Pay Attention. Be careful. Make sure you are presenting your own ideas and give credit to others when you use their ideas.

Ask for Help. Talk to your teachers about what constitutes plagiarism. If you have questions, take specific examples.

Cite Information Accurately. Make sure you follow the proper citation manual for your assignment. The manuals have various examples for you to follow. If you don't have a manual, go to the library or look on the Web.

Plan Ahead. Don't wait until the last minute to research and write a paper. It is easy to make mistakes and plagiarize unknowingly. This is also when people might be tempted to purchase papers online or get a friend to write a speech.