Pay Attention. Be a careful writer. Make sure you are presenting your own ideas and give credit to others when you use their ideas.

Ask for Help. Talk to your teachers about what constitutes plagiarism. If you have questions, bring up specific examples.

Cite Information Accurately. Make sure you follow the proper citation manual for your assignment. The manuals have tons of examples for you to follow. If you don't have a manual, go to the library or look on the web. All the manuals are in those two places.

Plan Ahead. Don't wait until the last minute to research and write a paper. This is when people make mistakes and may plagiarize unknowingly. This is also when people might be tempted to purchase papers online or get a friend to write a speech.

Be Strong. If you see others cheating, have courage to tell them it is wrong. Plagiarism hurts us all as students, scholars, and members of the UMass Boston community.