Properly citing sources in your research assignment ...
- distinguishes your contributions from those of other authors and gives them proper credit
- enables readers to locate, verify and consult the sources used thereby supporting further study and analysis
If you do not identify the sources that have influenced or appeared in your paper (even if unintentional), you have committed plagiarism, an offence that can lead to penalties such as a failing grade or expulsion from your school.
Start to cite properly by learning the who, what, where and when of your source!