Citation is standard practice for scholars and students for several reasons: It shows that you have conducted research and considered multiple viewpoints; it helps your reader locate the sources you've used in the paper; it gives you credibility as a writer; and it gives credit to other scholars for their ideas, which helps you avoid plagiarism.
Plagiarism, as defined in CSU Global's academic dishonesty policy, is "the adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, or statements of another person as one's own either knowingly, carelessly, or without acknowledgment." This infographic provides an overview of the most common reasons why student submissions are flagged for plagiarism, with suggestions for how to avoid plagiarism in the future.
Avoiding Plagiarism Infographic Transcript