Inc., Midrand.

Citing and referencing Published PowerPoint Files

The general Harvard format for citing and referencing PowerPoint slides that are accessible online is:

In-text citation:

Reference list entry: Author’s Surname, Initial(s). Year. ‘Title.’ [PowerPoint presentation] Date. Institution name, Place of the institution.

Author’s Surname, Initial(s). Year. Title in italics, [PowerPoint presentation] Date. Institution Name. Place of Institution. Date Accessed.

Note: Harvard contains the above two, slightly different reference list formats for PowerPoint files. Whichever needs are used depends on one’s host institution referencing guidelines and which format it has specified.

It should also be noted here that while referencing published PowerPoint files in Harvard style, the title of the file since it is not in single quotes, will be italicised.

In-text citation: (Bloggs 2016: powerpoint presentation) OR Bloggs (2016)

Reference list entry: Bloggs, J. (2016) Research Skills [PowerPoint presentation to BBS Year 4] WD096: Communication skills , Waterford Institute of Technology. 3 May.

Lastly, the phrase ‘PowerPoint Presentation’ is only mentioned when the entire in-text citation is within (). Otherwise, in the case of narrative in-text citations (for example, Bloggs (2016 mentions…), the phrase is left out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

To cite a PowerPoint in Harvard Style: Include the presenter’s last name, initials. (Year). Title of presentation [PowerPoint presentation]. Name of course or event, Institution. URL (if accessed online).

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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Harvard Referencing Style: Powerpoint Presentations

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Referencing a PowerPoint Presentation

IN-TEXT CITATION

Dlamini (2006) ...

.... (Dlamin, 2006)

"....." (Dlamini, 2006: PowerPoint presentation)

FORMAT OF A REFERENCE TO A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

Author’s surname, Initials. Year. ‘Title.’ [PowerPoint presentation] Date.  Institution, place.

Please note that in this case, the title is not italicised.

EXAMPLE OF A REFERENCE TO A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

Dlamini, N. 2006. ‘E-commerce trends in retail in South Africa.’ [PowerPoint Presentation] 4 November.  Business Solutions Inc., Midrand.

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strategies, techniques, and tools for strong slide design, and maximum presentation quality.

Prior to delivering a talk, it is important to prepare and set yourself up for success with a strong slide deck. Depending on the nature of your presentation, the type of speaking engagement, your institution, and other factors and considerations, there are different kinds of approaches and priorities when it comes to slide design. This section includes some tips that will assist you with designing your slides to prepare for your presentation.

Slides drive home the main ideas of your research and play an important role to deliver a strong presentation. After reviewing the Fundamentals of Slide Design , use these resources to create and assess your slides to ensure that you have considered and included important components that make for an effective presentation.

Qualities of Strong Slide Design

Use this self-assessment checklist to design and review your slides. Check all boxes that incorporate key qualities of strong slide design. In addition to focusing on the style, typography, and layout, consider thinking about your use of visuals and color along with other elements to enhance the design of your slides.

Checklist for

Assertion-evidence slides.

The assertion-evidence slide structure is one effective technique to designing effective slides. In conjunction with the webinar on “Better Than Bullets: Transforming Slide Design” by Melissa Marshall, this checklist was developed as a resource for assertion-evidence slides but can be applied more generally to other types of slide designs. Consider the style, typography, and layout of your slides and what it might look like to incorporate these elements with an assertion-evidence slide structure in mind.

Research Presentation Rubric

The format of research presentations can vary across and within disciplines. Use this rubric to identify and assess elements of research presentations, including delivery strategies and slide design. This resource focuses on research presentations but may be useful beyond. 

Templates and Examples for

Check out tips, templates, layout suggestions, and other examples of assertion-evidence slides on  Rethinking Presentations in Science and Engineering by Michael Alley, MS, MFA, from Pennsylvania State University. Download the Assertion Evidence Presention template for Microsoft PowerPoint.

Additional Resources

Create and deliver standout technical presentations, present your science.

Melissa Marshall’s website explores how speakers can transform the way they present their research.

"The Craft of Scientific Presentations: Critical Steps to Succeed and Critical Errors to Avoid" book by Michael Alley

By distinguishing what makes a presenter successful, this book aims to improve your presentation skills.

Want to learn more about how to strengthen your presentation skills?

Visit the delivery authentically page for more information.

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Harvard Reference Style

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Powerpoint slides: Reference format

A basic reference list entry for Powerpoint slides:

• Author or authors; the surname is followed by initials
• Year of compilation of Powerpoint slides 
• Title of presentation (in italics)
• [Lecturer notes or Powerpoint slides]
• Available: URL [Date of access]

Kunka, J.L. 2018.  Conquering the comma  [PowerPoint slides]. Available:  http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops//pp/index.html#presentations  [15 March 2018].

PowerPoint slides: Examples

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CEMS Harvard Referencing Style: Powerpoint Presentations

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PowerPoint Presentations

Author’s surname, initials. Year. Title [PowerPoint presentation], day month. Institution, place.

Dlamini, N. 2021. E-commerce trends in retail in South Africa [PowerPoint presentation], 4 November. Business Solutions, Midrand.

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Cite A Presentation or lecture in Harvard style

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• E-book or PDF
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Use the following template or our Harvard Referencing Generator . For help with other source types, like books, PDFs, or websites, check out our other guides. To have your reference list or bibliography automatically made for you, try our free citation generator .

Reference list

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

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• How to cite a Conference proceedings in Harvard style
• How to cite a Court case in Harvard style
• How to cite a Dictionary entry in Harvard style
• How to cite a Dissertation in Harvard style
• How to cite a E-book or PDF in Harvard style
• How to cite a Edited book in Harvard style
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• How to cite a Music or recording in Harvard style
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On this page you will find many of the tips and common advice that we cover within our Practical Presentation Skills Workshop.

If you are hoping to attend a workshop in the future, please check the schedule of upcoming classes, and reserve your spot. Space does fill up each week, so please register early!

Creating slides to accompany your presentation can be a great way to provide complimentary visual representation of your topic. Slides are used to fill in the gaps while you tell the story.

Start your presentation with a brief introduction- who you are and what you are going to talk about. 

Think about your presentation as a story with an organized beginning (why this topic), middle (how you did the research) and end (your summary findings and how it may be applicable or inform future research). You can provide a brief outline in the introduction so the audience may follow along. 

Keep it simple with a few key concepts, examples and ideas.

Make sure your audience knows the key takeaway points you wish to get across.

A good way to practice this is to try and condense your presentation into an elevator pitch- what do you want the audience to walk away know? 

Show your enthusiasm!

If you don’t think it is interesting- why should your audience?

Some Good Alternatives to PowerPoint:

• Google Slides
• Keynote (Mac)  
• Prezi  
• Zoho Show  
• PowToon  
• CustomShow  
• Slidebean  
• Haiku Deck  
• Visme  
• Emaze  
• and more…  

Your body language speaks volumes to how confident you are on the topic, how you are feeling up on stage and how receptive you are to your audience. Confident body language, such as smiling, maintaining eye contact, and persuasive gesturing all serve to engage your audience.

• Make eye contact with those in the audience that are paying attention and ignore the rest!
• Speak slower than what you would normally, take a moment to smile at your audience, and project your voice. Don’t rush, what you have to say is important!
• Don’t’ forget to breathe. Deep breaths and positive visualization can helps slow that pounding heart.
• Work on making pauses where you can catch your breath, take a sip of water, stand up straight, and continue at your practiced pace.
• Sweaty palms and pre-presentation jitters are no fun. Harness that nervous energy and turn it into enthusiasm! Exercising earlier in the day can help release endorphins and help relieve anxiety.
• Feeling shaky? Practicing confident body language is one way to boost your pre-presentation jitters. When your body is physically demonstrating confidence, your mind will follow suit. Standing or walking a bit will help you calm those butterflies before you go on stage.
• Don’t be afraid to move around and use the physical space you have available but keep your voice projected towards your audience.
• Practice, practice, practice! Get to the next Practical Presentation Skills workshop in Countway Library http://bit.ly/countwaypresent and practice your talk in front of a supportive and friendly group!

• Excessive bullet points
• Reading your slides instead of telling your story
• Avoid excessive transitions and gimmick
• Numerous charts (especially all on the same slide)
• Lack of enthusiasm and engagement from you
• Too much information and data dump
• Clutter and busy design
• Lack of design consistency 

Now you are on stage!

When delivering the talk, watch out for these bad habits:

•  Avoiding eye-contact
• Slouching or bad posture
• Crossed arms
• Non-purposeful movement
• Not projecting your voice
• Speaking away from the microphone
• Speaking with your back to the audience (often happens when reading slides)
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• Referencing

A Quick Guide to Harvard Referencing | Citation Examples

Published on 14 February 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 15 September 2023.

Referencing is an important part of academic writing. It tells your readers what sources you’ve used and how to find them.

Harvard is the most common referencing style used in UK universities. In Harvard style, the author and year are cited in-text, and full details of the source are given in a reference list .

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Table of contents

Harvard in-text citation, creating a harvard reference list, harvard referencing examples, referencing sources with no author or date, frequently asked questions about harvard referencing.

A Harvard in-text citation appears in brackets beside any quotation or paraphrase of a source. It gives the last name of the author(s) and the year of publication, as well as a page number or range locating the passage referenced, if applicable:

Note that ‘p.’ is used for a single page, ‘pp.’ for multiple pages (e.g. ‘pp. 1–5’).

An in-text citation usually appears immediately after the quotation or paraphrase in question. It may also appear at the end of the relevant sentence, as long as it’s clear what it refers to.

When your sentence already mentions the name of the author, it should not be repeated in the citation:

Sources with multiple authors

When you cite a source with up to three authors, cite all authors’ names. For four or more authors, list only the first name, followed by ‘ et al. ’:

Sources with no page numbers

Some sources, such as websites , often don’t have page numbers. If the source is a short text, you can simply leave out the page number. With longer sources, you can use an alternate locator such as a subheading or paragraph number if you need to specify where to find the quote:

Multiple citations at the same point

When you need multiple citations to appear at the same point in your text – for example, when you refer to several sources with one phrase – you can present them in the same set of brackets, separated by semicolons. List them in order of publication date:

Multiple sources with the same author and date

If you cite multiple sources by the same author which were published in the same year, it’s important to distinguish between them in your citations. To do this, insert an ‘a’ after the year in the first one you reference, a ‘b’ in the second, and so on:

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A bibliography or reference list appears at the end of your text. It lists all your sources in alphabetical order by the author’s last name, giving complete information so that the reader can look them up if necessary.

The reference entry starts with the author’s last name followed by initial(s). Only the first word of the title is capitalised (as well as any proper nouns).

Sources with multiple authors in the reference list

As with in-text citations, up to three authors should be listed; when there are four or more, list only the first author followed by ‘ et al. ’:

Reference list entries vary according to source type, since different information is relevant for different sources. Formats and examples for the most commonly used source types are given below.

• Entire book
• Book chapter
• Translated book
• Edition of a book

Journal articles

• Print journal
• Online-only journal with DOI
• Online-only journal with no DOI
• General web page
• Online article or blog
• Social media post

Sometimes you won’t have all the information you need for a reference. This section covers what to do when a source lacks a publication date or named author.

No publication date

When a source doesn’t have a clear publication date – for example, a constantly updated reference source like Wikipedia or an obscure historical document which can’t be accurately dated – you can replace it with the words ‘no date’:

Note that when you do this with an online source, you should still include an access date, as in the example.

When a source lacks a clearly identified author, there’s often an appropriate corporate source – the organisation responsible for the source – whom you can credit as author instead, as in the Google and Wikipedia examples above.

When that’s not the case, you can just replace it with the title of the source in both the in-text citation and the reference list:

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Harvard referencing uses an author–date system. Sources are cited by the author’s last name and the publication year in brackets. Each Harvard in-text citation corresponds to an entry in the alphabetised reference list at the end of the paper.

Vancouver referencing uses a numerical system. Sources are cited by a number in parentheses or superscript. Each number corresponds to a full reference at the end of the paper.

A Harvard in-text citation should appear in brackets every time you quote, paraphrase, or refer to information from a source.

The citation can appear immediately after the quotation or paraphrase, or at the end of the sentence. If you’re quoting, place the citation outside of the quotation marks but before any other punctuation like a comma or full stop.

In Harvard referencing, up to three author names are included in an in-text citation or reference list entry. When there are four or more authors, include only the first, followed by ‘ et al. ’

Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference in meaning:

• A reference list only includes sources cited in the text – every entry corresponds to an in-text citation .
• A bibliography also includes other sources which were consulted during the research but not cited.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, September 15). A Quick Guide to Harvard Referencing | Citation Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 14 May 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/referencing/harvard-style/

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Harvard Referencing - SETU Libraries Waterford Guide: PowerPoint presentations/seminars

• SETU Waterford Libraries Harvard Referencing Basics
• Paraphrasing and Direct Quotations
• Elements in References
• Journal Articles
• Art: Paintings/drawings
• Building Regulations
• Company Annual Reports
• Company Profiles
• Conference Papers
• Dictionaries
• Discussion boards (Course)
• European union (EU) legal sources
• Exhibition catalogues
• Lecture notes (including tutorial handouts, moodle etc.)
• Legislation - Statutory Instruments
• Newspaper Articles
• Personal Communications (conversations, letters, e-mails, other online services etc)
• Photographs taken from websites or social media.
• Photographs you have taken yourself
• PowerPoint presentations/seminars
• Reference Books (Encyclopaedias, bibliographies, dictionaries)
• RTE News Online Items
• X ( formerly Twitter)
• YouTube or TED Talk
• Book, article or web page that has referenced something else (secondary referencing)
• Citing several authorities to support the same point
• Finding the date of a web page
• Author's Initials
• Referencing work by the same author from different years
• Online Library Tutorials

PowerPoint presentations/ seminars

Bloggs, J.(2016) Research Skills [PowerPoint presentation to BBS Year 4] WD096: Communication skills, Waterford Institute of Technology. 3 May.

NOTE: If the powerpoint presentation is prepared by your Lecturer as part of your course.   PIease check with your Lecturer as to whether or not they require you to reference course materials in your assignments .

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• Leeds Harvard referencing examples

Conference presentation

Leeds harvard: conference presentation, reference examples.

Family name, INITIAL(S) (of the presenter). Year. Title of the presentation . Title of conference, date of conference, location of conference.

Newton, A.J. and Pullinger, D.J. 2012. Acting on PhD student feedback to create new learning resources. Librarians' Information Literacy Annual Conference, 11 April, Glasgow.

Slides from a conference presentation

Family name, INITIAL(S) (of the presenter). Year. Title of the presentation [PowerPoint presentation]. Title of conference, date of conference, location of conference.

Newton, A.J. and Pullinger, D.J. 2012. Acting on PhD student feedback to create new learning resources [PowerPoint presentation] . Librarians' Information Literacy Annual Conference, 11 April, Glasgow.

Citation examples

Author and date.

When the author name is not mentioned in the text, the citation consists of the author’s name and the year of publication in brackets.

It was emphasised that citations in the text should be consistent (Jones, 2017).

If you have already named the author in the text, only the publication year needs to be mentioned in brackets.

Jones (2017) emphasised that citations in the text should be consistent.

Three or more authors

If a source has three or more authors, the name of the first author should be given, followed by the phrase "et al."

It was emphasised that citations in a text should be consistent (Jones et al., 2017).

Jones et al. (2017) emphasised that citations in a text should be consistent.

Leeds Harvard does not use ibid to refer to previously cited items. If you are citing the same item twice in a row (i.e. you do not cite any other items in the text between the two citations) you must write the full citation again. As usual, if you are directly quoting or paraphrasing specific ideas, you should include a page number (if there is one). 

Jones et al. (2017, p.24) emphasised that citations in a text should be consistent and argued that referencing is a key part of academic integrity (2017, p.27). Furthermore, having a broad range of references in a text is an indicator of the breadth of a scholar's reading and research (Jones et al., 2017, p.14).

Common issues

When you're referencing with Leeds Harvard you may come across issues with missing details, multiple authors, edited books, references to another author's work or online items, to name a few. Here are some tips on how to deal with some common issues when using Leeds Harvard.

Skip straight to the issue that affects you:

• Online items
• URL web addresses
• Multiple authors
• Corporate author(s) or organisation(s)
• Multiple publisher details
• Editions and reprints
• Missing details
• Multiple sources with different authors
• Sources written by the same author in the same year
• Sources with the same author in different years
• Two authors with the same surname in the same year
• The work of one author referred to by another
• Anonymising sources for confidentiality
• Identifying the authors’ family name (surname)

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Answered By: John Salinas Last Updated: May 13, 2020     Views: 3632

The Harvard System requires two elements: in-text citations throughout your assignment and a list of references at the end.

1. I n-text citations

Include three pieces of information about a source within the text of your work:

• the name of the author or authors
• the year of publication
• the page number (when the information/idea can be located on a particular page or when directly
• quoted).                                                                                                                                           

2. References

At the end of your text, you must include a list of references, that is, a list of all the sources of information you have used to research your assignment.

• Each list item requires specific information. See Citing different sources with Harvard Referencing and How to cite references with Harvard Referencing .
• List each item in alphabetical order, by author surname.
• Titles should be in italics.
• Each item should have a hanging indent.

Power Point

Add text to a text box

To add text to a text box that anyone can edit, in Normal view, click inside the text box, and then type or paste the text.

To add text to a text box that is contain permanent and un-editable, in Slide Master view, click inside the text box, and then type or paste the text.

Use text boxes to place text anywhere on a slide, such as outside a text placeholder. For example, to add a caption to a picture, create a text box and position it near the picture.

Note: When you add a text box in Normal view, the text is editable by anyone. When you add a text box in Slide Master view, the text you add to it will become permanent and un-editable outside the Slide Master.

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The cognitive style of better powerpoint

Amy Perfors

While at the BUCLD conference this last weekend, I found myself thinking about the cognitive effects of using PowerPoint presentations. If you haven't read Edward Tufte's Cognitive Style of PowerPoint , I highly recommend it. His thesis is that powerpoint is "costly to both content and audience", basically because of the cognitive style that standard default PPT presentations embody: hierarchical path structure for organizing ideas, emphasis on format over content, and low information resolution chief among them.

Many of these negative results -- though not all -- occur because of a "dumb" use of the default templates. What about good powerpoint, that is, powerpoint that isn't forced into the hierarchical path-structure of organization, that doesn't use hideous, low-detail graphs? [Of course, this definition includes other forms of slide presentation, like LaTeX; I'll use the word "slideware" to mean all of these]. What are the cognitive implications of using slideware, as opposed to other types of presentation (transparencies, blackboard, speech)?

Here are my musings, unsubstantiated by any actual research:

I'd bet that the reliance on slideware actually improves the worst talks: whatever its faults, it at least imposes organization of a sort. And it at least gives a hapless audience something to write down and later try to puzzle over, which is harder to do if the talk is a rambling monologue or involves scribbled, messy handwriting on a blackboard.

Perhaps more controversially, I also would guess that slideware improves the best talks - or, at least, that the best talks with slideware can be as good as the best talks using other media. The PowerPoint Gettysburg Address is a funny spoof, but seriously, can you imagine a two-hour long, $23-million-gross movie of someone speaking in front of a blackboard or making a speech? An Inconvenient Truth was a great example of a presentation that was enhanced immeasurably by the well-organized and well-displayed visual content (and, notably, it did not use any templates that I could tell!). In general, because people are such visual learners, it makes sense that a presentation that can incorporate that information in the "right" way will be improved by doing so.

However, I think that for mid-range quality presenters (which most people are) slideware is still problematic. Here are some things I've noticed:

1. Adding slides is so simple and tempting that it's easy to mismanage your time. I've seen too many presentations where the last 10 minutes are spent hastily running through slide after slide, so the audience loses all the content in the disorganized mess the talk has become.

2. Relatedly, slideware creates the tendency to present information faster than it can be absorbed. This is most obvious when the talk involves math -- which I might discuss in a post of its own -- but the problem occurs with graphs, charts, diagrams, or any other high-content slides (which are otherwise great to have). Some try to solve the problem by creating handouts, but the problem isn't just that the audience doesn't have time to copy down the content -- they don't have the time to process it. Talks without slideware, by forcing you to present content at about the pace of writing, give the audience more time to think about the details and implications of what you're saying. Besides, the act of copying it down itself can do wonders for one's understanding and retention.

3. Most critically, slideware makes it easier to give a talk without really understanding the content or having thought through all the implications. If you can talk about something on an ad hoc basis, without the crutch of having written everything written out for you, then you really understand it. This isn't to say that giving a slideware presentation means you don't really understand your content; just that it's easier to get away with not knowing it.

4. Also, Tufte mentioned that slideware forces you to package your ideas into bullet-point size units. This is less of a problem if you don't slavishly follow templates, but even if you don't, you're limited by the size of the slide and font. So, yeah, what he said.

That all said, I think slideware is here to say; plus, it has many advantages over other types of presentation. So my advice isn't to not use slideware (except, perhaps, for math-intensive talks). Just keep these problems in mind when making your talks.

Posted by Amy Perfors at November 9, 2006 11:53 AM

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Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.

The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

A Message From the Assistant Director of Content Development 

The Purdue OWL® is committed to supporting  students, instructors, and writers by offering a wide range of resources that are developed and revised with them in mind. To do this, the OWL team is always exploring possibilties for a better design, allowing accessibility and user experience to guide our process. As the OWL undergoes some changes, we welcome your feedback and suggestions by email at any time.

Please don't hesitate to contact us via our contact page  if you have any questions or comments.

All the best,

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