This document discusses the importance of properly citing sources in academic writing. It explains that citing sources demonstrates scholarship by showing the sources of your knowledge and ideas. It describes different referencing styles and emphasizes that both citing and referencing are needed to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism is passing off others' work as your own, which can result in penalties like failing courses or expulsion from school. The document encourages relying on peer-reviewed academic sources rather than popular sources due to their higher credibility.