Tell your reader what they should look for in the quotation you've picked, or what this quote demonstrates to support your point and, ultimately, your thesis. 3. The citation punctuation is determined by the length of your quote. Quotes of four lines or less remain in the paragraph but are separated by quotation marks. For longer quotations, leave out the final period; the reader will know to pause after each sentence. Citations are references to other parts of the text or outside sources that support your argument or point of view. They're important because they provide evidence for the claim(s) you make in your essay. Without citations, your essay would be less reliable because readers wouldn't have any way to check your arguments or knowledge of different perspectives. The process of using citations to prove your points requires you to do some research and read carefully. While it's helpful if you know the source of a particular phrase or idea when writing, most concepts can be found elsewhere within the text or in other studies or articles. A good researcher will take all these factors into account when looking up information for their essay. Citations are used at the end of your essay to acknowledge those who have helped with information or ideas that you use in your work. They are essential for anyone who wants others to consider their views as valid and worthy of attention. Without citations, your essay would be incomplete and unreliable because readers would not know how you came to your conclusions.