Come up with an original way of addressing your topic. With so many people writing, webcasting, blogging and updating their statuses on the internet, chances are good that someone has already written on the subject. Put your own spin on it and make it your own.
Cite all the sources you reference, either in your content or in references section. Purdue OWL advises writers that they can avoid plagiarism by giving credit where credit is due. Tell the reader where they can find the original information. Provide the web address for online sources, names and details for people you interview and the book information for hard copies, even if you only use the idea and put it into your own words. Jot down the source details to have on hand for your bibliography.
Use quotation marks around any phrases you copy directly from a book, website, blog or other source.To avoid plagiarism you need to use quotes around any words that aren't your own. If changing the wording to paraphrase a sentence would affect the meaning, use quotes. Don't abuse the privilege of referencing other people's work. If your paper is a mass of quotation marks with the occasional transition word, it isn't really your work.
Be honest. If you aren't sure if you should use quotation marks, use them. It's better to have your editor or teacher correct your usage than to be accused of plagiarism. Many schools and universities have harsh penalties for students caught passing another's work off as their own. Be overly cautious.
Write an original paper for every class. In the course of your education, you may receive an assignment that is similar to a paper you've written for another class. If you use your own work over again for a different class, it is inappropriate and some schools consider it plagiarism.