What is the role of citations when summarizing informational texts?

• A. To credit original ideas, avoid plagiarism, and allow readers to locate sources
• B. To fill space with references
• C. They are optional in summaries
• D. They should be omitted to keep summary concise

Answer: (A)

Citations when summarizing informational texts are about attribution and access. Even when you restate ideas in your own words or condense information, the original ideas belong to someone else, so a citation shows where those ideas came from and helps avoid plagiarism. It also lets readers locate the original source if they want to read more, verify details, or explore the topic further. Additionally, citations bolster the summary’s credibility by signaling that the information is grounded in identifiable sources.

The other ideas don’t fit because citations aren’t used to fill space or kept optional in summaries. Omitting them would mislead readers about where the ideas originated and make it harder to verify or follow up, undermining trust in the summary.