STYLE MANUAL

Guidelines for Academic Writing

2011

Transforming lives through excellence in Christian higher education

 STYLE MANUAL
Guidelines for Academic Writing

2011, Wesley Institute

Wesley Institute
5 Mary Street Drummoyne
PO Box 534 Drummoyne NSW 1470
Phone: 9819 8888
Fax: 9719 1714
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wi.edu.au

CRICOS Provider Code 02664K

ABN 50 360 319 774

Issue 8, January 2011

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 CONTENTS

Page
1. Purpose of these guidelines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7

2. The Institute marking system .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7

2.1 The marking system described .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7
2.2 General standards required for the various grades .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8

3. Purposes and types of written assessments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10

3.1 Essay .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10
3.2 Literature review .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10
3.3 Case study .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10
3.4 Research report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10

4. Plagiarism .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11
4.1 Definition of plagiarism .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11
4.2-4.6 Avoiding plagiarism .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11

5. Quotations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12
5.1 Copying another’s exact words .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12
5.2 Short quotations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12
5.3 Extended quotations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12
5.4 Omitting words from a quotation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12
5.5 Longer quote with ellipsis points .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12
5.6 Quoting a quote .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13
5.7 Adding words of explanation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13
5.8 Quoting from the Bible .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13
5.9 Referencing Bible verses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13

6. Formal presentation (Hardcopy and Electronic Submission) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13

6.1. Hardcopy Submissions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13
6.2 Electronic Submissions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14

7. Textual referencing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14
7.1 Harvard System .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14
7.2 Usual content of reference .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
7.3 Author-date citation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
7.4 Consistent presentation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
7.5 Page numbers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
7.6 Detailed referencing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
7.7 Volume, section or other elements .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
7.8 Volume and page references .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
7.9 Multiple citations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
7.10 More than three authors .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15
7.11 Referencing multiple authors .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16
7.12 Two authors with same surname .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16
7.13 Author with more than one publication .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16

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 7.14 Editor .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16
7.15 New editions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16
7.16 No publication date .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16
7.17 Not yet published .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17
7.18 Anonymous works .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17
7.19 Abbreviations, contractions, acronyms .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17
7.20 Newspaper articles .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17
7.21 An intermediate source .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17
7.22 Audiovisual sources .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17
7.23 Electronic sources .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17
7.24 Personal communications .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18
7.25 Class notes and lecture material .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18

8. Bibliography or Reference List .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18

8.1 Commence a separate page .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18
8.2 What to include .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18
8.3 Alphabetically by author .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18
8.4 Layout .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18
8.5 Presentation of bibliography for books .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18
8.6 Author’s surname .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18
8.7 Multiple authors .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18
8.8 Co-author with same name .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18
8.9 Editor entry .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19
8.10 Several works by same author .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19
8.11 Title entry .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19
8.12 Sample listing for books .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19
8.13 Style of bibliography for articles .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19
8.14 Areas common with books .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
8.15 Article title .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
8.16 Journal or periodical title .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
8.17 Series title .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
8.18 Place of publication in journal citation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
8.19 Volume numbers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
8.20 Issue numbers or other identifiers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
8.21 Page numbers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
8.22 Presentation of bibliography for articles .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
8.23 Audiovisual sources .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21
8.24 Electronic sources .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21
8.25 World Wide Web .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21
8.26 CD-ROM .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21
8.27 Electronic text .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21
8.28 Digital image .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22
8.29 Numeric computer file .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22
8.30 Personal communications .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22
8.31 Annotated bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22
Table 1: Summary of Referencing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23

9. Using an Apostrophe .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
9.1 Function .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
9.2 For singular nouns .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
9.3 For plural nouns .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
9.4 For nouns ending in -s .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
9.5 Possessive pronouns .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
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 9.6 In contractions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
9.7 Distinction between “its” and “it’s” .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33

10. Producing the Assignment .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33

10.1 Preparation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
1.1 The question.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
1.2 Key words .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
1.3 Research.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34
1.4 Referencing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34
1.5 Decision.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34
10.2 Writing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34
2.1 Planning .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34
2.2 Introduction .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34
2.3 Structure .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34
2.4 Academic writing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34
2.5 Paragraphs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35
2.6 Personal opinions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35
2.7 Relevance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35
2.8 Quotations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35
2.9 Controversy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35
2.10 Footnotes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35
2.11 Endnotes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35
2.12 Conclusion .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35

Bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36

Appendix – A Sample Essay .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 37

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PURPOSE OF THESE GUIDELINES

The Style Manual ensures that written assignments conform to a commonly accepted standard. Extra
conventions for theology are set out in the Theology Research Manual. Counselling students are advised
to avoid footnotes where possible.

These guidelines are for both on-campus student and Distance Education and Flexible Learning (DEFL)
students, who study off-campus via a satellite program or using Wesley Institute Online. Where protocols
differ for these students, these are noted within each section.

The following guidelines contain the major requirements for presentation of written assignments. For
more detailed information the library has several publications in Closed Reserve, including Essay
Assignments: A User Friendly Guide (Elms, 1996) and Style Manual (Australian Government Publishing
Service, 1994). Requirements may vary slightly for some units, in which case lecturers will inform students
of these variations. For further details on each on the following sections, please refer to the Student
Handbook (On-Campus) and the Student Handbook (DEFL).

2. THE INSTITUTE MARKING SYSTEM

This section of the Manual describes the marking system used by Wesley Institute.

2.1 Each semester, following approval by the appropriate examination committees, students will be
notified of their results by mail, or email for DEFL students. Receipt of examination results is
contingent upon full payment of all fees for the semester.

The final result for a subject usually is obtained by totalling up the marks gained for the various
assignments, examinations etc. to be completed. However, the marks received for the various
elements of assessment are provisional and, in the interests of equitable standards, may be
adjusted by the Head of Department, External Moderators, the Academic Board or the Institute
Council.

Wesley Institute results are given as a percentage and a grade. Students are notified of their
results using the following symbols:

2.1.1 Normal results

H+ High Distinction 95%+ The highest possible level of achievement

H High Distinction 90% - 94% Outstanding level of achievement
H- High Distinction 85% - 89% Very high level of achievement
D+ Distinction 80% - 84% High level of achievement
D Distinction 75% - 79% Very good level of achievement
C+ Credit 70% - 74% A good, above average level of achievement
C Credit 65% - 69% Above average level of achievement
P+ Pass 60% - 64% Solid achievement of unit outcomes
P Pass 55% - 59% Consistent achievement of unit outcomes
P- Pass 50% - 54% Required level of achievement
N Fail Below 50% Failure to attain the required level of achievement
S Satisfactory Required level of achievement in a unit assessed only on a
pass/fail basis

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 2.1.2 Interim results

Other symbols that may appear on the result notice include:

X Extra Work Required Additional work must be completed successfully for a 50%
P- (Pass) grade – an X cannot result in a higher grade
E Extension Unit extension granted beyond semester for serious
circumstances – any grade may be gained on completion
I Incomplete Unit extension rarely granted for a short time beyond
semester end, but only 50% P- (Pass) may be gained on
completion
W Withdrawn Withdrawal after census date in approved special
circumstances
U Result Unavailable An interim grade to allow for unavoidable marking delays
NC Not Complete An interim grade given when a unit has not yet finished
IP In Progress Interim grade issued at semester-end in a year-long unit

2.2 This section describes the general standards that students must achieve to obtain various
results. These standards apply to most written assignments, although a lecturer may set a
specific standard for any particular unit.

2.2.1 The Pass (P) grade shall be awarded where there is evidence that a student has :
 undertaken the required core work for the unit;
 demonstrated the knowledge, understanding, competencies and skills required
for demonstrating unit learning outcomes;
 satisfactorily completing the published assessment tasks;
 attained a sound knowledge of matter contained in the texts and reading
materials;
 demonstrated a good general level of familiarity with relevant theories,
approaches, methodologies and conceptual tools.

2.2.2 The Credit (C) grade shall be awarded where there is evidence that a student has:
 undertaken all of the required work for the unit and additional work in wider
areas relevant to the unit;
 demonstrated a sound level of knowledge/understanding/competencies/skills
required for demonstrating unit learning outcomes;
 completed assessment exercises at a proficient standard;
 attained a sound knowledge of matter contained in texts and set reading
materials and have done wider reading;
 demonstrated familiarity with and the ability to apply a range of theories,
approaches, methodologies and conceptual tools.

2.2.3 The Distinction (D) grade shall be awarded where there is evidence that a student
has:
 undertaken all of the required work for the unit at a high level and considerable
additional work in wider areas relevant to the unit;
 displayed the advanced knowledge/understanding/competencies/skills needed
to demonstrate unit learning outcomes;
 completed assessment tasks at a high standard;
 attained an advanced knowledge of matter contained in texts or set reading
materials and have done considerable wider reading;

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  demonstrated a broad familiarity with a facility at applying a range of theories,
approaches, methodologies and conceptual tools;
 submitted work should reflect very high quality work which shows the student
generally works at a level which is beyond the requirements of the assessment
tasks and is developing a capacity for original and creative thinking.

2.2.4 The High Distinction (H) grade shall be awarded where there is evidence that a
student has:
 undertaken the required work for the unit at a high level and considerable
additional work in wider areas relevant to the unit;
 demonstrated the acquisition of an advanced level of
knowledge/understanding/competencies/skills required for demonstrating unit
learning outcomes;
 attained an in-depth knowledge of matter contained in texts and set reading
materials and undertaken extensive wider reading beyond that which is
required or expected;
 consistently demonstrated a high level of proficiency at applying a range of
theories, approaches, methodologies and conceptual tools to professional
practice, and combining a knowledge of the subject matter with original and
creative thinking;
 achieved a grade that is reserved for recognition of the highest level of
academic achievement expected of a student at a given unit level.

2.2.5 The Satisfactory (S) grade will be awarded in a unit that is assessed only on a pass
or fail basis where a satisfactory level of performance and participation has been
achieved. The grade may be awarded to reflect that the student has:
 achieved mastery of the unit content;
 satisfactorily completed topic requirements or contractual requirements where
these form a prerequisite or condition of passing, or continuing with a program
of study.

2.2.6 The Fail (N) grade will be awarded if:

 a student is unable to demonstrate satisfactory academic performance in the
unit;
 a student has failed to complete essential unit elements or required
assessment tasks at an acceptable level, in accordance with unit objectives;
 there is evidence of serious academic misconduct.

2.2.7 The Extra Work (X) grade:

 may be awarded where the student has almost reached a satisfactory level of
achievement and, in the judgement of the lecturer, the completion of
additional work and/or assessment may assist the student to reach the
required passing level;
 can have a maximum awarded grade of 50% P- (Pass).

2.2.8 An Extension (E) grade:

 is awarded at semester-end when extension(s) for assessment tasks(s) have
been approved to be completed after the marks moderation deadline - for
serious and/or unforeseen circumstances, as defined by the Academic Board;
 may be converted to any grade.

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 2.2.9 An Incomplete (I) grade:
 is issued at semester-end only if a student has documented difficulties which
leave the student unable to finish the work before the semester-end deadline
where these circumstances do not fit into the categories approved by the
Academic Board. The Head may agree to allow extra time for completion
(normally two weeks);
 may only be converted to a 50% P- (Pass);
 is usually awarded as part of an intervention strategy for a student at risk.

3. THE PURPOSE AND TYPES OF WRITTEN ASSESSMENTS

This section is based on a document prepared by the University of Technology Sydney.

3.1 Essay writing involves effective research, the process of formulating and expressing ideas,
and presenting information in a clear and comprehensive manner. An essay is not mere
description, nor a simple declaration of facts or list of points. It must answer the question by
reducing it to its component parts. An essay must put forward an argument, present the
evidence, critically examine both the argument and the evidence and reach a conclusion.

3.2 A literature review may be:

(a) a process carried out and reported upon as part of an assignment. Many assignments
will require you to locate, read and discuss writings on several topics. The review of the
relevant literature will serve as the background for the written assignment; or

(b) an assignment which specifically requires a review of various writings and previous
research on a particular subject. Here you must critically evaluate this literature, discuss
it thoroughly and develop a conclusion about both the literature and the topic.

3.3 Case studies are often used in Counselling units. They demonstrate complexities in the real
world, and illustrate how theories and models may be integrated in practice.

You may be asked to address a case study in a number of ways:

(a) use particular theories to analyse the case;

(b) answer specific questions about the case;

(c) identify the major issues and suggest possible interventions.

Case studies generally require substantial analysis to identify the problems or issues,
consider the aetiology and progression over time, and explore options for intervention and
resolution.

3.4 A research report must reflect an accurate, concise account of a project. It should critically
relate the results to other research and include:

(a) an introduction, giving the background to the problem under investigation including a
substantial literature review of prior research, and a clear statement of the theoretical
problem. The introduction is not a summary of the report and only directly relevant
material should be included;

(b) the aim, stating concisely the purpose of the study or hypothesis, along with an
attendant rationale;
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 (c) the design of the research, that is, how the aim will be achieved or the hypothesis
tested;

(d) a brief, complete and accurate account of the method used with sufficient detail to
allow another person to repeat the experiment;

(e) the results of the research, summarised in an appropriate fashion;

(f) a discussion of the implications of these results, their interaction with prior research,
and the validity of the testing procedure;

(g) a brief conclusion drawing the important points together.

4. PLAGIARISM

This section on plagiarism is based on a document prepared by Macquarie University. Students are advised
to read this carefully, in order to understand plagiarism and its consequences. Please also refer to the
Academic Integrity Policy and Academic Integrity Procedure.

4.1 Plagiarism (from the Latin plagiare, “kidnap”) is the unacknowledged use of someone else’s
writing, ideas etc. including published and unpublished material, another student’s work, or
any essays you have submitted previously for assessment. Even the vaguest hint of
plagiarism is a serious academic sin, and unintentional plagiarism can result in an essay
being penalised or failed. For example, “I forgot to use quotation marks in my notes and
didn’t realise I was copying a quote” is an unacceptable excuse.

The dangers of plagiarism and how to avoid them:

4.2 Some students are unaware that specific rules govern acceptable academic conduct. One of
the most important elements of correct academic practice involves careful acknowledgment
of those whose ideas you have used, borrowed or developed. All students and scholars are
bound by these rules because, in some way, all scholarly work is dependent on the effort of
another.

4.3 It is appropriate and acceptable to include prior research of others as a basis for your own
work. This is not evidence of scholastic inadequacy, provided the original author is fully
acknowledged.

4.4 To maintain correct academic practice and allow your contribution to be properly
appreciated and evaluated, you MUST acknowledge your sources and ALWAYS:

(a) state clearly and appropriately the origins of the material on which your work is based,
using the referencing system specified in this document;

(b) acknowledge those whose concepts or results you have extracted, developed or
summarised, even when these are expressed in own words;

(c) avoid excessive copying of passages even where the source is acknowledged. Paraphrase
material to indicate an understanding of the ideas and concepts, and acknowledge the
original author.

4.5 The following examples of “borrowing” without appropriate acknowledgment are breaches
of academic protocol, and constitute plagiarism:
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 (a) copying any part(s) of a document or audio-visual material, including any computer-
based material;

(b) using or extracting another’s concepts, experimental results or conclusions, even if

expressed in your own words;

(c) extracting ideas from the work of another student, even if expressed in your own
words;

(d) submitting material that uses many of the same words and diagrams as those used by a
fellow student. On occasions, you may be encouraged to research your assignment with
someone else, but the final submission must be your own independent endeavour.

4.6 Again, taking and/or using the work of another without clear recognition of the source is an
act of PLAGIARISM which will be penalised.

Recognition is not limited to direct quotes! All ideas, thoughts etc MUST be properly
referenced, even if expressed in your own words.

For information on referencing see the appropriate section below.

5. QUOTATIONS

5.1 When you copy or quote another’s exact words this must be indicated clearly. Short
quotations are placed within double quotations marks (“ ”) in your text, eg. “Short, direct
prose quotations should be incorporated into the text of the paper and enclosed in double
quotation marks” (Turabian 1973, p. 64).

5.2 More than two or three words used in the same order as the original text should be enclosed
in quotations marks and referenced.

5.3 Extended quotations of more than three lines in your text should be:

(a) indented at both margins by at least 1cm, for the entire quotation;

(b) typed in single space, instead of the usual double spacing of an essay;

(c) restricted, if possible, to no more than six lines.

An essay should not contain more than 10% of long quotes (see 5.5 for an example of a long
quote). It is always preferable to give your own synthesis of the author’s ideas.

5.4 Three ellipsis points (. . .) are used to mark omissions within quoted material:

“Every juror . . . must before being sworn make and subscribe . . . an oath . . . of
allegiance . . .” (AGPS 1994).

5.5 The following quote illustrates the use of ellipsis points in conjunction with punctuation
marks:

“An omission following a sentence is indicated by four dots. The first, placed
immediately after the last word, is the period:

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 ‘When a nation is clearly in the wrong, it ought not to be too proud to say
so. . . . I have not been enunciating principles which we do not apply in our
own case.’ ”

If in the original source the sentence preceding the ellipsis ends with a question mark
or an exclamation mark, that mark rather than the period is used:

“How cold it was! . . . No one could function in that climate.”

(Turabian 1973, p.70.)

5.6 The example given in 5.5 also illustrates quoting within a quote. Use single quotation marks
(‘ ’) when quoting within double quotation marks and if the second quotation contains a
third quotation, use double marks again and so on.

5.7 When adding explanation, clarification, or correction within a quotation enclose your
comments with square brackets [ ], and not parenthesis ( ).

5.8 Place Bible passages in quotation marks and give the reference in brackets after the verse.
For example: “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane” (Acts
26:24).

5.9 Textual references for Bible verses must be in the text (see examples in sample essay p.10,
paras 2 and 3), NOT as footnotes or endnotes at the bottom of the page. (For more
information regarding footnotes see 10.2.10. Do not use endnotes in assessments [please
note 10.2.11]).

6. FORMAL PRESENTATIONS

6.1 HARDCOPY SUBMISSIONS (On-Campus Students)

6.1.1 Assignments must be typed, double-space, on one side of A-4 paper.

6.1.2 The margins must be at least 4cm in width.

6.1.3 Pages should be numbered.

6.1.4 Where applicable, the standard presentation sequence is:

a synopsis
an introduction
the body of the assignment
a conclusion
a bibliography (or reference list)
appendices

6.1.5 Several drafts may be required to reduce an essay to the required length and sharpen the
focus on the main aspects or issues.

6.1.6 A Bibliography or Reference List must be included (see the appropriate section below).
Please note that assessments for the Counselling Department require a Reference List
only.

6.1.7 All pages of the assessment should be securely fastened together prior to submission.
Attach the Assignment Title Page to the front of the assignment. The bottom half will be

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 stamped and returned to you as an official receipt that you should attach to your copy of
the assignment as proof of submission.

6.1.8 All assessments must be submitted by the due date. Any extension of time is to be
negotiated with the appropriate lecturer and an Application for Extension form lodged
prior to the due date.

6.2 ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS (DEFL Students ONLY)

6.2.1 Assignments must be typed in Word or compatible program using the Verdana font at
size 11 (standard text, other sizes can be used for headings and footers), using 1.5
spacing.

6.2.2 The margins must be at least 2.5cm in width.

6.2.3 Pages should be numbered.

6.2.4 Where applicable, the standard presentation sequence is:

a synopsis
an introduction
the body of the assignment
a conclusion
a bibliography (or reference list)
appendices

6.2.5 Several drafts may be required to reduce an essay to the required length and sharpen the
focus on the main aspects or issues.

6.2.6 A Bibliography or Reference List must be included (see the appropriate section below).
Please note that assessments for the Counselling Department require a Reference List
only.

6.2.7 The Assignment Title Page should be attached to the assignment and submitted together
with the assignment. All pages of the assessment should have a Header and Footer with
Student Name, Course Unit Name and Number, page number and Assignment title.

6.2.8 All assessments must be submitted by the due date. Any extension of time is to be
negotiated with the appropriate lecturer and an Application for Extension form lodged
prior to the due date.

7. TEXTUAL REFERENCING

Note: All information relating to the Harvard System used in this booklet has been taken from the
th
Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers 1994, Australian Government Publishing Service, 5
edition, AGPS Press, Canberra.

The basis of this system is a Reference List which appears at the end of the paper or thesis and
includes an entry for each source referred to in the text. This is distinguished from a Bibliography that
includes every source consulted. The unit lecturer will indicate whether an assessment requires a
Reference List or Bibliography.

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 7.1 The Harvard System requires less information and is regarded as easier than traditional
footnotes/endnotes. References are shown in parentheses either within or immediately
following the relevant material in the text.

7.2 In the text itself, the citation is minimal and includes:

 author’s surname (and a title entry if there is more than one book by the same
author);
 year of publication;
 page numbers, if required.

7.3 This information is placed in parentheses within a sentence, at the end of a quotation, or as
a separately indented quote, as follows:

 The theory was first propounded in 1970 (Larsen 1971);

 Larsen (1971) was the first to propound the theory;

 Albright (1960, p. 123) has observed that “the age of Solomon was . . .”;

 “The election of 1966 was a non-Labor landslide: 8% of Labor identifiers voted

Liberal, but only 1% of Liberal identifiers voted Labor” (Aitkin 1976, p. 415).

This simple author-date citation is used irrespective of whether the reference is to a book, an
article, or some other resource. (See also the sample essay p.8, para 2.)

7.4 Textual references should be presented consistently throughout the document. Each citation
must agree in every detail with the information presented in the Reference List or
Bibliography, and vice versa.

7.5 Relevant page numbers may be included in the textual reference, with a comma between
the year and ‘p.’ or ‘pp.’ thus:

The theory was first propounded in 1970 (Larsen 1971, p. 245).

7.6 Full details of the book must be given in the Bibliography or Reference List. The date of
publication is usually sufficient to distinguish between works by the same author. If not a
further identification (such as 1976a, 1976b etc.) can be included in the textual reference
and with this information the reader can turn to the Reference List or Bibliography for full
publication details.

7.7 If volume, section or other elements of a work have to be specified in the text, they should
be abbreviated. For example:

(Larsen 1971, vol. 2).

7.8 When both volume and page references are necessary in the text, they appear as follows:

(Larsen 1971, vol. 2, p. 23; vol. 3, pp. 17-36)

7.9 If more than one work is cited, the textual reference will be:

(Larsen 1971; Haddon 1969); or

Larsen (1971) and Haddon (1969) demonstrated that . . .

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 15 of 50 080111
 7.10 When a work by two or three authors is cited in parentheses, use an ampersand:

(Larsen & Greene 1987); or

(Larsen, Greene & Withers 1987).

When the authors’ names are incorporated in the text the ampersand is replaced by ‘and’:

Larsen and Greene (1987) were unable ...

7.11 For a work with more than three authors:

(a) in the first textual reference use the names of all the authors. For example, Larsen,
Greene, Withers & Gonzales (1987, p. 23).

(b) any subsequent textual references use the first name followed by “et al”. The textual
reference for Larsen, Greene, Withers and Gonzales then becomes
(Larsen et al. 1987, p. 23).

Include the details of all authors in the Bibliography/Reference List.

7.12 Include the author’s initials or given name when a distinction is drawn between works
written by authors of the same surname, or when reference is made to information obtained
by personal communication. When the author’s name and initials appear in parenthesis, the
initials follow the surname. When they appear in the text, the initials precede the surname.

The theory was first propounded in 1970 (Larsen, A.E. 1971), but since then many of its
elements have been refuted; M.K. Larsen (1983) is among . . .

7.13 When reference is made to more than one work by the same author, the citation should be
arranged in chronological order by date of publication, for example:

Larsen, A.E. 1971

Larsen, A.E. 2002

7.14 Textual references to works in which the role of an editor is paramount are cited:

. . . (ed. Crowley 1974); or

. . . edited by Crowley (1974).

7.15 Textual references to new editions of works already published require only the publication
date of the edition being cited.

7.16 Works for which no reliable publication date can be established are cited as:

(Carruthers n.d.).

However, if an approximate publication date can be established, use the abbreviation “c”,
denoting circa (about) in the test:

(Harris c.1751).

If the publication date is dubious, use a question mark:

(Quirk? 1751).
Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 16 of 50 080111
 7.17 A work in the process of publication is cited as:

(Daly, forthcoming).

A work in the process of publication but for which the publication date is uncertain is cited
as:

(Weinberg, in press).

An unpublished work is cited in the text as:

Crowley, (unpub.).

7.18 Anonymous works, and works which do not bear the name of a specific author sponsoring
organisation, should be cited as follows:

This was apparently not the case in seventeenth-century (England On Travelling to London
1683); or

On Travelling to London (1683) reveals that . . .

Do not use ‘anonymous’ or ‘anon’.

7.19 Well-known abbreviations, contractions and acronyms may be used in textual references,
even if not previously spelt out in the text, but must be included in an alphabetical list of
abbreviations, located at the beginning of the Reference List or Bibliography. The question of
whether to abbreviate will depend on the frequency of use and the ease of the reader.

7.20 References to articles in newspapers are straightforward. If the author is named, the
principles already stated will apply.

7.21 If an author cites material from an intermediate rather than the original source, reference
both sources in the Bibliography/Reference List. For example:

Lewis, C. S. 1959, ‘Letter to the Times Educational Supplement’, quoted in

Cooper, B. 1964, Writing Technical Reports, Penguin, Harmondsworth, p. 72.

7.22 Textual references of audiovisual sources, such as audio tapes, videos, television programs
and movies, should contain the title and date of production and indicate the format.
Television programs are identified as video recordings, and radio programs as audiotape
recordings. For example:

Strictly ballroom (movie), 1992

Understanding the GNP (video recording), 1982

Life Matters (audiotape recording), 2000.

See Section 8.23 for more detailed information.

7.23 Textual references of electronic sources such as World Wide Web and CD-ROM will include
the author and publication date, as for books or journals, with further details given in the
Bibliography/Reference List. See Section 8.24 for more detailed information.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 17 of 50 080111

 7.24 Textual references of personal communications will include the name and date of the
communication as follows:

“In a phone conversation with Aaron Beck (1975), he conveyed his astonishment at the use
of his practical guide . . .”

7.25 Class notes and/or lecture material. Lecture material comes from many sources, and a
lecturer should only be cited if expressing an original thought or idea, in which case the
textual reference will give the lecturer’s name and date. See Section 8.30 for more detailed
information on 7.24 and 7.25.

8. REFERENCE LIST OR BIBLIOGRAPHY

8.1 Commence a separate page with the heading Reference List or Bibliography.

8.2 A Bibliography includes all the sources the student has found relevant in writing the
assignment, even if not quoted in the text, while a Reference List details only works actually
cited in the text. The unit lecturer will indicate whether an assessment requires a Reference
List or Bibliography.

8.3 The entries are listed alphabetically either by author or editor’s surname, or the name of the
sponsoring authority. If there is no sponsoring authority the title of the work is listed. The
same method of presentation is used for both a Reference List and a Bibliography.

8.4 For ease of reference the author’s surname should be typed flush with the margin and the
following lines indented.

8.5 When listing documents, the information required is presented in the following order:

 author’s surname with initials or given name

 year of publication
 title of publication
 title of series, if applicable
 volume number or number of volumes, if applicable
 edition, if not the first
 editor, reviser, compiler or translator, if other than the author
 elements of a book, if applicable
 publisher
 place of publication
 page number or numbers if applicable (not necessary in Reference List).

8.6 The author’s surname appears first, separated from the initials or given name by a comma.
As a general rule, only the author’s initials should be used with a full stop after each initial.
There is no comma between the author’s name and the year of publication. Separate all
elements following the year of publication with commas, and conclude the citation with a
full stop.

8.7 Where a book has multiple authors, their names should be cited in the order in which they
appear on the title page, with the last name linked by an ampersand.

8.8 Where co-authors have the same surname, list each name separately.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 18 of 50 080111

 8.9 Where the role of an editor, compiler, reviser or translator is paramount, list the work under
that person’s name. Use the abbreviations ‘ed.’, ‘eds.’, ‘comp.’, ‘comps.’, ‘rev.’, or ‘trans.’ as
appropriate.

8.10 Several works by the same author should be listed by date of publication, in chronological
order. In second or successive citations the author’s name may be replaced with an eight-
space line. Two or more works published in the same year are arranged alphabetically by
title, with lower-case letters after the publication date to match the references given in the
text.

8.11 The title follows the year of publication, separated by a comma; is always italicised and cited
as it appears on the title page rather than on the cover. Observe the capitalisation
conventions of foreign languages and acknowledge the origin of translated titles. Titles
within titles are distinguished by means of double quotation marks, as in:

‘The Annotated “Jane Eyre”’.

8.12 The following entries illustrate the principles for citation of books in a Bibliography or
Reference List:
nd
The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary 1992, 2 edn, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Berkhof, L. 1950, Principles of Biblical Interpretation, Baker, Grand Rapids.

________ 1958, Systematic Theology, Banner of Truth, Edinburgh.

Blass, F. & Debrunner, A. 1961, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other Early
Christian Literature, trans. R.W. Funk, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Cerfaux, L. & Tondriau, J. 1957, Le culte des souverains dans la civilisation gréco-romaine,
Desclée, Paris.

Dixon, A.C. 1913, Through Night to Morning, Robert Scott, London.

Dixon, F.W. 1975, Running up the Stairs, Marshall Morgan & Scott, London.

Fee, Gordon D. & Stuart, Douglas 1982, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth: A Guide to
Understanding the Bible, Zondervan, Grand Rapids.

Hagner, D.A. & Harris, M.J. (eds.) 1980, Pauline Studies: Essays Presented to Professor F. F.
Bruce on his 70th Birthday, Paternoster, Exeter.

Lausanne Committee for World Evangelisation 1978, Explaining the Gospel in Today’s World:
Church Planting, Gospel & Culture, Lausanne Occasional Papers, vols 1 & 2, Scripture
Union, London.

Office of the Status of Women 1981, Fair Exposure, AGPS, Canberra.

Proust, M. 1970, Jean Santeuil, trans. G Hopkins, Simon & Schuster, New York (with preface
by André Maurois).

Thompson, J.A.1980, The Book of Jeremiah, NICOT, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 19 of 50 080111

 8.13 References journal and periodical articles in the following order:
 author’s name
 year of publication
 title of article
 title of journal or periodical
 title of series, if applicable
 place of publication, if applicable
 volume number, if applicable
 issue number or other identifier, if applicable
 page number or numbers

8.14 The requirements for citing articles in journals and periodicals are the same as for books
with respect to author, date, titles within titles, and foreign titles.

8.15 The title of an article is set between single quotation marks.

8.16 The title of a journal or periodical is italicised, and separated from the title of the article by a
comma. Each word is capitalised, excepting articles, prepositions and conjunctions.

8.17 If a journal or periodical forms part of a series, the series title is placed after the journal title,
separated by a comma. The series title is typed in roman without quotation marks, and all
words other than articles, conjunctions and prepositions are capitalised.

8.18 Journal citations do not include the city of publication, unless two or more different journals
or periodicals have the same or similar title.

8.19 Arabic numbers should be used for the volume number regardless of the convention of the
source. The volume number follows the title of the journal or periodical and is separated
from it by a comma.

8.20 If issues of a journal or periodical are paginated separately rather than consecutively, the
issue number or other identifier must be provided. If the issue has both number and
identifier, one should be chosen and used consistently. Where the journal or periodical has
no volume number the issue number comes immediately after the title, separated from it by
a comma.

8.21 It is important to provide inclusive page numbers, presented as the final item of the citation,
and separated from the preceding item by a comma.

8.22 Following are some illustration of the above principles for citation of articles in a
Bibliography:

Blaxter, M. 1976, ‘Social class and health inequalities’, in Equalities and Inequalities in Health,
eds. C. Carter & J. Peel, Academic Press, London.

Brandis, G. 1987, ‘The Liberals: Just who is forgetting whom?’, Weekend Australian, 24-25
Jan., p. 19.

Nicole, R. 1983, ‘The Biblical Concept of Truth’ in Carson, D. A. & Woodbridge, J. D. (eds.),
Scripture and Truth, IVP, Leicester.

Shead, A.G. 1997, ‘Reading Ecclesiastes “Epilogically”’, Tyndale Bulletin, vol. 48, no. 1, pp.
67-92.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 20 of 50 080111

 Tink, F.L. n.d., ‘An Urban Missionary Encounters Jane Jacobs’, Urban Mission, vol. 3, no. 3,
p. 21.

8.23 Audiovisual sources listed in the Bibliography or Reference List, such as audio tapes, videos,
television programs and movies, should include the title, format, date of recording, place of
recording, publisher and any special credits.

The Comedic Fall (movie) 1981, Englewood, New Jersey, Pratfall Releases.

Learning to Live (motion picture) 1964, London, Fine Films Inc., Producer Martin Freeth.

What are we going to Do With the Money (video recording) 8 August 1982, ABC
Television.

8.24 Electronic sources are references in the usual manner, with sufficient details included in the
Bibliography or Reference List to allow another easy access to the information. The
following information has been adapted from
<http://library.lib.binghamton.edu/search/citing.html> (accessed February 9, 2001).

8.25 World Wide Web (WWW) (Information you find on the Internet comes from a multitude of
sources. Some are more reliable and suitable for academic research than others. Look for
citation information at the top or bottom of the web document.)
Weld, A. (ed.), (n.d.) ‘Advances in Gene Therapy’, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies,
San Diego. <http://www.salk.edu/advances/gene/gene.html> (accessed September 10,
1999).

Babbie, E Plagiarism. Last modified October 26, 1998.

<http://www.csubak.edu/ssric/Modules/Other/plagiarism.htm> (accessed April 18, 2000).

Shapiro, Howard M. General Counsel. The Freedom of Information Act and the FBI [WWW].
Washington: Federal Bureau of Investigation, last updated July 22,
1998.<http://www.fbi.gov/foipa/main.htm> (accessed January 13, 1999). [This information
is no longer available at this government internet address.]

‘Vietnam War’, Britannica Online. <http://www.britannica.com/> (accessed June 3, 2000).

8.26 CD-ROM

"New York, Broome County, Tracts 0001-0005, Social Characteristics." U. S. Bureau of the
Census, CensusCD+Maps, Version 2.0 [CD-ROM], 1996-1998.

8.27 Electronic Journal Article

Mannion, A. M. "Global environmental change: the causes of disruption to

biogeochemical cycles." The Geographical Journal, July 1998, vol. 164, issue 2, p. 168.
<Expanded Academic ASAP, http://web5.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/session/>
(accessed September 10, 1999).

Electronic Newspaper Article

"Florida rescue experts on their way to Taiwan" Miami Herald, Posted at 1:05 p.m.
EDT Tuesday, September 21, 1999. <http://www.herald.com> (accessed September
21, 1999).

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 21 of 50 080111

 Electronic Text (a poem, work of fiction, or full-length book)

Rosenberg, Liz. Fathomless: The Interview.

<http://www.emerson.edu/ploughshares/Spring1998/Rosenberg.html> (accessed April 18,
2000).

8.28 Digital Image

Halley's Comet on 12 March, 1986 [digital image], AAO image reference UKS 19. Edinburgh:
Anglo-Australian Observatory/Royal Observatory.
<http://www.aao.gov.au/local/www/dfm/uks019.html>
(Accessed September 20, 1999).

8.29 Numeric Computer File

Gelles, Richard J. & Strauss, M.A. Physical Violence in American Families, 1985 [computer
file]. 2nd release. Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire Family Research Laboratory
[producer], 1988. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social
Research [distributor], 1991.

8.30 Personal Communication

Bracks, R. 2000, Systematic Theology, (class notes).

Beck, E. March 31, 1975 (personal communication).

Sacks, O. September 14, 1999 (personal e-mail).

8.31 An annotated bibliography requires more information than is necessary to locate each
source. Each entry requires a brief description of approximately fifty words including the
source, its content, its relevance to your work, its usefulness or otherwise to the reader for
interest or further research.

Table 1: Summary of Referencing (below) is based on the author date system (Harvard) presented in
Snooks et al 2002, and incorporates information from Quote, unquote (2004) and Harvard Referencing
(2007). It illustrates and explains how to recognise the work of others from specific sources using the
1
Harvard System .

The first column describes the source of information; the second column demonstrates how to cite the
source in the body of the text and this is explained in the third column. The fourth column shows how the
reference should appear in the bibliography and an explanation of the example is explained in column five.

1
Table and related text courtesy of Cengage Education 2010. Used with permission.
Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 22 of 50 080111
Books Citation Example Comments Reference Example Comments
(in text) (in bibliography)
Single author ‘The theory was first propounded in At each point in the text that Comfort, A 1997, A good age, You should use the title page
1993’ (Comfort 1997, p. 58) OR refers to a particular document, Mitchell Beazley, London. rather than the book cover as
‘Comfort (1997, p. 58) claimed that…’ insert the author’s surname and your authority as they are
publication year as shown in the occasionally slightly different.
example.
2 or 3 authors (Madden & Hogan 1997, p. 45) OR The use of ‘&’ may replace ‘and’ Madden, R & Hogan, T 1997, The You should highlight the title of
Madden and Hogan (1997, p. 45) when referencing two authors. definition of disability in the books using italics bold type,
discuss this idea… Your choice must be used Australia: moving towards or underlining. Whichever you
consistently throughout the choose you must be consistent
national consistency, Australian
work. for all the references in your
Institute of Health and Welfare,
bibliography.
Canberra.
4 or more authors (Leeder et al. 1996, p. 69). In the case of four or more Leeder, SR, Dobson, AJ, Gibbers, All authors should be listed in
authors, the first author (from RW, Patel, NK, Mathews, PS, the reference regardless of the
the title page) is followed by ‘et Williams, DW & Mariot, DL number. They should be listed in
al.’ (abbreviated Latin term et the order they appear on the
1996, The Australian film
alia meaning ‘and others’). title page, and in the style of the
industry, Dominion Press,
Harvard System.
Adelaide.
No author ‘This was apparently not the case If you can't establish the Advertising in the Western Cape The reference is listed as normal
before about 1995’ (Advertising in author(s) of a work, include the 1990, ABC Publishers, Cape without the Authors’ details
the Western Cape 1990, p. 14)… OR title within the brackets instead. Town. (begins with italicized title and
alphabetically listed with
‘In Advertising in the Western Cape
authors.
(1990, p. 14) it was claimed that…’

Multiple works by ‘University research (Brown 1982, In brackets, list the author once Brown, P 1982, Corals in the As with the citation, each
same author 1988) has indicated that…’ only followed by the publication Capricorn group, Central reference in the bibliography by
dates of each work separated by Queensland University, the same author (listed in full) in
a comma and listed in Rockhampton. chronological order.
chronological order from
Brown, P 1988, The effects of
earliest to most recent.
anchor on corals, Central
Queensland University,
Rockhampton.
Multiple works ‘In recent reports (Napier 1993a, Use lower case letters after the Napier, A 1993a, Fatal storm, Allen References are listed in the order
published in the 1993b)…’ date if referring to more than & Unwin, Sydney. cited and include the a/b/c etc.
same year by the one item published n the same Napier, A 1993b, Survival at sea, as indicated in the citation.
year by the same author (a/b
same author Allen & Unwin, Sydney. Order
etc. to differentiate between
alphabetically by title in the
works in same year).
reference list.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 23 of 50 070210

No publication date It has been detailed that all If you do not know the date of Pirrotta, P n.d., Reference title Reference listed with all
seventeen cases have been reported publication, use 'n.d.' (which (book) or Reference title available details consistent with
in this way (Pirotta, stands for "not dated") in place (journal) etc. Remainder of source type, with ‘n.d.’ replacing
n.d.). of the year. reference listed as usual. publication year.

Direct Quotations “These resting times provide periods Enclose the quotation in Jones, A.W. 1995. Learners at the Page number or page number
for reflection and permit time for quotation marks and then centre of the educational range (in full) is listed following
new things to be learned, mastered identify the author, publication process. Newcastle: Shearer the Publishers name (itself
and brought to fruition” (Jones, year, and exact parts of the Publishing, pp. 122-123. followed by a comma rather
document that are required all than a full stop).
1995, pp.122-3).
within brackets. For example,
page number (p) or numbers
(pp), section (s.) or sections
(ss.).
Editor (Kastenbaum 1993, p. 78). A book may not have an author Kastenbaum, R (ed.) 1993, ‘ed.’ and ‘eds.’ are suitable
listed, but rather an editor Encyclopedia of adult abbreviations for editor and
responsible for the final development, Oryx Press, editors and is shown in brackets
publication. This is not indicated after editor’s name prior to
Phoenix.
in the citation. publication year.
Different Editions Renton (2004, p. 5) suggests that… Cited as usual (edition not Renton, N 2004, Compendium of An edition number is placed
cited). good writing, 3rd edn, John after the title of the work - this is
Wiley & Sons, Milton. not necessary for a first edition.
Use the abbreviation ‘edn’
edition following the edition
st nd rd th
number (1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , etc.).
Encyclopedia or The new Grove dictionary of music Dictionaries normally do not Sadie, S (ed.) 1980, The new Grove The reference does not include
Dictionary and musicians (1980, p. 85) defined it have an author as such, so the dictionary of music and detailed location of definition or
as... reference is based on the title of musicians, 6th edn, Macmillan, description.
the work. London.
Article or chapter in As discussed by Blaxter (1976, p. The author of the article or Blaxter, M 1976, Social class and The chapter of the book is
a book 101) OR health issues are discussed chapter, year and page(s) are health inequalities, in C Carter referenced as a title in inverted
(Baxter 1976, p 101). cited. & J Peel (eds), Equalities and commas. It is important to
include the editor of the book in
inequalities in health, Academic
the bibliography as this is the
Press, London, pp. 120-135.
information that would be
needed to trace the source on a
library catalogue, for example.
Article or chapter in (Solving the Y2K problem 1997, p. When the contributing author is Solving the Y2K problem 1997, in D Title of chapter replaces the
a book – no author 23). not given for an article or Bowd (ed.), Technology today author name / list in the
chapter within a book, the name and tomorrow, Van Nostrand reference.
of the chapter replaces the Reinhold, New York, p. 27.
author name in the citation.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 24 of 50 070210

Brochure (Research and Training Centre 1993, The organisation being Research and Training Centre on Organisation being advertised
p. 2). advertised replaces the author Independent Living 1993, replaces author name / list.
names and is followed by the Guidelines for reporting and
year in which the brochure was writing about people with
published
disabilities [Brochure], 4th edn,
Research and Training Centre,
Melbourne. The publisher’s
name may be abbreviated if it
is also the author.
E-book (Pettinger 2002). Cited as it would be for a Pettinger, R 2002, Global Referenced as usual for a printed
printed source. organizations, Capstone book.
Publishing, Oxford. Retrieved
Include retrieval date and source
September 28, 2004, from
of document in the reference.
NetLibrary database.
Thesis (Jones 1998, p. 89). Cited as for a printed book. Jones, F 1998, The mechanism of You need to include the name of
Bayer residue flocculation, PhD the awarding institution.
Thesis, Curtin University of
Technology. Retrieved If source is electronic, include
retrieval date and source of
December 21, 2005, from
document in the reference.
Curtin University of Technology
Digital Theses.
Research Reports Mullineux (1997). Mullineux, N. (1997) The world tyre No one example can explain the
industry: a new perspective to type and range of reports.
2005. Research Report 348. However it is important to
include the subtitle and series
London, Economist Intelligence
information. The correct content
Unit.
and order is the same as for
books.
Conference (Debono 2000). Cited as for a printed book or Debono, C 2000, The National Trust Conference papers are similar to
Proceeding and journal article respectively. into the new millennium, book chapters in that they
Papers Proceedings of the ninth appear as part of a wider
meeting of the International publication (i.e. the conference
proceedings).
National Trust, Australian
If source is electronic, include
Council of National Trusts, Alice retrieval date and source of
Springs, NT, pp. 44-6. Retrieved document in the reference.
January 20, 2006, from Informit
Online database.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 25 of 50 070210

Annual report of an (Department of Transport and Title of report and year in which Department of Transport and If source is electronic, include
organisation Regional Services 2001) OR reported information was Regional Services 2001, Annual retrieval date and source of
Billabong’s annual report (2005). compiled / collected. report 2001-2002, Canberra. document in the reference.
OR Billabong International Ltd.
2005, Annual report 2005 –
brands. Retrieved January 27,
2006, from Connect4 database.
Image in a book The poster ‘Buy Australian Apples’ The page of the book on which Cowle, C & Walker, D 2005, The art Reference as usual for a book
(Cowle & Walker 2005, p. 65). the image appears is cited. of apple branding, Apples from (image location in citation only).
Oz, Hobart.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 26 of 50 070210

Print Journals Citation Example Comments Reference Example Comments

(in text) (in bibliography)

Article As mentioned by Wharton (1996, p. Including page number in Wharton, N 1996, Health and safety
8)… citation is optional. in outdoor activity centres,
Journal of Adventure Education
and Outdoor Leadership, 12,
(4) 8-9.
Article – no author ‘It’s a growing problem in the U.K.’ Including page number in Anorexia nervosa 1969, British
(Anorexia nervosa 1969, p. 530)… citation is optional. Medical Journal 1, 529-30.

Newspaper/Magazi (Towers 2000). Towers, K 2000, Doctor not at fault:

ne article coroner, Australian, 18 January,
p. 3.
Newspaper article – .....in the Sydney Morning Herald (24 Provide all the details in the in-text
no author January 2000, p. 12). citation – no need for an entry
in the reference list.
Press release (Watersmith 2000). Watersmith, C 2000, BHP enters
new era, media release, BHP
Limited, Melbourne, 1 March.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 27 of 50 070210

Electronic Citation Example Comments Reference Example Comments

Journals (in body of text) (in Bibliography)

Full text from an (Madden 2002). As usual for printed journal. Madden, G 2002, Internet Include the retrieval date and
electronic database economics and policy: an source for electronic documents
Australian perspective,
Economic Record, vol. 78, no.
242, pp. 343-58. Retrieved
October 16, 2002, from
ABI/INFORM Global database.
Full text from an ‘The internet has had a huge impact Including page number in Internet economics and policy: an Include the retrieval date and
electronic database on the Australian economy’ citation is optional. Australian perspective 2002, source for electronic documents
– no author (Internet economics and policy 2002, Economic Record, vol. 78, no. 242,
p. 350). pp. 343-58. Retrieved October 16,
2002, from ABI/INFORM Global
database.
Full text newspaper, (WA packed with overseas appeal Article title and year of WA packed with overseas appeal Include retrieval date and source
newswire or 2004). publication. 2004, West Australian, 12 of document in the reference
magazine from an November, p. 47. Retrieved
electronic database November 13, 2004, from Factiva
– no author database
Full text from the It was proposed by Byrne (2004) As usual for printed version. Byrne, A 2004, The end of history: Include the retrieval date and
internet that… censorship and libraries, The source for electronic documents
Australian Library Journal, vol. 53,
no. 2. Retrieved November 16,
2004, from
http://www.alia.org.au/publishing/
alj/53.2/full.text/ byrne.html
Article from (La Rosa 1992, p. 58). Including page number in La Rosa, SM 1992, Marketing slays Include the retrieval date and
database on CD- citation is optional. the downsizing dragon, Information source for electronic documents
ROM (BPO) Today, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 58- 9.
Retrieved October 16, 2002, from
UMI Business Periodicals Ondisc
database.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 28 of 50 070210

Secondary Citation Example Comments Reference Example Comments

Sources (in text) (in bibliography)

Book ‘Including neuralgia’ (Carini and For sources that you have not Thibodeau, GA & Patton, KT (eds.) Reference the book in which the
Hogan, cited in Thibodeau & Patton actually seen but which are 2002. The human body in health citation appears
2002, p. 45) OR Carini and Hogan referred to in another work, cite and disease, Mosby, St. Louis, Mo.
(cited in Thibodeau & Patton 2002, both the original source and the Record the book that you actually
secondary source where you
p. 45)… sourced.
read it.
Journal Article ‘…origins of neuralgia’ (Carini and As above. Patton, KT 2002, Neuralgia and Reference the journal in which
Hogan, cited in Patton 2002, p. 2154) headaches, Science, vol. 4, pp. the citation appears
OR Carini and Hogan (cited in Patton 2153-55. Record the journal that
2002). you actually sourced.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 29 of 50 070210

World Wide Citation Example Comments Reference Example Comments

Web (in text) (in bibliography)

Document on WWW ‘It’s essential you learn how to Author and date cited as usual. Dawson, J, Smith, L, Deubert, K & Include the retrieval date and
reference’ (Dawson et al. 2002). Grey-Smith, S 2002, ‘S’ Trek 6: source for electronic documents
referencing, not plagiarism.
Retrieved October 31, 2002, from
http://studytrekk.lis.curtin.edu.au/
Document on WWW (Leafy seadragons and weedy Cited as usual with title of work Leafy seadragons and weedy Include the retrieval date and
– No author seadragons 2001). replacing Author names. seadragons 2001. Retrieved source for electronic documents
November 13, 2002, from
http://www.windspeed.net.au/~jen
ny/seadragons/
Document on WWW (Royal Institute of British Architects Insert the abbreviation n.d. to Royal Institute of British Architects Include the retrieval date and
– No date n.d.). indicate no date was indicated. n.d., Shaping the future: careers in source for electronic documents
architecture. Retrieved May 31,
2005, from
http://www.careersinarchitecture.n
et/
Image on the web The image of the bleached coral Prior to citing as usual, include Include the retrieval date and
(Coral bleaching and mass bleaching with the image inserted the Coral bleaching and mass bleaching source for electronic documents
events 2002). name given by the site authors. events [Image] 2002. Retrieved
This can be found by right September 2, 2005 from
clicking on the image and
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_si
selecting view image from the
menu. The image name will be te/info_services/ science/bleaching
in the title bar.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 30 of 50 070210

Government Citation Example Comments Reference Example Comments

Publications (in text) (in bibliography)

Act of Parliament The Commonwealth’s Copyright Act Acts of Parliament are detailed Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth). Legislation is included in a list of
1968… in full in the text of your essay. references only if it is important
Include: to an understanding of the work.
- the Acts short title Set the list apart from the main
- a legislation number body of the reference under the
- (the jurisdiction) subheading 'Legislation'.
- section (s. 3 or ss. 2-3) where Essential elements: Short title
appropriate (future Date (Jurisdiction),
references do not include If legislation is obtained from an
date). electronic database, add a
retrieved statement as for
electronic journal articles.
Cases The State of New South Wales v. The CLR = Commonwealth Law Legal authorities are included in
Commonwealth (1915) 20 CLR 54. Report a list of references only if they
are important to an
understanding of the work. Set
the list apart from the main body
of the reference under the
subheading 'Legal Authorities'.

Australian Bureau of (Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Bureau of Statistics 1999, For ABS material, always include
Statistics Bulletin 1999). Disability, ageing and carers: the ABS catalogue number in the
summary of findings, cat. no. reference. This is usually found
4430.0, ABS, Canberra. on the title page.

Australian Bureau of (Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Bureau of Statistics 1999, Include the retrieval date and
Statistics from 1999). Disability, ageing and carers: source for electronic documents
AusStats summary of findings, cat. no.
4430.0, ABS, Canberra. Retrieved
October 14, 2002, from AusStats
database.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 31 of 50 070210

Census Information (Australian Bureau of Statistics
2001). Australian Bureau of Statistics 2001,
Census of population and housing:
B01 selected characteristics (First
release processing) postal area
6050. Retrieved November 20,
2002, from AusStats database.

Government Report (Resource Assessment Commission Resource Assessment Commission

1991). 1991, Forest and timber inquiry:
draft report, vol. 1, Australian
Government Publishing Service,
Canberra.
Patent U.S. Patent No. 4554399 (1985). Cookson, AH 1985, Particle trap for
compressed gas insulated
transmission systems, U.S. Patent
4554399.
Standard (Standards Australia 1997). Standards Australia 1997, Size
coding scheme for infants’ and
children’s clothing – underwear and
outerwear, AS 1182-1997.
Retrieved January 10, 2006, from
Standards Australia Online
database.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 32 of 50 070210

Other Sources Citation Example Comments Reference Example Comments
(in text) (in bibliography)
Personal ‘It was confirmed that an outbreak See entry under ‘Books’. Not included in reference list as
communication, e- occurred in London’ (S Savieri 1999, they cannot be traced by the
mail and discussion pers. comm., 24 April). reader.
lists with no web
archive.
Personal email (Tutor 2008). Tutor, C., 13 October 2008. Re: For personal email messages the
messages reference style in assignments and ‘subject line’ of the message is
large projects. Email to A. Student given as a title and the full date
is given instead of just the year.
([email protected]).
In place of an ‘availability’
statement, use the words Email
to followed by the recipient’s
name. Also include both the
sender’s and recipient’s email
address in the reference.
Films and video (Grumpy meets the orchestra 1992). Grumpy meets the orchestra 1992, Any special information may
recording, video recording, Australian be noted after the citation.
Broadcasting Corporation, Sydney.
Featuring the Sydney Symphony
Orchestra.
Television and radio (What are we going to do with the What are we going to do with the
programmes money? 1997). money? 1997, television
programme, SBS Television, Sydney,
8 August.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 33 of 50 070210

Podcasts (The wings of a butterfly – children, The wings of a butterfly - children,
teenagers and anxiety 2005). teenagers and anxiety 2005,
podcast radio programme, ABC
Radio National, Sydney, 10
September. Retrieved September
16, 2005, from
http://www.abc.net.au/podcast/de
fault.htm#mind
CD-ROMS (Dr Brain thinking games 1998). Dr Brain thinking games 1998, CD-
ROM, Knowledge Adventure Inc.,
Torrance, California.
ERIC document Davis & Lombardi (1996) put forward Davis, RK & Lombardi, TP 1996, 'The
(microfiche) the proposal that… quality of life of rural high school
special education graduates', in
Rural goals 2000: Building programs
that work. ERIC Document No.
394765, microfiche.
E-mail discussion list (Little 2002). Little, L 2002, Two new policy briefs, Include discussion thread topic
– web archive ECPOLICY discussion list, 16 April. as the title after author and
Retrieved November 13, 2002 from year. Following this is the
http://www.askeric.org/Virtual discussion group and date of
discussion. As with other
Listserv_Archives/ECPOLICY/2002/A
electronic references, the
pr_2002/ Msg00003.html retrieval date and source URL
are listed

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 34 of 50 070210

9. USING AN APOSTROPHE

9.1 An apostrophe (’) is used to show possession and ownership except for possessive pronouns
(see 9.5).

9.2 The possessive for a singular noun is formed by adding ’s:

a boy a boy’s dog

a woman a woman’s coat
a mouse a mouse’s tail.

9.3 The possessive of a plural noun is formed by adding ’ to nouns ending with an s, and ’s to
plural nouns which do not end in s:

many boys many boys’ dog

two women two women’s hats
mice mice’s tails.

9.4 Some names end with the letter s, and the apostrophe is used as follows:

Jesus Jesus’ disciples

Moses Moses’ wife.

9.5 Some pronouns are possessive in their form and require no apostrophe:

its, her, hers, his, your, their, theirs, our, ours, my, mine.

9.6 An apostrophe indicates the omission of letters when combining two words:

it’s = it is can’t = can not don’t = do not

doesn’t = does not he’s = he is she’s = she is
aren’t - are not he’ll = he will I’ll = I will
they’re = they are we’re = we are couldn’t = could not
shouldn’t = should not you’re = you are (not the possessive pronoun your)
etc.

9.7 Note the distinction between “its” which means “belonging to it” and “it’s” which is the
contraction of “it is”. ‘It’s’ should never appear in academic writing – it should be ‘it is’. If
you can’t change it to ‘it is’, it must be ‘its’.

10. PRODUCING THE ASSIGNMENT

10.1 Preparation:

10.1.1 Read, re-read and consider the question to obtain a clear understanding of it is
asking.

10.1.2 Highlight key word(s) then check the dictionary meaning to ensure a clear
understanding of what the question asks.

10.1.3 Research by collecting data/information from a number of sources. Build an

understanding of the topic from condensed information through to more in-depth
reading. It is important to:

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 35 of 50 080111

 (a) undertake a computer search on the Internet or other databases for both
summary and extensive articles;

(b) research a summary article from a journal or multi-volume set of works, then
read major articles;

(c) read key chapters from relevant books then whole books on specific areas if
necessary;

(d) utilise the Institute Library, Macquarie University Library, any other relevant
University, College, or local library, to locate and borrow books;

(e) make notes as you go;

(f) remember to record bibliographical details on ALL material collected.

10.1.4 Referencing is essential so maintain clear and complete records of all sources for
any notes, documents, photocopies etc. (see section on referencing for details).
Only referenced material can be utilised in an essay.

10.1.5 Digest the topic before commencing any research. If different points of view
emerge from the research undertaken, decide which one best reflects your
understanding of the question.

10.2 Writing:

10.2.1 Prepare an essay outline, ensuring there is a logical sequence, with all necessary
points covered rather than focussing on one area.

10.2.2 Commence with an introduction summarising the main argument to be presented.

The introduction should be about six lines (approx. 100 words) and may be
presented with headings or a formal synopsis

10.2.3 Construct the body of the essay to develop a logical argument, introducing data
from various sources with appropriate referencing. Express ideas as clearly and
concisely as possible, with complete English sentences and NOT in lists or point
form.

10.2.4 Academic writing differs from letter writing and should be well-organised, with
clear, focussed direction. Utilise correct spelling, consistent grammar and use
inclusive language. Express objective analysis rather than an emotional response.

(a) Objective writing avoids the personal pronoun “I”.

(b) It is inappropriate to express opinions such as “I feel” or “I believe”. Use

objective statements such as “research indicates . . .”.

(c) If possible write in the past tense and use the active voice. For example:

 Passive voice states: “Persons using telephones during thunderstorms are

advised that electrical shocks may be experienced”.

 Active voice states: “You can get a shock from your telephone during a
thunderstorm”.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 36 of 50 080111

 10.2.5 Paragraphs should have a logical sequence. For easier comprehension present the
main point at the beginning of the paragraph then elaborate the argument.

10.2.6 Personal opinions may be expressed but should be stated objectively and
supported by sound argument.

10.2.7 Do not write more than necessary. Decide on relevant information that best
answers the question and discard the rest. Excess information can lose marks
rather than gain more marks.

10.2.8 When quoting directly follow the guidelines in section 2 of this document.

10.2.9 If controversy exists concerning the meaning or use of terms in the literature,
clarify how you intend to use the term(s).

10.2.10 If you wish to give information beyond that absolutely necessary for the paper or
2
thesis, use a footnote with a small superscript Roman numeral within the text. This
allows expansion on the topic under discussion without interrupting the flow of the
text. However, footnotes must not be used for citing a reference which ought to
be included within the text. For example: (Smith & Jones 1935, pp.22-24) is a
textual reference, NOT a footnote or endnote. (See 5.8 and 5.9 above for more
information on textual referencing of Bible verses and the use of footnotes.)

10.2.11 This Style Manual precludes the use of endnotes in any context.

10.2.12 The conclusion draws the threads of your argument together and presents your
final answer to the question. Limit the conclusion to approximately (six lines (about
100 words) and do not introduce any new material.

An axiom to remember when writing an essay:

 Say what you are going to say (the introduction)

 Say it (the body of the text)
 Say what you have said (the conclusion)

2
Theology students may need to use multiple footnotes. However, Counselling students should not use footnotes unless
absolutely necessary to amplify the information in the text.
Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 37 of 50 080111
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Australian Government Publishing Service 1994, Style Manual for Authors, Editors
th
and Printers, 5 edition, A.G.P.S. Press, Canberra.

Churches of Christ in NSW Theological College 1997, Guidelines for Writing

Assignments, Sydney.

Binghamton University Library, “Citing Internet and Other Electronic Resources,”

January 30, 2001. <http://library.lib.binghamton.edu/search/citing.html>
(Accessed February 16, 2001).

Elms, J. 1996, Essay Assignments: A User Friendly Guide, University of

Southern Queensland Student Association Publications, Toowoomba.

Macquarie University Unpublished Style Manual.

Turabian, K.L. 1973, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations,
th
4 Edition, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

University of Technology, Guide to Writing Assignments, Faculty of Business, 1990.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 38 of 50 080111

 Jane Citizen
Student No. 0521021

COG 411 – CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING II

Dr Cliff Powell

________

ABOUT ANGER:

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

________

“Anger is a great flame of presence. It is difficult to mistake or

ignore an angry presence. Usually anger is like fire, it starts with a
spark and then multiplies in a rapid exponential rhythm. Anger
wants to break out; it stops us in our tracks. Much of the time we
avoid conflict; we put up with things. We let things go. When the
flame of anger rises, it confronts things. Anger shouts stop! It can
be a great force for change.”

Eternal Echoes, John O’Donohue

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 39 of 50 080111

Lerner (1997, p.ix) describes anger as an intricate dance, believing it to be “one of the most painful

emotions we experience . . . an important signal that always deserves our attention and respect”.

O’Donohue (1998) views anger as an encouraging presence, heralding change to come. Some Christians

consider anger to be “a gift from God” (Oliver & Wright 1992, p.76), while others believe all anger is sin

(Richards 1991; Collins 1988). This paper discusses some of the enigmatic qualities of anger, attempts to

demythologise anger as an emotion, and suggests several therapeutic interventions which may be helpful

in enabling clients to process anger issues in ways beneficial to emotional, physical and spiritual health.

A vast number of words has been penned about theories of anger ranging from Lorenz’s (1966) hydraulic

model of built-up anger, to Berkowitz’s (1978) contention that frustrated expectations create anger, to

Bandura’s (1979) studies on the social learning effects of modelled aggression (cited in Benner & Hill 1999).

Anger functions as an “umbrella emotion” (Barker 1999) that covers over and protects other more

primitive responses. It serves to block painful emotions or sensations such as hurt, fear, anxiety or loss;

protects from a perceived threat and discharges the frustration caused by unmet needs or drives (Johnson

1989).

Collins (1988) contends most anger begins as hurt because of disappointment and unmet needs. If the

hurt is not expressed appropriately it is suppressed and covered over with anger, which eventually

becomes strong enough to hide the hurt. If the anger, in turn, is not released, the result may be the

original hurt being acted out in unhealthy behaviours, which Collins (1988 p.109) expressed

diagrammatically:

 DESTRUCTIVE ACTION
 or
HURT   ANGER  REVENGE  PSYCHOSOMATIC SYMPTOMS

 or
 DEPRESSION

(anger hides (revenge hides (depression hides hurt, anger

original hurt) hurt and anger) and need for revenge)

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 40 of 50 080111

Many people work hard to hide anger responses, and the energy required to do so can result in physical or

psychosomatic symptoms. Others turn the anger in on themselves, consciously or unconsciously, as guilt or

self-condemnation and this repressed anger may reappear as depression. Barrett (1977, cited in Collins

1988) claims depression can be a form of psychological blackmail, in which the sufferer may be using

depression as a subtle means of expressing anger, thus obtaining revenge.

Beliefs about anger tend to be shrouded in myths. Johnson (1989) claims anger is a choice and dismantles

four common myths associated with anger:

 Anger is not determined biochemically but rather is a cognitive response “associated with personal

appraisal and interpretation” (Rosenman 1985, cited in Johnson 1989).

 Anger is not an instinctive human response, and our neurophysiology does not compel us to act out

aggression towards each other.

 Anger is not an uncontrollable and automatic consequence of frustration. It is only one of many

possible responses to frustration (Dollard et al 1939, cited in Johnson 1989).

 While ventilation of anger can be a useful therapeutic response, on-going catharsis can be

counterproductive and solidify anger and aggression (Kahn 1966, cited in Johnson, 1989. Note that

Johnson [1989 p.22] is careful to identify an important exception: “The incest victim(‘s) …

emotional response is an outgrowth of facing and conquering a real situation involving … injustice,

coercion, and so on”.).

Oliver and Wright (1992) address three popular cultural myths surrounding anger, which they claim are

particularly prevalent in the Christian community:

 Anger destroys relationships. Inappropriate anger can be damaging, but if expressed constructively

can actually help build healthy relationships.

 Ignore anger and it will go away. Anger may be suppressed or repressed, but this does not mean

it has gone away. Ignoring anger can be hazardous to spiritual, psychological, emotional and

physical well-being.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 41 of 50 080111

  God is love and therefore anger is a sin and Christians should not express anger. This is false, for

Scripture is replete with references to the righteous anger of God. Christians (and all other human

beings) are created in God’s image, and this includes emotions. (Italics supplied.)

Addressing a number of “puzzling attitudes” toward anger, Augsburger (1983 p.86) believes:

anger is not an evil entity to be denied; an attack which should be suppressed; immature behaviour that

needs to be outgrown or power to be asserted. Anger is not necessarily self-destructive. Rather, anger is

arousal, which needs to be acknowledged and managed constructively.

Wright (1974) suggests four basic responses to anger. Rather than be felt, anger may be repressed

(denied), suppressed (hidden away), expressed (constructively or destructively) or confessed (to others and

God). Anger is “…at the root of many psychological, interpersonal, physical, and spiritual problems”

(Collins 1988, p.120) and is a major issue for many people seeking help.

Describing the process of therapy, Orbach (1999 p.4) refers to the “twin arcs of…the pentimento and

palimpsest”. A pentimento is a “…visible trace of (an) earlier painting beneath a layer or layers of paint”

while a palimpsest is “a manuscript in which a later writing is written over an effaced earlier writing”

(Brown 1993, p. 2152, 2076). Psychodynamic therapy builds a relationship in which the pentimento, the

client’s anger, can be peeled away slowly to reveal the pain and hurt beneath. Negative emotions can then

be expressed appropriately in a safe environment and, while history cannot be rewritten, it is possible to

write a new chapter in the client’s personal story: a palimpsest.

Effective therapy will enable the anger to surface, and Oliver and Wright (1992) suggest several cognitive

and behavioural tasks to assist a client to keep track of how anger is experienced, felt and expressed each

day between sessions. For example, an anger log (see Appendix A) may alert the client to behaviours not

previously observed and, with this heightened awareness, possibly help to slow down anger responses.

Johnson (1989) has formulated an anger inventory, which allows an individual to begin understanding the

impact of anger (see Appendix B). Oliver and Wright (1992, p.25) suggest using a chart (see Appendix C) to
Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 42 of 50 080111
assist in documenting anger responses and consider how the situation might be handled more

appropriately.

Describing the negative impact of explosive anger in relationships, Augsburger (1981) uses graphic

language:

“It (anger) dissipates needed energies, stimulates increased negative feelings, irritates the other

persons in the transaction and offers nothing but momentary discharge. Vented anger may

ventilate feelings and provide instant though temporary release for tortured emotions, but it does

little for relationships” (p.41).

Cloud (1992) maintains Christians have placed too much emphasis on dealing with distressing symptoms

such as explosive anger, with too little emphasis on the issues underlying the symptoms, with the result

that many angry individuals have experienced only superficial healing. Cloud (1992) states: “if we resolve

the issues, the symptoms will no longer have a reason to be” (p.253). As long as people are able to control

others with their anger, they will not seek to change or be responsible for their behaviour (Cloud &

Townsend 1992). If the recipients of entrenched anger refuse to be manipulated, “those who are angry at

you will have to…find a different way to relate” (p.243). Lerner (1997) stresses the important of learning

to use “‘anger energy’ in the service of our own dignity and growth…(It) is essential that we learn to

translate our anger into clear, non-blaming statements about our own self” (pp.10, 90).

Taking responsibility for our anger forces us to confront the real issues involved, and Johnson (1989) lists a

number of techniques for handling the responses and energy, which might otherwise be discharged as

anger. Johnson's (1989) suggestions include expressing the pain by verbalizing or writing; taking time out

for relaxation and reflection, or listening to soothing music and/or meditation. Physical activity such as

crying and/or beating a pillow will release tension and relax the body. Any aerobic activity – such as

gardening or walking – is a constructive way of discharging excess energy. Importantly, attempting to

understand the root causes of the anger and utilising problem-solving techniques, such as good

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 43 of 50 080111

communications skills, will help dissipate the anger, although these last two suggestions imply the

necessity to seek professional help with communications skills and understanding the core issues involved.

Every human relationship holds the potential for anger (Richards 1991), either with each other or with

God. Nahum 1:3 (NIV) assures us God is “slow to anger”, yet that same anger does not diminish His power

in any way. Oliver and Wright (1992 p.64) reiterate several Bible narratives where anger caused a loss of

relationship with God. Paul instructed the Ephesians to “be angry and yet do not sin…(or) give the devil an

opportunity” (Eph.4:26, 27, NASB), his language suggesting that, while the anger may be justified, it should

be processed and not allowed to simmer or become a fixation (Guthrie & Motyer 1970). Richards (1991,

p.50) states: ". . . there is no question that anger is a signal to us to examine and to deal with ourselves, not

justification for striking out at others”.

According to Lerner (1997, p.45) anger causes such intense emotional reactions that we tend to focus on

the other person’s behaviour, rather than:

" . . . observe our own part in the interaction. Self-observation is the process of seeing the

interaction of ourselves and others, and recognizing that the way other people behave with us has

something to do with the way we behave with them. We cannot make another person be

different, but when we do something different ourselves, the old dance can no longer continue as

usual.”

Anger is imputed with many negative connotations, yet “in the right place, at the right time, and in the

right degree, anger is not only appropriate but may be indispensable” (Bowlby 1988, p.79) and, if dealt

with constructively, is capable of driving positive changes (Oliver & Wright 1992; O’Donohue 1998). Martin

Luther King Jnr and Mahatma Ghandi turned their anger resulting from racial discrimination into peaceful

protests (Oliver & Wright 1992), altering the way millions think about race and colour. Nelson Mandela

(1995) redirected his anger at apartheid, exchanging terrorism for a Nobel Peace Prize. Christina Noble

(1998) channelled her anger over being raised in an extremely abusive Irish family, changing forever the

lives of tens of thousands of Vietnamese children.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 44 of 50 080111
While it may be possible to avoid admitting and dealing with anger, none of us is immune because ALL

human beings experience thwarted expectations and unfulfilled needs (Carter 1987). The Chinese

character for “crisis” consists of two symbols: danger and opportunity (Oliver & Wright 1992), and both

these elements are inherent in anger. The danger lies in choosing to avoid personal growth, remaining

stuck in the rut created by our anger, and so continue living with the same negative consequences.

However, there is opportunity in the crisis induced by unresolved anger: the pain and anxiety may bring a

client into the therapy room, where the concealed hurt can be uncovered, exposed, understood and

processed appropriately in a supportive, therapeutic relationship – yet another intricate, rather beautiful

version of the dance of life.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 45 of 50 080111

References:

Augsburger, D. 1981, (Revised), Caring Enough To Confront, Regal Books, Ventura.

Augsburger, D. 1983, When Caring Is Not Enough: Resolving Conflicts Through Fair Fighting, Regal Books,
California.

Barker, G.A. 1999, Class lecture notes.

Benner, D.G. & Hill, P.C., (Eds.) 1999, Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology & Counseling, 2nd ed., Baker Books,
Grand Rapids.

Bowlby, J. 1988, A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development, Basic Books,
Inc, New York.

Carter, E. 1987, The Missing Peace, Moody Press, Chicago.

Cloud, H. 1992, Changes That Heal: How to Understand Your Past to Ensure a Healthier Future, Zondervan
Publishing House, Grand Rapids.

Cloud, H. & Townsend, J. 1992, Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, To Take Control of Your Life,
Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids.

Collins, G.R. 1988, Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide, Word Publishing, Dallas.

Comparative Study Bible, The, 1984, A Parallel Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids.

Dollard, J.R., Doob, L., Miller, N., Mowrer, O. & Sears, R. 1939, Frustration and Aggression, Yale University
Press, New Haven, cited in Johnson, K., (Ed.), (1989), When Anger Hurts: Quieting the Storm Within,
New Harbinger Publications, Inc., Oakland.
rd
Guthrie, D. & Motyer, J.A. 1970, New Bible Commentary, 3 ed., InterVarsity Press, Leicester.

Johnson, K. (Ed.) 1989, When Anger Hurts: Quieting the Storm Within, New Harbinger Publications, Inc.,
Oakland.

Kahn, H.A. 1966, The physiology of catharsis, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3(3):278-286,
cited in Johnson, K., (Ed), (1989), When Anger Hurts: Quieting the Storm Within, New Harbinger
Publications, Inc. Oakland.

Lerner, H.G. 1997, The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate
Relationships, HarperCollins, New York.

Mandela, N.R. 1995, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus, London.

Noble, C. & Brown, G.C. 1998, Mama Tina, John Murray (Publishers) Ltd, London.

O’Donohue, J. 1998, Eternal Echoes: Exploring Our Hunger To Belong, Transworld Publishers Ltd, London.

Oliver, G.J. & Wright, H.N. 1992, When Anger Hits Home: Taking Care of Your Anger Without Taking It Out
on Your Family, Moody Press, Chicago.

Orbach, S. 1999, The Impossibility of Sex, The Penguin Press, London.

Wesley Institute Style Manual Page 46 of 50 080111

Richards, L.O. 1991, Zondervan Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand
Rapids.

Rosenman, R.H. 1985, Health consequences of anger and implications for treatment, In
Anger Hostility in Cardiovascular and Behavioral Disorders, Chesney M.A. and Rosenman, R.H.
(Eds.), Hemisphere Publishing Co., Washington DC, cited in Johnson, K., (Ed), (1989), When Anger
Hurts: Quieting the Storm Within, New Harbinger Publications, Inc. Oakland.

Wright, H.N. 1974, The Christian Use of Emotional Power, Revell, New Jersey, cited in
Collins, G.R. (1988), Christian Counselling: A Comprehensive Guide, Word Publishing, Dallas.

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APPENDIX A

ANGER LOG

DAY
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Frequency
How many times each day do you become angry,
internally or externally?
(Place a number for each day.)
Intensity
On average, how intense was your anger today?
(10 = most intense, 1 = almost none.)
Duration
On average, how many minutes do you usually
remain angry?
Negative Expression
How many times today did you express your anger
negatively?
Positive Expression
How many times today did you express your anger
positively?
Relationship Disturbance
On average, did your anger today help or hinder
your relationships.
(10 = a disaster, 1 = most helpful)

(Adapted from Oliver & Wright 1992, p.24.)

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APPENDIX B

ANGER IMPACT INVENTORY

0 = No effect 3 = Very significant effect

1 = Minor effect 4 = Major effect
2 = Moderate effect

Instructions: Using the five-point scale, rate the degree of impact your anger has on the following:

Rating
1. Relationships to authority figures (teachers, bosses,
police, government employees, and so on) ____
2. Relationship to peers and colleagues at work ____
3. Relationships to subordinates at work ____
4. Relationships to customers, clients, business associates, and so on ____
5. Relationships to children ____
6. Relationships to children’s teachers, other parents ____
7. Relationships to spouse or partner ____
8. Relationships to previous spouse or partner ____
9. Relationships to in-laws ____
10. Relationships to parents ____
11. Relationships to other family members ____
12. Relationships to current friends ____
13. Relationships to former friends ____
14. Relationships to neighbours ____
15. The role of anger in lost relationships ____
16. Relationships to recreational groups/organizations ____
17. Relationships to religious groups/organizations ____
18. Relationships to political and other groups ____
19. Impact on your health of anger episodes ____
20. Effect of anger symptoms (rapid heart rate, tension,
shoulder and neck pain, headache, irritability, insomnia,
feeling of pressure, restlessness, brooding, and so on) ____
21. Time lost to angry feelings ____
22. Intrusion of anger into relaxing or pleasurable activities (sex,
sport, hobbies, day in the country, holidays and so on) ____
23. Effect of anger on drinking or drug use ____
24. Effect of anger on your creativity or productivity ____
25. Effect of anger on your driving ____
26. Accidents, errors, and mistakes ____

As you examine your list, what patterns emerge? Are you angrier at work or at home? With intimates or more
distant relationships? Do you tend to feel angrier with authority figures and parents or with peers? Does your
sexual relationship become a battleground? Have you lost a significant number of relationships because of
anger? Identify one or two areas where you want to concentrate your efforts. Journal some of your responses
to these questions.

(Adapted from Johnson, 1989, pp. 39, 40.)

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APPENDIX C

ANGER EXPRESSIONS

(1) Mark with a tick () how you expressed anger most recently to your:

Person Held it back Indirect anger Direct anger (see note below)

Spouse/partner ________ ________ ________

Children ________ ________ ________
Mother ________ ________ ________
Father ________ ________ ________
Family members ________ ________ ________
Employer/ees ________ ________ ________
Co-worker ________ ________ ________
Friends ________ ________ ________

(2) Think about the people toward whom you might express anger.
How do they respond when you express anger?
How would you like to respond next time?

Person Response How I would like to respond next time

Spouse/partner ___________ __________________________________

Children ___________ __________________________________
Mother ___________ __________________________________
Father ___________ __________________________________
Family members ___________ __________________________________
Employer/ees ___________ __________________________________
Co-worker/s ___________ __________________________________
Friends ___________ __________________________________
Others ___________ __________________________________

(3) Think of a behaviour or situation which consistently provokes you, then think of a change you can make
next time in your behaviour/responses. Write about your responses below:

Note: “Hold it back” means repressing or suppressing anger, “Indirect anger” describes passive/aggressive behaviours and “Direct anger”
is various ways of acting-out anger.

(Adapted from Oliver & Wright, 1992, p.25.

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