Many students worry about the possibility that their work could be charged with academic dishonesty. This is especially true when they have been asked to write an essay about a particular scholar, book, or theory. The most important thing you can do is to offer a citation that explains what sources you consulted or where you got particular words or ideas that are not your own. You should be learning about citation methods in your seminar classes, but when in doubt, ASK to be sure you are doing it properly. If a professor or instructor does not offer citation guidelines, ASK them how they would like you to give credit to outside authors or sources.
Academic dishonesty is an extremely serious offense.
It is a form of theft, because the guilty person is being accused of taking words or ideas that were not their own, and they are trying to get credit for that.