Look, we get it. You've spent a lot of time putting together your powerpoint or writing your paper. You are just ready for the process to be over. You have other stuff to do, other classes to study for, sleep to get, and work to do. But before you save that document and turn it in, remember that you need to cite your sources. This is a vital step and can make a big difference in your grade.
Need help getting started on citing sources for your projects and papers? Look no further than our citation guide for example citations, sample papers, and advice on how to cite in-text.
Looking for more help? No worries! Your friendly library staff is always available to help you when it comes to formatting and citing sources. Reach out at any time for help!
Why Cite?
It gives proper credit to the work's creator.
So when you do research, its important to remember that everything you are reading is written by a real person. This person may have spent years of their lives researching one specific topic in such detail that it provides you with the support you need for your project. So lets say you are doing some research on the placebo effect and you stumble across this 10 year trial that has great information you want to use. But take a minute to think about that. A ten year trial. Think That means that someone dedicated 10 years of their life to this one project and that 10 years resulted in this one paper. For all that effort, you want to make sure that the author is credited for the 10 years they devoted to the research that helps you prove your point.
It enables the researcher to find the work cited in order to verify the accuracy and interpretation of what is quoted or referred to.
Some people are more credible about topics than others. You wouldn't trust your doctor to replace your water pump. You wouldn't trust your mechanic to remove your gallbladder. When you cite yoursources, the name of whoever wrote what you are quoting from goes first. Its a big statement that says "This is a person that I trust to have accurate information." It allows your instructor and anyone else that reads your paper know that you have enough knowledge on the subject to know who is worth listening to.
It is a check on the false attribution and misleading use of information.
"Well I read online that-" "I saw this show once-" "This email was looked over by an attorney-" See a trend? None of these statements can be verified. Where online? What was the show? Who is this mysterous attorney? Usually when you hear someone start a conversation this way, you know to be careful because what they are saying may not be 100% accurate (if accurate at all). The common thread here is that you can't actually fact check anything they are saying because they don't provide enough details. Citation allows anyone reading your paper or project to know who wrote it, where it was published, when it was published, and who it was published by. By providing this info, you are again showing the quality of the source and your judgement.
It allows YOUR ideas to stand out clearly in the text.
The point of your coursework is to show your instructor how well you understand the subject. And while using expert opinions and information is a great way to support your arguments, its important that your ideas and comprehension shine through. By citing your sources, you are showing your instructor that you put the time and energy into researching the topic and now you are able to form your own opinions. Research is a conversation and most issues have multiple sides. Did these two well respected authors opinions differ? So why did you choose to quote one author over another? By citing other people's opinions, you are able to clearly use them as support or a springboard to refute their claims. This allows your instructor to see your understanding of the material which always means better grades.
It helps reduce the possibility of plagiarism as you have clearly stated the sources for your information and ideas.
You didn't think you'd get through a list about citation without hearing about plagiarism did you? Plagiarism is a big deal. Its a form of fraud and can get you in serious trouble. For TSTC, its an ethical issue and can affect your academic career and professional reputation. Don't risk your future by trying to pass someone else's work off as your own.
It improves your grade.
Take a look at your assignment. Chances are, your instructor has some requirements for the resources you can use. For some it may just be a number: "Use no less than 3 sources". For others it may be quality: "All sources must be peer reviewed". And for a few it can be a date range: "Sources must be published within two years of today's date." The easiest way to prove all of these is in your works cited/bibliography. By including these details, your instructor can easily check these items off the grading rubric and move on to the content of your paper. Citing your sources can often be the easiest points you get on a paper. So go through the little extra time it takes to include them and it can make a big difference on the final outcome.