While preparing a research paper, you will gather information that supports your ideas, which you have found in works created by others. A citation gives your reader the information needed to locate these works. While it is acceptable to discuss and build on the ideas of others, those authors must be given credit for their work. If you don’t give credit to other authors by including accurate citations in your paper, you are committing plagiarism, which is not acceptable at Northampton Community College.
For help with understanding and avoiding plagiarism, go to the Library's "Plagiarism and Copyright" Web page, or contact a writing tutor at the NCC Learning Center. It is better to ask questions about citations before you hand in your paper, rather than risk making a mistake and earning a lower grade.