Kathleen McEvoy
English Department

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:

• 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.)

• 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.
• 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.
• Proof-read your writing carefully. Your final copy should be completely free of all typos, misspelled words and grammatical errors.
• Give your work a clear, informative or 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.

• Pick a clear, readable font. Avoid typewriter fonts like Courier, as well as cutesy or artsy fonts that can be hard to read.
• 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 12-15 words a 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.
• Always number your pages (in the upper right-hand corner). If possible, include a header 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.