Citing the works that were used in the creation of your research papers is imperative, as it ensures that the authors of the sources your consulted are given credit for their contribution to your knowledge. Not citing another's work will lead the reader of your work to erroneously assume the ideas are your original thought. This is a subtle form of PLAGIARISM.
Simply stated, plagiarism is using someone else's works (ideas) and passing them off as your own. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to the following practices:
To avoid being accused of plagiarism, properly acknowledge the sources that were consulted by using a citation style. Using a citation style ensures that all of the citations follow the same format and the reader of your paper can easily find the information about the sources you used.
Plagiarism is a serious offense that carries consequences. Consult the University's regulations pertaining to academic integrity to learn about your responsibilities.