If you use ideas of others and do not give them credit by citing their work, you are committing plagiarism.  Plagiarism is stealing someone else's ideas or words and presenting them as your own.

You should give credit by citing your source if you:

Plagiarism is an honor code violation at JMU, punishable by receiving an F in the course and either suspension or expulsion from JMU.

See the JMU Honor Code, Tutorial, and Test.