Many students seem to be confused about referencing in academic papers. The general guidelines below should help you out.
References are extremely important components of academic work. A paraphrase of something, or even a heavy reliance on someone else, should be noted. Students should not be afraid that there is a negative connotation attached to a noted statement -- the critical fact is how you utilize the information, argument, etc. You should avoid any attempt to pretend that you do not draw heavily on the thinking, wisdom, and knowledge of others.
However, direct quotations of others' work should be used sparingly. Avoid the trap of making your paper into a string of quotations, properly cited or not. You should only use a direct quote when there is no way for you to capture the meaning of the source material in a paraphrase. Most of the time, you should explain in your own words what is being said and what it is important and relevant.
Another function of references is to refer the reader to more elaborate discussions, primary sources of data, and other information that would be useful for pursuing the subject further and in evaluating your work. In this sense, your references are extremely important extensions of your work. They provide the absolutely necessary means for others to evaluate the accuracy of your descriptions, analyses, and conclusions.
Adapted from the USM Social Science Guide to Plagiarism and Referencing
