Final answer:
Writers use parenthetical citations to avoid plagiarism, credit original ideas, and allow readers to conduct further research, thus fulfilling all the reasons (1, 2, and 3), making the correct answer '4) All of the above'. Additionally, citing sources builds credibility and helps writers delineate between their own ideas and borrowed ones.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Writers Use Parenthetical Citations
Writers use parenthetical citations to reference other writers' work for several crucial reasons. The primary purposes are 1) to protect themselves against accusations of plagiarism, which is copying another's ideas without giving credit; 2) to give credit to those responsible for an idea or opinion; and 3) to give readers the opportunity to do further research using the writer's source list in the Works Cited, which works essentially as a map guiding the readers to the original sources. Therefore, the correct answer to why writers use parenthetical citations is 4) All of the above.
When citing the works of others, in-text parenthetical citations alert the reader to the end of the source's words or ideas and point to where the source information can be found in the Works Cited page. This connection benefits the reader, allowing them to find original materials if they wish to verify or explore the topics further. Also, maintaining a congruent citation style such as MLA throughout your work ensures consistency and reliability in academic writing.
Moreover, proper citation builds ethos, establishing the writer's authority and credibility. It also allows the writer to distinguish their original thoughts from those of others, refining their own ideas in the context of the discourse. Following ethical citation practices like those detailed in MLA documentation is not only a scholarly responsibility but also a legal requirement to avoid copyright infringement.