Final answer:
In-text citations in academic writing are necessary to avoid plagiarism, showcase research, and enhance credibility by acknowledging original sources and allowing readers to verify them.
Step-by-step explanation:
In-text citations are crucial in academic writing for a few key reasons, which primarily encompasses the following: avoiding plagiarism, showcasing the writer's research and enhancing the credibility of the work. Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's ideas or words without giving proper credit, which is considered a serious academic offense. By citing sources, writers acknowledge the original authors and contribute to academic integrity, thus avoiding plagiarism.
Furthermore, citations help in building the author's ethos, which is the ethical appeal or credibility. Including in-text citations allows readers to verify the sources and confirms that the writer has done thorough research, thereby strengthening the writer's arguments and knowledge claims. Last but not least, proper citations aid in academic discourse by allowing readers to follow up on sources for more depth, facilitating critical thinking and scholarly conversation around the topic.