Referencing practice?

[brenden]

Hey guys.

I'm writing an essay at the moment, and I have a sentence that I need to back up with a reference. I found one that's pretty perfect, but it's an unpublished PDF. Like, it's some guy's thesis that he wrote to complete is Master of Arts, but to my knowledge it isn't in a reputable journal. Is this still something that I can cite legitimately? I'm assuming for obvious reasons that it's less credible than a normal journal article, but will I be laughed at for citing it? Should I just try and search for a journal article that lets me do the same thing? (I'll probably do this, but in the event that I can't find a journal article, should I just scrap the other reference?)

Thanks peeps

[simpak]

I wouldn't reference a thesis in any of my essays.  For me, if it's not peer reviewed it's not worth referencing.
Does he not have a reference to back up his statements...?

That makes it even more suspect.

[brenden]

That's actually a pretty good point, I should just steal his reference.

[simpak]

But I hope you checked it ;--;
So many times things get referenced and I'm like HOW IS THAT EVEN RELEVANT THAT DOESN'T SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

[brenden]

But I hope you checked it ;--;
So many times things get referenced and I'm like HOW IS THAT EVEN RELEVANT THAT DOESN'T SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

Yeah his reference was actually shit, I changed things around a bit and I no longer need that reference. Winning. Ty simpak !

[simpak]

Would have been lolz if he referenced someone else's thesis...