Final answer:
The statement that the purpose of the reference list is to enable readers to easily locate sources is true. Reference lists are essential for giving credit, supporting arguments, and engaging in the academic conversation about a topic. They include all sources cited in the paper and may also feature annotations describing each source's relevance and value.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the reference list is indeed to allow your sources to be more easily found by your reader, providing a path to the original material for further research or verification. This statement is true. Reference lists serve several critical functions in academic writing. Firstly, they give proper credit to the authors from whom you have drawn ideas and information, which is essential for academic integrity. Secondly, a reference list allows readers to trace the sources you used to formulate your argument and evaluate the foundation of your research. Lastly, by citing sources, researchers contribute to the academic community, enabling an ongoing conversation on a given topic and demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
Bibliographies or reference lists can take many forms, including a standard list at the end of a paper or an annotated bibliography that includes a brief description or evaluation of each source. When conducting research, the use of a research log can be invaluable in tracking sources to prevent their loss and potential problems such as plagiarism. The APA referencing style, for example, demands that each source is comprehensively listed at the end of the paper, with every citation in the text matched by a corresponding entry in the reference list. This organized approach assists both the writer in the orderly compilation of sources and the reader in the pursuit of additional information.