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.
What information does not need to be cited?
Common knowledge does not need to be cited. Common knowledge includes facts that are known by a lot of people and can be found in many sources. For example, you do not need to cite the following: Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States.
How do you reference sources properly?
Cite the article as you would the same article in a print publication, listing:
- author(s) name and initials.
- title of the article (between single quotation marks)
- title of journal (in italics)
- any publication information (volume, number etc.)
- page range.
- accessed day month year (the date you accessed the article)
What are the four reasons why you should cite sources?
The four main reasons you should cite your sources are to:
