When you use other authors' ideas and words in your own writing, it is important to credit them - even if you do not quote their words exactly as written.
Citing your sources allows your reader to identify the works you have consulted and to understand the breadth and scope of your research. Footnotes, endnotes, and lists of works consulted provide substantiation for your own findings and ideas.
Practicing "cite as you write" and keeping track of ideas and quotations that you use in your own writing helps you to avoid plagiarism or charges of research misconduct.
Correctly citing your sources will also allow you to abide by the spirit and letter of the Univeristy of Arkansas Academic Integrity Policy.
Research assignments will always require that you include a list or references or works cited. If you are in the sciences or social sciences you will usually be required to use APA Style citations. For history papers, professors often require Chicago Style citations. Humanities assignments may require MLA Style citations. Citing your sources in the correct format can be a tedious process but the more you do it the easier it will become. There are many resources to help you with this process.
Did you know that librarians can also help you locate the correct citation format?If you you've consulted the guides and other tools mentioned and still can't seem to find answers, ask a librarian!
Did you know subject librarians can help you with discipline specific research? Sometimes you just need to talk to "a human!" Computers are great but they can't help with everything. Some research assignments benefit from talking through your processes, key words or search terms, and source choices with a professional. Librarians can help with these issues.