Referencing outside sources gives support to your argument and provides credibility from experts in the field, and those sources are helpful to show that you’ve done your research and are well-versed in the topic.

You want to make sure, though, that your voice is still clear in your essay — you don’t want those outside voices to overpower yours, nor do you want the essay to sound like a list of quotes.  Incorporating outside sources into the essay seamlessly takes some practice, and this section explains how and when to use direct quotes, to paraphrase in your own words, or to condense material through summary.