FORM OF PRESENTATION
1. Papers should always be word processed and double-spaced. Leave adequate margins, about three-quarters of an inch on each side. DO NOT USE A FONT SIZE SMALLER THAN 11 OR LARGER THAN 13.
2. Please do not enclose your papers in any kind of folder or binder. A staple will do the trick.
3. All papers should be written with impeccable spelling and according to the rules of English grammar. Proper sentence and paragraph structure are essential.
4. Papers should be carefully spell-checked and proofread for grammar before they are handed in.
5. Keep in mind that there is a difference between spoken English and written English. Avoid using slang, contractions and colloquialism.
6. Make sure that you understand the question and that you have answered it as fully as possible.
7. Write simply, concisely and interestingly. Remember that someone, especially your instructor, has to read these papers. Try to write something that you yourself would enjoy reading.
8. The first time that you mention someone, use first and last name and identify who he/she is. The first time that you mention an organization spell out the whole name, the place the initials in parenthesis, i.e., American Federation of Labor (AFL). Thereafter you may use just the initials.
9. Italicize or underline all book, newspaper and periodical titles.
10. Do not exceed the assigned length. Papers that are too long will be returned for revision.
11. Be sure that all papers have headers and are paginated.
12. Be sure to make a Xerox and/or disk copy of the paper for your own files.

THE CENTRAL THEME
1. The paper assignments are designed to test and increase your powers of analysis and argumentation. It is therefore necessary for you to take a position. The argument that you are trying to make is your central theme.
2. The central theme should be stated immediately, preferably in your opening paragraph. Each succeeding paragraph should in some way support the argument that you are making.
a) If what you are writing does not in any way pertain to your central theme, it probably does not belong in your paper.
3. In formulating your central theme it is not enough to simply restate the question or to state that a problem exists. It is necessary to elaborate on the nature of the problem and indicate what your own position shall be.
4. The central theme is perhaps the most important part of your paper. Stated properly, it will provide structure and guidance for your writing. If the central theme is unclear or inadequate, your paper will probably be unclear and inadequate.

THE OUTLINE
1. It pays to construct a detailed outline before you start writing. Twenty to thirty minutes of outlining will save 2-3 hours of writing time.
2. Your outline should have the following features:
a) Define your central theme.
b) State the major points that you will make in support of this argument.
c) List the evidence that you will use to prove these points.
3. Sample Outline Structure
I. The Central Theme
A. First Point
1. Supporting evidence
2. Supporting evidence
3. Supporting evidence
B. Second Point
1. Supporting evidence
2. Supporting evidence
C. Third Point
1. Supporting evidence
2. Supporting evidence
3. Supporting evidence
II. Conclusion

THE IMPORTANCE OF PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
1. Properly constructed paragraphs will help you to advance your arguments.
a) Within each paragraph the opening sentence (or the second sentence) should state the theme of that paragraph;
b) Each succeeding paragraph should support this theme in some way.
2. Paragraph size can often be a good indicator of how successful you have been in organizing your paper.
a) In general a series of short paragraphs (one or two sentences) means that you are simply listing your ideas without developing them.
b) Long paragraphs (more than a page) mean that you are probably running ideas together without treating each one separately.

UTILIZING THE READINGS AND PRESENTING THE EVIDENCE
1. The paper topics are designed to make you think about and analyze the readings. Utilize all of the relevant readings that pertain to the question.
2. It is essential that you refer to the authors by name and make clear which author makes which arguments.
a) The first time that you refer to an author, use both his first and last name. Each subsequent time use only his last name.
b) When using a collection of essays, the author is the person who wrote the article, not the editor(s) of the collection.
3. Do not simply list what the author says. Analyze and evaluate the validity of his position.
4. Any reference to works that are not on the assigned reading list (or, in the case of book reviews, the book under consideration) must be noted with either footnotes or endnotes.
5. If you use outside readings include a bibliography.
6. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE . Plagiarism involves using someone else’s words and passing them off as your own. Wholesale plagiarism–handing in papers which have been written by someone else–will result in automatic failure.

QUOTATIONS
1. Quotations should be used for two purposes:
a) When another author has stated something in a manner superior to your own.
b) To advance and enliven your paper. In all other instances you should paraphrase–use your own words.
2. If you are using someone else’s words you must indicate this by using proper quotation form.
a) Use quotations marks (”) at the beginning and end of the quote. All punctuation should be included within the quotation marks. (A sentence ending should look like this, .”, not this, “.)
b) Do not use blind quotes. State who originally made this statement in the text. Do not rely on footnotes for this information.
c) In a book review when quoting from the book that you are reviewing, be certain to indicate the page number in parentheses following the quotation.
3. Avoid using lengthy quotations. If you must use them, they should be indented and single-spaced to distinguish them from the rest of the text.

A LIST OF DON’TS
1. Do not use contractions.
2. Do not use first person, i.e., “I”, “I think”, “in my opinion,” etc.
3. Do not use phrases like “This paper will argue.”
4. Do not use the word “being.”
5. Do not use abbreviations.
6. Do not exceed the assigned length.
7. Do not plagiarize.
8. Do not overstate. Beware of phrases like “the only,” “the most,” “the best” and other superlatives unless absolutely accurate.
9. Don’t lose track of time. History requires a sense of time and change. Be specific as to dates and if you are describing something that happened in the past, use the past tense.
10. Don’t start sentences with “So” or “Now” or “Also.”
11. Do not use the passive voice. Avoid using: was, were, had been, have been, which was, that is, etc.
12. Do not use blind quotes.