1. Prewriting
   1. Choosing a thesis or claim
      1. Begin when you see the syllabus
      2. Keep an journal of interesting thoughts
      3. Review your notes
      4. Brainstorming
         1. Exploratory writing
      5. What is the significance of the topic?
      6. Keep track of all citations!
   2. Research
      1. Keep track of all citations!
   3. Outlining
2. Drafting
   1. Paragraphs
   2. Introduction and conclusion
   3. Keep track of all citations!
3. Revision
   1. Sentences and paragraphs
   2. Transitions
   3. Integrating quotations
   4. Keep track of all citations!
4. Editing
   1. Formatting
   2. Grammar and Spelling
   3. Citations
   4. Peer review
   5. Keep track of all citations!
5. Publication
   1. Submission

Structure

• Your paper has a title at the TOP of the first page, as well as a title page
  • The title should NOT be a repetition of the topic. 
  • Nor should it be “Paper #1.” You need to be more creative than that.
• Your paper should begin with an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement and a statement of method.
• It also should have a “hook” to bring the reader into the subject.  In other words, indicate why your paper will captivate the intended reader.
• The body of the paper 1) describes, 2) elaborates and/or 3) defends the thesis statement using a) arguments, b) examples, and c) quotations from authorities.
  • It also anticipates and argues against possible objections to your thesis.
  • The body of the paper is often organized according to sub-points. 
    • Use headings as subdivisions which assist to understand the flow of the paper.
    • However, do not clutter the text with them, especially in a short paper.
• The paper should end with a concluding paragraph that not only summarizes what you’ve already stated, but indicates how the text fits together in demonstrating your thesis.
  • Refer back to the hook.
  • DO NOT INTRODUCE NEW IDEAS IN THE CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH!

Mechanics

• 1 inch margins all around (NOTE:  This is for the text. Page numbers should be outside this margin.)
• Double space (NOT 1.5 spaced or triple spaced)
• 12 pt. Times (New Roman)
• Use page numbers.
• "Reference List," although it has a page number, is NOT a part of the page count for the paper.
• Only ONE hard return between paragraphs
• Use full sentences
• Write paragraphs that are not too lengthy or too short.
• Spelling and punctuation
• Syntax and grammar

Helpful techniques and procedures:

• Write a one-sentence statement of your thesis or claim
• Write a one-page outline of the paper
• Use “spell check”
  • But also manually check for spelling and grammatical errors
• Have someone else read the paper
• Read the paper out loud

 Things to avoid:

• Plagiarism.  If you quote, cut, paste,  you must list a CITATION
• ”I feel that…”  Instead, say “I think that….”   Or “I believe that….”                        If you say “I feel….” follow it with descriptive feelings, such as sadness, pain, joy, etc. and then write about reasons for the feeling.
• Undocumented general assertions
• Ad hominem attacks. 
• Run-on sentences, comma splices, and sentence fragments
• Weak “and” constructions
• Redundancy

Planning your time in answering essay questions is more important than objective-type tests!

Read through the entire examination first.

1. Get a feel for the questions you are expected to answer.
2. If the exam allows you to choose from a number of questions, be sure to number your answers exactly to match the questions.

Follow directions carefully.

Words such as “list,” “describe,” “compare and contrast,” and “outline” require different types of answers.

Don’t write "about” the question but answer it directly and concisely.

Outlining

1. After scanning the list of questions to be answered, choose the ones you know most about.    
2. On scrap paper quickly prepare an outline of important ideas and facts to be included in your response.          
3. Your opening statement summarizes what you are going to say.
4. What follows should support your opening statement.
5. Your conclusion should show how your body text supported your opening statement.

It is absolutely essential that your ideas can be read and understood: print if your cursive writing is very hard to read; know and use correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Each week the Writing Skills Associate has produced a Writing Tip of the Week for students. This archive contains 75 tips from the past four years organized by topic. 

Topics include: 

1. Prewriting and Research
2. Argument development
3. Paragraphs
4. Sentences
5. Words and Concepts
6. Grammar
7. Quotations, Citations and Paraphrasing
8. Formatting
9. Studying
10. The Final Product
11. Types of writing
12. Resources

The Plagiarism Spectrum: Tagging 10 types of unoriginal work

"The Plagiarism Spectrum identifies 10 types of plagiarism based on findings from a worldwide survey of nearly 900 secondary and higher education instructors. Each type of plagiarism has been given a digital moniker to reflect the significant role that the internet and social media play in student writing." 

Other plagiarism web pages

• Plagiarism: what it is and how to recognize and avoid it (from the University of Indiana - Bloomington)
• Plagiarism.org 
• Avoiding plagiarism (The Writing Place, Northwestern University) 
• Plagiarism 101 . SUNY at Albany
• Writers handbook: Academic writing: quoting and paraphrasing [and how to avoid plagiarizing]).. Univesrity of Wisconsin