These are good points for class discussion. You should come to each class able to discuss the main issues of the reading and you could be asked during class to present the main points to the class. These will be like papers in final result, but you will be assigned specific questions to answer. You may use only the primary texts to answer these questions. There will be a final take home exam due during finals week covering material from the entire semester.
Plagiarism is a form of stealing.
It occurs when an author uses the words or ideas of others as if they were the author's own original thought. Plagiarism is often unintentional. It can be avoided by always acknowledging one's debt to others by citing the exact source of a quotation or paraphrase. Plagiarism is a serious violation of academic honesty and carries serious penalties. However, when it comes time to write your papers and exams, you are expected to do your own work-write and research your papers on your own.