First, make sure you fully understand the assignment. If you are
unclear on anything, ask your professor.
You need to have all these questions answered:
- Exactly what
is the assignment asking me to do? What type of paper is expected? (i.e.
research, analysis, review, etc.)
- What is the
professor’s definition of the paper type?
- Will I be
expected to have sources? How many and what types?
- What citation
method is expected? (i.e. MLA, APA, Chicago, CBE, etc.)
- How many
pages/words? Is a title sheet or works cited page needed?
- Does my professor
have specific guidelines I need to follow? (If so, follow them exactly.)
Below are some basic tips you should follow for all writing assignments you’re
given:
- Have a thesis—a
good one. Make sure it’s specific and interesting. Your thesis should not
be a fact, but a point you will argue. All writing should have a thesis,
whether it’s a book review or a narrative. You should be able to articulate
your thesis in a single sentence (though that sentence may not appear in
your paper).
- Make sure
you have some idea as to what your thesis is before you begin researching
or writing. Sketch out a rough outline to see if your thesis is too broad
or too narrow.
- Remember
your thesis is not set in stone. If in the midst of researching or drafting
you hit upon a thesis you like even better, or is more appropriate, go with
that one instead.
- Use the most
contemporary, neutral research you can. Dated or biased sources do not help
your argument, but may hurt it.
- Be especially
cautious with Internet sources—you don’t always know if the information you’re
getting is reliable. Make sure the site is connected with a reputable organization
or that you can verify the author’s credentials.
- Don’t rely
on just one type of source (like Internet sites); use a variety.
- Keep track
of all your bibliographical information, as well as where your notes came
from. This will not only help you avoid unintentional plagiarism, it will
be a blessing if you need to revisit one of your sources. Try using an annotated
bibliography.
- Proofread
your writing carefully. Your final copy should be completely free of all
typos, misspelled words and grammatical errors.
- Give your
work a clear, informative, interesting title.
- Never, ever
plagiarize. Students are caught all the time, and it’s really not worth it.
If you are unsure as to whether you should cite a piece of information, err
on the side of caution.
In terms of the actual presentation of your writing, here are some guidelines:
- Pick a plain,
readable font like Times New Roman. Avoid cutesy or artsy fonts that can
be hard to read—go for plain and boring. You should rely on the content to
excite readers.
- Do not exceed
a 12-point font size. Believe it or not, professors can tell when you’re
cheating the point size and it annoys them. You should be averaging 12 to
15 words per line.
- Keep your
page margins at 1 inch all around. The only exception is if the paper is
going to be bound; in that case, the left margin can be 1.25 inches. As with
font size, it’s easy to spot a margin cheat. Also, don’t fully justify your
paper—justify only on the left side.
- Avoid those
awful plastic binders with the sliding holder. In fact, don’t use a binder
at all unless your professor specifically asks for one. It’s better to simply
paperclip or staple your pages.
- Always number
your pages in an obvious but not distracting location. If possible,
include a header/footer with your last name or title indicator and the page
number.
- Follow your
style manual carefully. If you’re not sure how to cite something, such as
web pages or online sources, don’t guess or make it up. The answer is in
your manual—you just have to find it. If it’s not there, chances are you
can find the information online.
- Thoroughly
familiarize yourself with your word processing program. Use the options like
double-spacing and centering rather than using type-writer methods such as
spaces and carriage returns.
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