Studying in college is primarily an exercise in analyzing the words of previous writers, integrating those thoughts into our own thinking, and effectively communicating our thinking to our readers. For most assignments, the more relevant information we can provide, the better.
Documentation often provides significant, useful information for readersinterested in the subject.
We acknowledge sources because we need to establish our integrity and honesty as writers. The proper use of a documentation system is a means for demonstrating that we understand and respect the conventions of academic writing. Many academic assignments often require the writer to clarify what has been previously said on the subject. For these assignments, we might imagine ourselves walking into a room where people, perhaps for hundreds of years, have been discussing our subject. An author's primary responsibility is to make clear what has already been said on the subject and who said it.