They help others find the information that you used.

They help establish the credibility of your own research.

They connect your work to the work of other scholars.

It is one way that scholars enter into a dialogue with each other.

UCI Libraries. "Why is it important that I cite my sources correctly?" Begin Your Research Tutorial. Accessed 5 May 2016. http://www.lib.uci.edu/sites/tutorials/BeginResearch/public/citations_3.html