· If you do not cite properly, you are claiming someone else’s work as your own. Whether intentional or not, this is plagiarism. By citing someone’s work you acknowledge and respect their intellectual property rights.
· Your list of works cited helps someone reading your paper learn more about your topic by seeing the original sources you used for your research.
· How scholarly your paper is and how knowledgeable you are on your topic is shown in the citations you include in your writing. Citations can reflect support for a point you are trying to make, therefore adding credibility to your arguments. They make your writing more persuasive.
· Citations, as long as they are relevant, reflect how deeply you have researched your topic. They are an indicator of your effort.
General Research Guide. Paul J. Gutman Library at Philadelphia University. 3 March 2008. http://www.philau.edu/library/researchguide/generalresearchguide/citation.htm