What is the purpose of a bibliography?

The purpose of a bibliography is to provide a comprehensive list of sources and references used in a piece of writing. This is crucial in academic and research contexts as it allows readers to identify the materials that informed the writer's work. By including a bibliography, the author acknowledges the contributions of other scholars, giving credit to their ideas and findings, which not only enhances the credibility of the piece but also enables readers to locate the original sources if they wish to explore further.

In this way, the bibliography serves as a roadmap for the research that has been conducted. It offers transparency in the writing process and allows for verification of the information presented. This practice also adheres to academic integrity standards, which require proper attribution of ideas and information derived from other works.