Research Papers

Over my time at the University of Michigan, I have learned a lot of information. I've learned it through lectures, research articles, books, professors, guest lecturers -- the list goes on. Especially when talking about topics such a media and communications, I have a lot of knowledge backed up. This morning I have been writing a research paper about how advertising has changed between radio and television. I wrote about 2.5 pages before realizing that I had done absolutely no research. I had accumulated at least that much information on the topic throughout my studies here.

Now, because I know this information is not my own first-hand knowledge, how much of this do I need to cite? I feel that since I have this knowledge in my head, it isn't plagiarism. It is simply a culmination of information that I have received over time. How do you quantify where you located this information over the years? I feel that it is a little ridiculous to cite every sentence that you write, but where do you draw the line? I hate having to back-track to find the information that I already know and have already written about...

/rant.