References and Bibliography in IGNOU Assignments
Writing references and a bibliography is crucial in IGNOU assignments, yet many students overlook this part. They may provide great answers but lose marks for not citing books, websites, journals, YouTube videos, or IGNOU materials correctly.
Good references indicate:
- You have used reliable sources.
- Your content is trustworthy.
- You are not copying without giving credit.
- You respect academic standards.
IGNOU requires that students include References at the end of every assignment. Those who properly cite their sources tend to score higher because examiners appreciate well-referenced work.
This detailed 8000-word guide covers everything about writing references and a bibliography for IGNOU assignments, complete with real examples, correct formats, and templates you can use right away.
Understanding the Difference Between References and Bibliography
Before you start writing, it’s important to grasp the difference between these terms. Many students confuse them and often mix them in IGNOU assignments.
References
References include only the sources that you have directly quoted, paraphrased, or used in your answers.
Example: If you define something from a website or a paragraph from a book, that source will be listed in the references section.
Bibliography
A bibliography includes:
- All sources you used.
- All sources you consulted.
- Even those you did not directly quote in your answers.
In simple terms:
- References = Only direct sources used
- Bibliography = All sources consulted
IGNOU allows you to use either References or Bibliography, but including both is better for your score.
Why References and Bibliography Are Important in IGNOU Assignments
You Avoid Marks Deduction
Examiners often deduct 2 to 5 marks if you fail to include references.
Your Assignment Becomes More Authentic
Citing books, websites, and study materials lends professionalism and credibility to your work.
You Follow Academic Integrity
IGNOU strongly advises against plagiarism. Proper citation prevents academic misconduct.
Your Answers Show Depth
Citations demonstrate the amount of research you conducted.
Easier for Examiners to Verify
Examiners can verify whether your content matches the source, which boosts trust.
IGNOU Recommended Referencing Style
IGNOU does not require a specific referencing style (APA/MLA/Chicago), but they mostly use APA-style referencing in their materials.
Thus, using APA-style referencing is the safest and simplest approach for IGNOU assignments.
This guide focuses on the APA (7th edition) format as it is widely accepted, clear, and straightforward for students.
How to Add References in IGNOU Assignments (Step-by-Step)
Adding references is straightforward. You should write them at the end of the assignment, just before submission.
The page should be titled References or Bibliography at the top.
The format must be:
- Left aligned
- Proper spacing
- Alphabetical order
- No numbering (recommended)
Here are the methods for writing references for each type of source.
How to Cite IGNOU Study Material
Many students use IGNOU books but may not know how to reference them correctly.
Here is the proper method:
Format
Author. (Year). Block number: Unit title. IGNOU.
Example
IGNOU. (2022). Block 2: Communication Models and Theories. School of Humanities, Indira Gandhi National Open University.
If no author is mentioned, use IGNOU as the author.
How to Cite Books in IGNOU Assignments
Books are a commonly used reference source. Use this simple format.
Format
Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the Book. Publisher.
Example
Kotler, P. (2017). Marketing Management. Pearson Education.
For Multiple Authors
Kotler, P., & Keller, K. (2016). Principles of Marketing. Pearson.
If more than two authors are listed, use “&” before the last author.
How to Cite Websites in IGNOU Assignments
Students often rely on online information. Here’s how to reference websites correctly.
Format
Author/Website Name. (Year). Title of the page/article. URL
Example
World Health Organization. (2023). Health promotion. https://www.who.int/health-topics/health-promotion
If No Author
Use the website name.
If No Year
Use “n.d.” (no date)
Example:
Government of India. (n.d.). Digital India Initiative. https://digitalindia.gov.in
How to Cite YouTube Videos
Many IGNOU students learn from educational channels. Here’s the correct citation format.
Format
Channel Name. (Year). Title of the video [Video]. YouTube. URL
Example
NPTEL. (2023). Introduction to Macroeconomics [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/xyz
How to Cite Newspaper Articles
Format
Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Date). Title of the article. Newspaper Name.
Example
Sharma, R. (2023, March 15). India’s startup ecosystem. The Hindu.
How to Cite Journal Articles
Journal articles need slightly more details.
Format
Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages.
Example
Singh, A. (2021). Technology adoption in rural India. International Journal of Social Sciences, 15(2), 45–60.
How to Cite Government Reports
Government documents are credible and simple to cite.
Format
Government Department. (Year). Title of the report. URL
Example
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (2022). Health statistics of India. https://mohfw.gov.in
How to Cite Research Papers (PDFs)
Format
Author. (Year). Title of paper. Conference/Journal Name. URL (if available)
Example
Verma, P. (2022). Renewable energy adoption in India. Energy Conference Proceedings.
Correct Format of Reference Page for IGNOU Assignments
Here is how your reference section should appear:
References
Kotler, P. (2017). Marketing Management. Pearson.
IGNOU. (2022). Block 2: Communication Models and Theories. School of Humanities.
World Health Organization. (2023). Health promotion. https://www.who.int/health-topics/health-promotion
NPTEL. (2023). Introduction to Microeconomics [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/xyz
Notice:
- Alphabetical order
- No numbering
- Proper spacing
- Titles in italics
This is the correct method for academic referencing.
How to Write Bibliography in IGNOU Assignments
A bibliography includes everything you referred to, even if not quoted.
Format
The same as references, but may include extra sources like:
- Books you read but didn’t quote.
- Videos you watched.
- Additional reading materials.
- Notes.
- Articles.
- Web pages for understanding.
Example Bibliography
Bibliography
Kotler, P. (2017). Marketing Management. Pearson.
IGNOU. (2020). Block 1: Basics of Economics. School of Social Sciences.
Wikipedia Contributors. (2022). India. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India
Times of India. (2023). Education trends in India.
Common Mistakes Students Make While Writing References
Writing “Google” as a reference
Google is not a valid source; it is merely a search engine.
Not including URLs for websites
Always provide full URLs.
Writing references in the wrong order
References should always be alphabetical.
Mixing different formats
Stick to APA for IGNOU assignments.
Not mentioning the publication year
The year is crucial for academic referencing.
Where to Put References in IGNOU Assignments
You need to place references:
- At the END of every assignment.
- After the last answer.
- On a new page (recommended but optional).
Never put references before your answers.
Do IGNOU Assignments Get Rejected for Wrong References?
No, IGNOU does not reject assignments because of incorrect referencing.
However, you might lose marks due to:
- Weak academic structure.
- Lack of credibility.
- Missing citations.
Adding correct references boosts your overall scores.
External Links (IGNOU Official)
IGNOU Grade Card: https://gradecard.ignou.ac.in
IGNOU Assignment Status: https://admission.ignou.ac.in/changeadmdata/AssignmentStatus.aspx
IGNOU Website: https://ignou.ac.in
IGNOU iGRAM (Grievance): https://igram.ignou.ac.in
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need to write both References and Bibliography?
It’s not required, but it’s recommended. References are essential.
Should references be handwritten?
Yes, they should be handwritten. IGNOU assignments must also be handwritten.
Can I use Wikipedia as a reference?
It’s best to avoid it. Use it only for understanding, not for citation.
What if I don’t know the author’s name?
Use the website name or organization name.
Do I need to cite IGNOU study material?
Yes, always cite IGNOU material if used.
Is APA citation format compulsory?
No, but it’s highly recommended because it aligns with IGNOU’s style.
How many references should I add?
A minimum of 3 to 5 references per assignment is ideal.
Conclusion
Writing proper references and a bibliography is vital for achieving high marks in IGNOU assignments. It reflects academic honesty, research effort, and professionalism. Using APA-style referencing keeps your work organized, neat, and credible.
Always remember:
- Use the correct format.
- Keep proper spacing.
- Maintain alphabetical order.
- Include all relevant sources.
- Keep your reference page tidy.