When you write a research paper, you use information and facts from a variety of resources to support your own ideas to develop new ones. You cite these sources for the following reasons:
Giving credit to the source acknowledges experts and scholars for their contribution.
Citations build credibility because they demonstrate how much you have read and learned, including sources from competing and multiple viewpoints. It will be apparent to your reader that your ideas are well supported.
Citations can guide your readers to more information about your topic.
Your work contributes to ongoing intellectual conversations.
