Core Studies 1

Standards for Written Assignments

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• The paper should have a title, which should be centered at the top of the first page. Be sure to put your name on your paper
• Each page should be numbered; include a word count at the end.
• Your paper must be typed or computer processed (handwritten papers will not be accepted); use only 10 or 12 point fonts for the text of the paper, which should be double-spaced; maintain margins of one inch on all sides.
• Staple your paper together.

For research papers and papers based on written primary sources: avoid lengthy quotations, since these generally fill up space without advancing your argument. Stick to paraphrasing the text or referring your reader to appropriate places in the text by citing the reference only; when it is necessary to quote, use just a few, well-chosen words.

SPELLING AND GRAMMAR

I care about spelling and grammar, and I will take them into account when I assign a grade to your paper. When your paper is done, run the spellchecker option on your computer but don't rely on it. Proofread your paper, or trade it with a friend.

FOUR CRITERIA OF GOOD WRITING

I look for four major qualities in a good piece of writing: clarity, command of the facts, logic, and elegance. When you are putting your argument together, ask yourself the following questions:

• Clarity: What is the main thesis, or point, of the paper? Are the thesis and the evidence used to prove it laid out in an understandable and easy-to-read manner?
• Command of the facts: Do I have the facts right?
• Logic: Do my conclusions follow from the facts I've laid out?
• Elegance: Is the paper ponderous, pretentious, mechanical, or too informal in its tone? Do I repeat specific vocabulary frequently when a synonym would give the text more polish? Have I used passive verbs that could be changed to active ones?

FOR FURTHER HELP with organizing your paper, see these tips for writing an academic paper.