Why is it important to use a works cited page?

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it is important to show where you got your information from to avoid cheating
it is important to show who wrote the paper
it is important to show what the paper is about
it is important to show how many pages are in the paper

It is important to use a works cited page primarily to give credit to the sources or authors whose work you have referenced or used in your own paper or research. This serves multiple purposes:

1. Avoiding plagiarism: By properly citing your sources, you indicate that you have used others' work ethically and avoided presenting it as your own. This helps you maintain academic integrity and avoid potential consequences of plagiarism.

2. Providing credibility and supporting your arguments: By including a works cited page, you demonstrate that your research is based on credible sources. This lends more weight to your arguments, making them more convincing and reliable.

3. Enabling further research: A works cited page allows your readers to easily locate and access the sources you have used. This enables them to delve deeper into the topic, verify the information, and explore related research.

4. Enhancing your own credibility: By acknowledging the contributions of other researchers and scholars in your field, you show that your work is part of a broader academic conversation. This adds legitimacy to your own work and establishes you as a knowledgeable and well-rounded researcher.

In summary, a works cited page is not about showing who wrote the paper or providing a summary of its contents, but rather serves as a means to acknowledge and give credit to the sources used in your research while upholding academic integrity.