Academic writing is supposed to be well-sourced.

More about it:

  • You would draw from “other texts (or media objects like photographs or films) that the author analyzes or uses as evidence” to support your arguments.
  • It’s expected you would cite materials “written by other academics; academic writing is collaborative and builds on previous research.
  • You also should cite the sources by “acknowledging whenever you quote or paraphrase someone else’s work by including a citation in the text and a reference list at the end.”