Plagiarism, especially those in the online realm, is now incredibly easy to catch. With plenty of tools that can spot copied, repurposed or coopted text, attempting to plagiarize other people's material can be an exercise in nothing but getting caught red-handed.

With that said, it's always prudent to check everything you write to make sure you don't end up plagiarizing other people's materials accidentally. There are, of course, a few precautions you can take when going through your writing projects to make sure you're not stealing anyone else's work.

Always give clear attribution. Whether you're quoting or paraphrasing, you'll need to provide clear attribution for everything that isn't yours. It's not only fair - it also helps your credibility in the long run, as transparency pays off with your readers' trust.

Everything you need to know about a thesis statement is contained in this short guide. You'll learn how to use a thesis statement to respond to direct and indirect questions, how to make it clear and concise, and all of the different functions which a thesis statement should fulfill.