The point of documenting sources in academic papers is not just to avoid unpleasant visits to the Dean’s office, but to demonstrate that you know what is going on in your field of study. It is also a courtesy to your readers because it helps them consult the material you’ve found. So mentioning what others have said doesn’t lessen the credit you get for your own thinking – in fact, it adds to your credibility. The real challenge is establishing the relationship of your thinking to the reading you’ve done. Here are some common questions and basic answers.