The following guidelines are for use in writing
papers for this course. Most of the points listed below are not hard and
fast rules, but they will serve as good rules of thumb when you are writing your
papers.
Several published works offer assistance in the
preparation of reports and research papers. These books provide
information on research, writing, organization, footnotes and
bibliography. Among the best are:
Walter Pauk, How to Study in College
Barzun and Graff, The Modern Researcher
W. Brandt, The Craft of Writing
C. Cooper and E. Robins, The Term Paper: A
Manual and a Model
W. Strunk, Elements of Style
K. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term
Papers, Theses and
Dissertations
Henry J. Steffens and Mary Jane Dickerson, Writer's
Guide: History
Diane Hacker, A Pocket Style Manual
Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to
Writing in History
The reading for this and other courses often provide good models. When
reading books and articles, be conscious of how the author organizes and
presents his or her thoughts and materials. Why does the work of one
author appeal to you more than that of another?
FORM OF PRESENTATION
1. Papers should always be word
processed and double-spaced. Leave adequate margins, about three-quarters
of an inch on each side. DO NOT USE A FONT SIZE SMALLER THAN 11 OR LARGER
THAN 13.
2. Please do not enclose your papers in any kind
of folder or binder. A staple will do the trick.
3. All papers should be written with impeccable
spelling and according to the rules of English grammar. Proper sentence
and paragraph structure are essential.
4. Papers should be carefully spell-checked and
proofread for grammar before they are handed in.
5. Keep in mind that there is a difference
between spoken English and written English. Avoid using slang,
contractions and colloquialism.
6. Make sure that you understand the question and
that you have answered it as fully as possible.
7. Write simply, concisely and
interestingly. Remember that someone, especially your instructor,
has to read these papers. Try to write something that you yourself would
enjoy reading.
8. The first time that you
mention someone, use first and last name and identify who he/she is. The
first time that you mention an organization spell out the whole name, the place
the initials in parenthesis, i.e., American Federation of Labor
(AFL). Thereafter you may use just the initials.
9. Italicize or underline all book, newspaper and
periodical titles.
10. Do not exceed the assigned length. Papers that are
too long will be returned for revision.
11. Be sure that all papers have headers and are
paginated.
12. Be sure to make a xerox and/or disk copy of the paper
for your own files. Students are responsible to replace lost
papers, even if the fault lay with the instructor.
THE CENTRAL THEME
1. The paper assignments are designed to
test and increase your powers of analysis and argumentation. It is
therefore necessary for you to take a position. The argument that you are
trying to make is your central theme.
2. The central theme should be stated
immediately, preferably in your opening paragraph. Each succeeding
paragraph should in some way support the argument that you are making.
a) If what you are
writing does not in any way pertain to your central theme, it probably does not
belong in your paper.
3. In formulating your central theme it is not
enough to simply restate the question or to state that a problem exists.
It is necessary to elaborate on the nature of the problem and indicate what your
own position shall be.
4. The central theme is perhaps the most
important part of your paper. Stated properly, it will provide structure
and guidance for your writing. If the central theme is unclear or
inadequate, your paper will probably be unclear and inadequate.
THE OUTLINE
1. It pays to construct a detailed
outline before you start writing. Twenty to thirty minutes of outlining
will save 2-3 hours of writing time.
2. Your outline should have the following
features:
a) Define your
central theme.
b) State the major
points that you will make in support of this argument.
c) List the
evidence that you will use to prove these points.
3. Sample Outline Structure
I. The Central Theme
II. First Point
1. Supporting evidence
2. Supporting evidence
3. Supporting evidence
III. Second Point
1. Supporting evidence
2. Supporting evidence
IV. Third Point
1. Supporting evidence
2. Supporting evidence
3. Supporting evidence
V. Conclusion
THE IMPORTANCE OF PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
1. Properly constructed paragraphs will
help you to advance your arguments.
a) Within each
paragraph the opening sentence (or the second sentence) should state the theme
of that paragraph;
b) Each succeeding
sentence should support this theme in some way.
2. Paragraph size can often be a good indicator
of how successful you have been in organizing your paper.
a) In general a
series of short paragraphs (one or two sentences) means that you are simply
listing your ideas without developing them.
b) Long paragraphs
(more than a page) mean that you are probably running ideas together without
treating each one separately.
UTILIZING THE READINGS AND PRESENTING THE EVIDENCE
1. The paper topics are designed to make
you think about and analyze the readings. Utilize all of the relevant
readings that pertain to the question.
2. It is essential that you refer to the authors
by name and make clear which arguments are made by which author.
a) The first time
that you refer to an author, use both his first and last name. Each
subsequent time use only his last name.
b) When using a
collection of essays, the author is the person who wrote the article, not the
editor(s) of the collection.
3. Do not simply list what the author says.
Analyze and evaluate the validity of his position.
4. Any reference to works that are not on the
assigned reading list (or, in the case of book reviews, the book under
consideration) must be noted with either footnotes or endnotes. The proper
form for footnotes or endnotes may be found in any of the writing guides listed
above.
5. If you use outside readings include a bibliography.
6. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Plagiarism involves
using someone else's words and passing them off as your own. Wholesale
plagiarism--handing in papers which have been written by someone else--will
result in automatic failure. Keep in mind that papers taken from on-line
paper mills can easily be
traced.
QUOTATIONS
1. Quotations should be used for two
purposes:
a) When another
author has stated something in a manner superior to your own.
b) To advance and
enliven your paper. In all other instances you should paraphrase--use your own
words.
2. If you are using someone else's words you must
indicate this by using proper quotation form.
a) Use quotations
marks (") at the beginning and end of the quote. All punctuation
should be included within the quotation marks. (A sentence ending should
look like this, .", not this, ".)
b) Do not use blind quotes. State who originally made this statement in the text. Do
not rely on footnotes for this information.
c) In a book
review when quoting from the book that you are reviewing, be certain to indicate
the page number in parentheses following the quotation.
3. Avoid using lengthy quotations. If you
must use them, they should be indented and single-spaced to distinguish them
from the rest of the text.
A LIST OF DON'TS
1. Do not use contractions.
2. Do not use first person, i.e.,
"I", "I think", "in
my opinion," etc.
3. Do not use phrases like "This paper will argue."
4. Do not use the word "being."
5. Do not use abbreviations.
6. Do not exceed the assigned length.
7. Do not plagiarize.
8. Do not overstate. Beware of phrases like "the only,"
"the most," "the best" and other superlatives unless
absolutely accurate.
9. Don't lose track of time. History requires a sense of time and
change. Be specific as to dates and if you are describing something that
happened in the past, use the past tense.
10. Don't start sentences with "So" or "Now" or
"Also."
11. Do not use the passive voice. Avoid using: was, were, had been, have
been, which was, that is, etc.
12. Do not use blind quotes.
13. Do not use "as well as" when you mean "and."
14. Do not use unnecessary qualifiers: basically, very, etc.