It's not limited to cutting and pasting

All research depends to some extent on the work of others who have come before you. Other researchers’ ideas and results are often the starting point of your own work, but it is important to properly acknowledge the work of others to avoid one of the most serious forms of academic misconduct: plagiarism.

The Clemson University Academic Integrity Policy says plagiarism "includes the copying of language, structure or ideas of another and attributing the work to one's own efforts." Note that the definition makes no distinction between deliberately using someone else’s work without attribution and doing so unintentionally; both are plagiarism.

Common Types of Plagiarism

1. directly reproducing or paraphrasing someone else's work (published or unpublished), including insights and opinions, without attribution, regardless of length
2. failing to clearly identify quoted material by using quotation marks for short sections or blocked text for longer sections
3. directly quoting your own text from previous projects or papers without attribution
4. using someone else's ideas, art, figures, tables, maps, charts or diagrams, even if you recreate or reformat the material, without attribution

An exception is made for material that is common knowledge. If information is readily available from general reference sources in your field, or if the information appears undocumented in several sources, it may be common knowledge. Whether material is common knowledge is often a judgment call, and if you are in doubt, you should err on the side of caution. In no case should you ever copy text of any kind and appropriate it as your own.

Tips for Avoiding "Accidental" Plagiarism

1. Consult your advisor if you have any doubt about whether part of your paper constitutes plagiarism.
2. Always err on the side of caution.
3. Become familiar with the various types of plagiarism by studying articles or websites on the subject.
4. Never copy other sources while researching without attributing the material and marking it in some way to remind you later that it is someone else's work and will need attribution if it's included in your paper.
5. When taking notes, mark parts of the notes that are paraphrases of another person's work.
6. As you proof each section of paper, devote AT LEAST one reading to carefully checking sources, looking for paraphrasing that is not attributed and other form of accidental plagiarism.

Some Helpful Links

Georgetown University Honor Council FAQs about Plagiarism
Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab on Plagiarism