8 Why We Cite

Why is it so important to cite your sources? To avoid plagiarism, yes, but also…

  • To challenge your thinking
  • To give credit where it’s due
  • To take part in scholarly conversation and put your ideas in context
  • To provide a roadmap for your thinking – for your professors and for your colleagues

And even to help your future self. You may want to refer back to a previous project to figure out how you found certain information. Complete references come in handy!

License

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Information Sources in Mechanical Engineering Copyright © 2020 by Alison Henry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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