Cite Meaning

At the prestigious law school, Clara stood before the class, preparing for her final oral exam. Her professor, Mr. Hayes, had always stressed the importance of citing sources in their arguments—both in written papers and in their spoken presentations. Clara was nervous but ready. She began by citing a landmark case from the 19th century that directly related to the topic at hand. 'As the Supreme Court ruled in the 1875 case of Smith vs. Johnson,' she said, quoting from her notes. She felt a sense of confidence when she heard the approval in her professor’s voice. But her exam wasn’t over yet. Mr. Hayes then asked her about a recent development in law and asked her to cite any articles or studies she had found. Clara quickly flipped through her notebook, referencing an article from a legal journal. She cited the author’s name, the date, and the key findings. After the exam, as Clara walked out, she thought about how important citations were in her field. Without them, her arguments would have no foundation. Her mind wandered back to her first year of law school when Mr. Hayes had asked, 'Why is it important to cite sources?' She remembered how he had explained that citation wasn’t just about following rules, it was about building trust with your audience and strengthening your position. The day before, in her history class, Clara had also used citations. This time, she had referenced a famous quote by Abraham Lincoln in her essay about the Civil War. Her professor had praised her for effectively citing both primary and secondary sources. 'It’s not enough to simply mention a fact,' the professor had said. 'You must cite where you found it to give it weight.' As Clara walked home, she felt a sense of accomplishment, realizing that whether in law or history, citing sources wasn’t just a formality—it was a way of respecting the knowledge of others and grounding her own understanding in a broader context.