When using research and ideas published by others, it is important to credit your sources. Proper citations can give your work credibility and prove that you've done thorough research. Using information from others, without citing your sources, is considered plagiarism.
Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing are three methods that allow you to ethically incorporate another author's writing into your research, as long as you cite your sources accurately.
Make sure you are presenting your own ideas and give credit to others when you use their ideas. Talk to your teachers about what constitutes plagiarism. If you have questions, take specific examples.
Note: Thanks to Sara Whitver of The University of Alabama Libraries for allowing us to borrow some of her work for this guide. Her original work can be seen HERE.