Citing your sources is important for a variety of reasons, including: It gives credit to the authors of the sources you used It provides your reader with more information about your sources It shows your credibility How to Write a Perfect Personal Statement, How to Write a Successful Scholarship Essay, How to Write a Response/Reaction Paper like a Pro, How to Write a Research Proposal like a Pro, How to Write a Reflection Paper like a Pro, How to Write a Successful Motivation Letter, How to Write a Capstone Project like an Expert, How to Write a Business Report like a Pro, How to Write a Business Letter like a Pro, How to Write a Book Review like an Expert, How to Write an Article Critique like a Pro, A Step-by-Step Guide on Writing a Great Academic Paper, Tables, Images, & Appendices in APA Style, How to Develop a Research Problem/Question, How to Write a Literature Review like a Pro, Everything You Need to Know about Qualitative Research, Everything You Need to Know about Quantitative Research, How to Write Research Methodology like a Pro, 4 Useful Tips to Make a Great Presentation, How to Create a Great Presentation Using Visuals, How to Improve Readability of Your Writing, Everything You Need to Know About Paragraph Development, 5-Step Guide of How to Prepare for an Oral Presentation, How to Calm Your Nerves before Public Speaking, 6 Effective Time Management Tips for Students, Effective Proofreading & Editing Strategies. Accuracy is all important in any writing, especially when … Referencing allows you to acknowledge the contribution of other writers and researchers in your work. Quoting from sources from journals that have a global reputation is usually a good idea. New York, NY: Philomel Books. All these features mean that referencing and citing are vital components of academic practice. To this end, citation isn’t just about providing credit, it’s about protecting yourself mistakes made in your research. When applicable, students should cite the revised versions of books and other publications. In an era so focused on “fake news” and “alternative facts”, it is worth noting that actual facts often do contradict one another, leading to conflicting, albeit reasonable, theories. The date of publication does not change the fact that a source should be cited; all resources should be referenced when the ideas from them have been used in a paper. It is important to make citations that are renowned for being reputable. Citing sources is the best way to avoid accusations of plagiarism and to show that the student is aware of previous research in the given field. The purpose of this guide is to explain to students the importance of documenting works of other people consistently and to provide insights into the best practice of source citation. Citing sources, on the other hand, makes the written work more useful. You should cite the sources of information you use in your academic work because: Citing makes your work more credible. Citation is about giving credit where credit is due. Citation of sources is mandatory for any scholar but in some instances, the improper attribution can be unchecked. To that end, correctly citing sources actually improves both the quality of the writing and the strength of the arguments. Still, when bringing in other people’s thoughts and work into your writing, proper citation isn’t just a way to give credit, it bolsters your argument by providing supporting evidence and making it so that anyone who wishes to take a counter position is arguing with more people. Provide credibility to your paper: When you write your paper, you would like to show your professor and other readers that you’ve found the most up-to-date study. Citing works used in a paper is a method which allows students to delineate their own creative ideas from those proposed by other people and to specify the source from which the particular data has come from. Acknowledging your sources contributes to the scholarly conversation on the topic you are researching. Philomel Books, 2017. Citing sources is one of the key ways in which to establish the credibility of the researcher. Students need to master this skill since it will allow them to quote the ideas of other people correctly and avoid accusations of plagiarism. Citing or documenting the sources used in your research serves three purposes: It gives proper credit to the authors of the words or ideas that you incorporated into your paper. Even when you’re writing something that’s purely non-fictional, you’re presenting one set of facts that may collide with other evidence. As a student citing is important because it shows your reader (or professor) that you have invested time in learning what has already been learned and thought about the topic before offering your own perspective. Citing tells your reader where you found your information. helpful to anyone who wants to find out more about your ideas and where they came from 2 Cookies Policy. It’s one where the ability to obtain the information is often more prized than the method through which it is obtained. Whether you’re writing for school or for anything else, you’re going to make mistakes. One of the biggest reasons is because a very large percentage of writing is persuasive in nature. Citing sources used in a paper is a requirement of academic writing applied by almost all educational or scientific institutions. In the body of the paper, they may acknowledge that some research supports their idea, which will additionally stress the importance of the discussion. If you don’t cite your work, every word, thought, fact and idea is attributed to you by default. I am not a lawyer and nothing on this website should be construed as legal advice. © 2005-2020 Plagiarism Today All Rights Reserved, Couple that with a slew of easily-debunked plagiarism cliches, 5 Public Domain Christmas Songs (And 5 That Aren’t), Why Cite? The act of citing sources is also your best defense against allegations of plagiarism. Why Cite Sources in Your Academic Writing? In addition, it provides an opportunity to prove that there is a gap in the way the academic community comprehends the issue under analysis. By carefully and accurately citing your external sources in the text and by docume… Moreover, referencing the existing body of knowledge shows that the learner has carried out research on the topic and is well-informed when making certain statements or proposing new hypotheses for validation. This is by far the most common reason... Reason 2: Strengthen Your Position. (p.4 Lipson, Cite Right, 2006) However, good citations show your research and show your process. While there is no such thing as a good mistake, one made in good faith is far better than one made negligently. There are many reasons why it is important to cite the resources that you consult when researching a paper. Citing properly requires that you provide your sources honestly and clearly so that your readers can understand the basis for your research, check your facts and ideas, and pursue your sources further. One of the major ways to do so is to use sources that are credible. While not all writing needs a great deal of citation, using it correctly when appropriate makes writing much stronger giving greater strength to opinions and clarity to the author’s thoughts. Too often when we discuss why citation is needed, we look only at the ethical issues. Get inspired by 100,000+ free essay examples. If some of that information turns out to be wrong, it is on your head. Citation requirements are applicable not only to direct quotes but also to ideas and data that have been developed by other people. The idea is fairly straightforward: great writing of all types is built at least in part on the work of others. To connect your research to the work of other scholars. Citing Sources in a Speech. In future roles, as professional researchers, students will be able to cite the intellectual property of other investigators correctly without discrediting their own reputation, while also eliminating the possibility of legal action initiated due to plagiarism. To acknowledge the research of scholars who made your work possible.. To establish credibility of your research. Parts Of Citations. Referencing allows you to acknowledge the contribution of other writers and researchers in your work. Once you have decided what sources best help you explain important terms and ideas in your speech or help you build your arguments, it’s time to place them into your speech. Unfortunately, your browser is too old to work on this site. correct Answer Correct: That’s right! Correctly cited sources allow the audience to locate any literature used in the paper. In this section, we’re going to quickly talk about using your research effectively within your speeches. cite their sources and provide lists of the sources to give credit to the work of other researchers and so that colleagues and others can locate the source and understand the context of the idea and perhaps find more similar information So, there is a reason for why we cite sources, and it is actually important! It is important to cite your sources properly: So you won’t be accused of stealing someone’s work. Citations to sources helps readers expand their knowledge on a topic. Attribution, in this context, is a small pittance paid to the original creators for the use of their work. video from The Harness Library illustrates why it's important for you to cite your sources. All of the above. We utilize security vendors that protect and ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. Not citing sources is an instance of plagiarism, or taking credit for the work of others. However, this only works when citing high-qaulity and respected sources. Please check your email to confirm your subscription! If you … It also shows that they are capable of engaging in a discussion using a critical approach, which enhances the overall impression of their work. Many students, especially those early into their studies, get caught plagiarizing and wonder what the big deal is. The reason for the question is because we are living in an information economy, one where the ability to quickly access information seems to be more important than the knowledge itself. While we accept that new work will be built upon those that came before, there’s an inherent social contract to be respectful with that use and to always give credit. It's important to cite sources you used in your research for several reasons: To show your reader you've done proper research by listing sources you used to get your information; To be a responsible scholar by giving credit to other researchers and acknowledging their ideas; To avoid plagiarism by quoting words and ideas used by other authors This not only encourages your readers to check out their work, possibly giving some additional attention to them, but also shows an appreciation and acknowledgement for their efforts. It enhances your credibility as a writer. Why is citing a source correctly so important? Your sources also convey information about the intellectual context of your research. This is the main method of avoiding situations where a student might be accused of plagiarizing someone else’s thoughts or ideas. It is one of the most reliable ways to win the hearts of readers. Notably, each style has its own rules for reference entries and in-text citations (see Table 1). Although it can sound a bit controversial, despite the fact that plagiarism is strictly prohibited in all universities or colleges and plagiarism consequences are dire, there is no reason to avoid it because sometimes it … This encourages readers to not place the blame for the misinformation on you (unless you used a clearly untrustworthy source). Finally, citing your sources can easily save your hide. It should be mentioned that some topics are studied more exhaustively than others, which implies that several authors might propose similar ideas. If researchers fail to cite any literature it will appear that they have not conducted research on the topic and have not analyzed the literature available to them, leading to questions regarding the reliability of any conclusions made. Signup to get FREE Daily updates on copyright and plagiarism news. Sometimes you can accomplish this simply by mentioning the author or title of a source in the body of your writing, but other times you’ll handle in-text citation differently, with a parenthetical citation. This is particularly applicable to situations when the data provided in the cited work turn out to be irrelevant or incorrect. Every time you use an idea or language from a source in your text (so every time you summarize, paraphrase, or directly quote material from a source), you will want to add an in-text citation. The primary reason to cite your sources is to avoid plagiarism and give proper credit to the original author or creator. The most important of these are: Gives credit to authors whose works you have used (whether you quote them or not). Citing your sources shows your reader what sources you used in your research. Therefore, it is necessary for students to understand why they need to cite the resources they use, as well as how to do so correctly. I am not a lawyer. If a learner decides to offer an adapted version of someone else’s work in their paper, they should still reference the original writing. It is important to note that there are different citation styles, each of which with their own peculiarities. Plagiarism Today is a website aimed at webmasters and other creators to help them address the issues of plagiarism, copyright infringement and other forms of content misuse online. Intellectual honesty. You shouldn’t steal, so don’t. The main reasons for citing the works of other people are as follows: The fundamental difference between a citation and a reference is that a citation is a specific resource that the student has discussed in the body of the paper and is indicated by an in-text citation. It’s not just about making more ethical writers, it’s about making better writers. It Makes You a Professional Scientist. Citing allows your reader to learn more, beginning with your sources. While to many writers, researchers and academics this seems like one of the most obvious questions possible, it’s still a question many teachers get asked by students. By referencing someone else’s ideas, students and researchers secure their reputation. Notably, if a student discovers that the idea they have is already mentioned by someone else, they must reference the other author’s work. Why Citations Matter. But looking at citation from a purely ethical standpoint misses a great deal of the purpose of citing sources. However, that work comes at great time, expense and effort. One of the best ways to engage an audience and demonstrate authority is by citing sources when you make a claim. Three Examples of Different Citation Styles. Salt to the sea. Therefore, students should stress that the information they provide is adapted from some specific source and include this work in the reference list. A guideline that can help with deciding whether or not to cite facts is to determine whether the same data is repeated in multiple sources. While citation is an ethical requirements, it’s also key to stronger arguments, better research and better work all around. Three Reasons to Cite Your Sources, Why Siraj Raval’s Plagiarism is the Future of Plagiarism, The Perfect Plagiarism Apology… Which I am Yet to See, Associated Press Publishes List of “Best Essay Writing Services”, 3 Ways Spotify’s Plagiarism Tool is Different. Your privacy is extremely important to us. Complete and accurate citing and documenting of all external sources help writers achieve three very important goals: 1. There are two parts to a citation: In-Text Citation Basically, citation is a way to pay a small token to the creators and whose work yours is built in part upon. References, on the other hand, are placed at the end of the document and provide full publication details for the in-text citations. When you publish your own article or book some day, you will want the same. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our Students should always reference works of other people, but this does not imply that their own paper lacks originality. This is by far the most common reason given for citing sources and the justification that comes up the most when dealing with plagiarism in academic tribunals and editorial boards. Other reasons for citing your sources: Enables a reader to locate the sources you cited. The Figure below unpacks a bit further the reasons why citations are so important… You will need to use specialists in their field to cite reliable sources. It is the practice of giving credit to the sources that inform your work. Isn’t being right more important than following arcane rules of citation? Correctly citing information and including quotes is a way of backing up any arguments or points made. 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