MM14 Integrating and documenting sources

MM14-a: Documenting sources

MM14-aUnderstanding why documenting sources is important

Giving formal credit to sources is necessary for a few key reasons. Documenting sources allows you to

make evident to an audience that you have done your homework, researched the topic thoroughly, and are aware of larger conversations, discussions, and research related to the topic;
direct an audience to the original material that you gathered and used to conduct research and write up your findings;
give credit where credit is due, acknowledging your use of someone else’s ideas—whether they’re expressed in written words, static or moving images, sound, or multiple modes.

You may be familiar with different documentation styles, such as MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE. Your handbook covers how to cite sources in your written work.