Keep accurate notes that detail which materials (i.e., thoughts, ideas, concepts, phrases, etc.) are quotations, which are paraphrased, and which belong to you. Cite material taken from sources in the text of your paper. Use source material in moderation. You should have reason to incorporate source material into your writing, and be able to defend that reason if asked. (In other words, the material you use in your writing should relate strongly to the message and/or argument you have developed.) Use source material in such a way that the reader is never confused about when you are speaking and when your sources are being used.

Avoiding plagiarism is a natural byproduct of being genuinely interested in a subject and taking the time to develop your own, unique ideas about a subject as you think and write.

What plagiarism is
Plagiarism occurs when you use material from a source and do not acknowledge the source; it can also occur when you take ideas, words, phrases, or concepts from a source and misrepresent them to make it appear you originated the material. To avoid plagiarism, always give credit to the sources you use.

Etymology of plagiarism
Although it sounds contagious, the word plagiarism comes from the Latin word plagiarius, meaning "kidnapper"; the idea behind plagiarism is to steal someone else's intellectual offspring (American Heritage Dictionary, 2004).

Plagiarism is serious
When you plagiarize-intentionally or unintentionally-you put your academic career at risk. Institutions of higher learning have a low tolerance for stealing other people's ideas. Consequences range from suspension to expulsion from the university.

Capella University 's policy on plagiarism
The following is excerpted from Capella University 's Academic Honesty policy (iGuide):

"Plagiarism is representing someone else's ideas and work as your own. Plagiarism includes not only copying verbatim, but also rephrasing the ideas of another without properly acknowledging the source. As they prepare and submit work to meet course requirements, whether a draft or a final version of a paper or project, learners must take great care to distinguish their own ideas and language from information derived from sources. Sources include published primary and secondary materials, electronic media, and information and opinions gained directly from other people."