Merriam-Webster defines plagiarizing as a verb that means "to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own... [or] use (another's production) without crediting the source" ("Plagiarize").
However, there are many types of plagiarism, and not all forms are intentional. Unintentional plagiarism is still a violation of academic integrity, because it is a student's responsibility to learn what plagiarism is and avoid it. Several specific examples of plagiarism are provided on the home tab of this LibGuide.
So how can plagiarism be avoided? Essentially, when you use words OR ideas from a source - whether you paraphrase or not - you must use both an in-text citation immediately after the information and a complete citation at the end of your paper. The citation style you use will be determined by your instructor. Many resources are available free online or in the library - visit the Citation tab of this LibGuide for more information.
CollegeDegrees360. Learning. 2012. Photograph. Flickr. 27 July 2012. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.
"Plagiarize." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012.