What is a reference page?

A reference page is a list of sources used to prepare and write a research paper. It typically comes at the end of the document. The references page demonstrates where information presented comes from and strengthens the credibility of the information in the report.

Reference pages also meet a standard of integrity in academic writing as the author credits the source of information. Reference pages are formatted to fit certain style guidelines. Typically, the top of the page has a header, such as "References." Each work is typically cited alphabetically or cited in the order it appears in the paper. The format of the work in the list varies based on the type of resource or publication.