Plagiarism Exercise

I sure want to avoid plagiarism in my essays or other assignments. It is difficult for me to put facts or written material researched in my own words. Because I feel my vocabulary is not broad, I tend to use words that are presented in written material. How can I make sure that I am not plagiarising? Maybe that's why I like to use quotes. Should I cite my draft work with quotes, notes, and other? Or can I wait until I submit a final assignment? I like to use a college dictionary, and thesaurus to help me understand words, the meanings, and to find words that might fit well without using the same language again. I am old fashioned and not keen on computer technology, but am learning fast. I want to be original. Thank you.