How to Format Your PaperHow to Format Your Paper

and other silly stuffand other silly stuff

Format your first page like this:

(Double space this entire section) Your name page # here Class Teacher Date Assignment/Draft #

Title is Centered in the Same Size Font and Capitalized Correctly

(which means just the main words, not the articles; in, is, the, and, or)

How to format paragraphs

The first sentence of each paragraph is indented about five spaces. Indenting informs the reader that a new paragraph has started, so DON’T put extra spaces between paragraphs like an email.

Use your tab key. Did you notice that I spelled out “five”?

Unless it’s a date or an address or a large number, write out the number.

Real words count in college

Luv 2 text? Tweeting LOL to yr BFF + IDK or OMG? BTW, school papers are not texts, tweets, or emails. Use “you”, not u, refer to yourself as “I” not i and spell words crekly. I mean, correctly.

Good writing counts, even when you email your teachers,

or we will ROFL!

How to refer to an article:

Avoid the repeating pronoun syndrome!

We never say, for example, “the rose it is pretty” – we say, “the rose is pretty”.

So do not say, “In the article it said…”

or “In Dr. Smith’s article he said…”

Instead:

“The article xxxx said…” or “Dr. Smith says in his article xxxx….”

How to Refer to an Author

The first time you refer to an author in a paper, use the full name with appropriate title:

“Dr. Robin Smith claims that…” The next time to refer to that author, just use

the last name only: “Smith argues that…” Only use pronouns (he/she) in a paragraph

when you have already mentioned the author’s name in that paragraph.

Mean what you say and say what you mean

You’re means you are. Your means it belongs to you. You’re/your a great friend to your/you’re great friend?

Answer: You’re a great friend to your great friend.

Hi!

Your/You’re Practice Page

1. hot tub will be installed Monday. 2. Do you know where going to put it? 3. I imagine friends will want to spend

weekends at house now. 4. going to miss quiet weekends

alone. 5. I realize looking forward to relaxing. 6. writing needs work

if going to pass the class. 7. the one I want to talk to. 8. Get feet off the coffee table.

Words that sound the same don’t mean the same!

Its vs it’sThe cow broke it’s leg?

Or the cow broke its leg? Take out the apostrophe and sound it out: it’s = it is Correct form: The cow broke its leg. Practice =

Their words are there, yes they’re there…

there = at or in that place – over theretheir = the possessive form of they. they're = they areTry your hand at this quiz!

Get Comfortable with Commas

A punctuation joke:A panda bear goes into a bar, eats

something, pulls out a gun and shoots the bartender and then leaves.

When asked why he did that, the panda responds, “The dictionary says

that pandas eat, shoots, and leaves!” Comma splices changed the meaning!

Run-on Sentences

Myth: run-ons are long sentences.Fact: run-on sentences can be short or

long; they run together in a tangle.

Example: It was raining I got wet.

Run-on Repair to the Rescue

There are FOUR handy ways to fix run-ons: Use a semi-colon

It was raining; I got wet. Use a period and create two sentences

It was raining. I got wet. Use a comma with a coordinating conjunction

(fanboys: for, an, nor, but, or, yet, so) It was raining, so I got wet.

Use a subordinator Since it was raining, I got wet. (Use a comma) I got wet because it was raining. (NO comma)

Avoid Unnecessary Articles and Pronouns

Instead of: The flower, it smells pretty. Say: The flower smells pretty. Instead of: In the essay Taylor he argues for

more restrictions on oil drilling. Say: Taylor’s essay argues for more

restrictions on oil drilling. Instead of: For many students they prefer

working at night. Say: Many students prefer working at night.

Don’t announce yourself

Avoid: “In this essay I will talk about…” Or “I will compare and contrast the two articles…” Or “In my opinion I believe that global warming has

been proven.” Just say, “Global warming has been proven.” and then

provide your supporting evidence. The reader KNOWs it’s you speaking – you’re writing

the essay! Don’t “step in front of the camera”! Your conclusion should speak for itself: Don’t say, “In

conclusion”. It should be self-evident.

Avoid fluffy adverbs and cliches

Do these words add meaning or clarification? No!

Personally (as in “I personally experienced” as opposed to what?)

Literally, really, very, basically Due to the fact, I myself, to this day, etc.(don’t fill up your pages with popcorn

words!

Know Thyself as a Writer

Where (not were or wear) are your writing goofs?

Is your grammar affecting your grade? The effect is causing you to lose your way among loose words?

Recognize your own writing patterns of error and practice fixing them.

Practice makes perfect!