Citing your sources is important for many reasons. When you cite a source, you

• demonstrate respect for an author's intellectual property
• tell your reader where to find the information cited
• and indicate whether an idea is yours or if you are building on someone else's work.

There are different ways to cite sources, and the proper way to cite depends upon the format of the source and the style being used. MLA, Chicago, and APA are some of the most popular citation styles, but there are many others. Ask your professor which citation style he or she prefers.