• Citing allows you to acknowledge and give credit to the author(s) of the original work who provided you with the information or idea.
• Citing allows your audience to identify and find the source material in order to learn more about your topic.
• Citing gives your research paper more credibility because it shows you are supporting your arguments or points of view with reliable sources.
• Citing prevents plagiarism.
• Read a current account of what happens when a news reporter failed to cite his sources.

plagiarism

noun pla·gia·rism \ˈplā-jə-ˌri-zəm also -jē-ə-\

The act of using another person's words or ideas without giving credit to that person.

Definition by Merriam-Webster online dictionary.