Transcript How to Format Your Paper

How to Format Your Paper
and other silly stuff
Format your first page like this:
(Double space this entire section)
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Your name
Class
Teacher
Date
Assignment/Draft #
page # here
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
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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.
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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.
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Good writing counts, even when
you email your teachers,
or we will ROFL!
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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….”
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How to Refer to an Author
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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
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You’re means you are.
Your means it belongs to you.
You’re/your a great friend to
your/you’re great friend?
Hi!
Answer:
You’re a great friend
to your great friend.
Your/You’re Practice Page
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1.
2.
3.
hot tub will be installed Monday.
Do you know where
going to put it?
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’s
The 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 there
 their = the possessive form of they.
 they're = they are
 Try your hand at this quiz!
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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!
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Run-on Sentences
Myth: run-ons are long sentences.
 Fact: run-on sentences can be short or
long; they run together in a tangle.
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Example: It was raining I got wet.
Run-on Repair to the Rescue
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There are FOUR handy ways to fix run-ons:
Use a semi-colon
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Use a period and create two sentences
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It was raining. I got wet.
Use a comma with a coordinating conjunction
(fanboys: for, an, nor, but, or, yet, so)
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It was raining; I got wet.
It was raining, so I got wet.
Use a subordinator
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Since it was raining, I got wet. (Use a comma)
I got wet because it was raining. (NO comma)
Avoid Unnecessary
Articles and Pronouns
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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
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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!
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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!
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