Deadlines Submit your papers because of the deadlines stated in the syllabus. You have three grace days for all papers except the paper that is final for which there are no free extensions. When you yourself have a challenge ahead of the final paper, make sure to talk to me every day ahead of the deadline.

Basic Elements

• Mechanics are very important. These are the basic tools that make the paper possible.
• a) Descriptive Title. As easy as this might be, some people forget.
• b) Introductory Paragraph or Thesis. A thesis paragraph states what you’re setting off to show in your paper and how you shall do this. An paragraph that is introductory the reader with a clear knowledge of what the paper is all about. Generally speaking it really is a idea that is good steer clear of the overuse associated with first person voice, because this can interrupt the flow of the prose. Check out examples to consider:

Effective paragraph that is introductory does not use “I”: In Dakota-A Spiritual Geography, Kathleen Norris writes about her life in the Western plains of this united states of america. She describes it as a type of monastic world by which she’s got had the oppertunity to come in contact with her spiritual roots through the lives of the people there, the land, as well as the solitude of her very own inner life. She does not falsely idealize life regarding the plains as some kind of paradise out of the urban jungle. In reality, she actually is critical associated with insularity and pettiness associated with small towns in which she lives and works. In place of detracting from the sense that is positive of life there, however, her critical perspectives make her work more real homework assignment and lead the reader to need to get to know her in addition to plains better. Effective introductory paragraph that uses “I”: In reading Dakota-A Spiritual Geography, I happened to be struck because of the beauty of Kathleen Norris’ prose along with her ability to convey the subtleties and complexities of her life there, of individuals, place, and time, the relation between work, art, therefore the spiritual life. At first, she is read by me work as the account of a female and a culture vastly distinct from my personal. When I continued to read through, however, I became aware that, in a few ways, her world mirrored mine. While speaking out of a distinct geographical and cultural landscape, Norris could make us recognize features of our personal lives of which we possibly may not have been previously aware. Weak paragraph that is introductory uses “I”: In this paper, i shall come up with Kathleen Norris’s book Dakota-A Spiritual Geography. I will discuss her views from the relation between your Dakotas as a geographical location and a place that is spiritual. I will show that there surely is a connection between the 2. I shall use ideas from her work as well as Carol Christ’s ideas about nature. I will also show that, while useful in several ways, Christ’s ideas are insufficient for understanding Norris’ complete view of life into the Dakotas.

• c) Conclusion. The conclusion brings the basic ideas of your paper back to succinct focus. This might involve some summarizing but should also refocus ideas by reformulating some of your thesis/introductory ideas in a way not possible with out read the body of the paper. May very well not answer all questions which you raised or resolve all issues outlined in your introduction. One method to conclude your paper is to raise questions that are further showing your awareness of their existence and possibilities for further inquiry. Sometimes, the most effective questions give even rise to more questions.
• d) Documentation. Whenever you make generalizations or assertions, document your claims with references, either through the readings or even the lectures. Then i will not know where your ideas came from if you make a statement that seems controversial and you don’t cite a reference. You simply cannot be too careful on this point.
• e) Format for References. When it comes to final paper, i will ask which you all use footnotes or endnotes following the format given into the syllabus plus the writing sample. Take note the utilization of commas and parentheses. For shorter papers, you may use notes that are parenthetical. (You should follow one of many standard formats for parenthetical use.)
• f) Page numbers. In case all pages and posts come loose, I shall have the ability to read your paper.
• g) Use block quotations for citations four lines or longer. When using block quotations, do not use quotation marks at the start and end regarding the block. Make use of the margin command rather than the tab command to produce block quotations. This may make it a lot easier for you.
• h) Subheadings. They are not necessary, however you may think it is useful to insert subheadings as you go along. They could help you to organize your paper along with to allow the reader realize that new topics are now being addressed.

• a) Check your spelling. There ought to be few errors in this regard.
• b) Run-on and incomplete sentences. Avoid sentences which can be a long time. Check to make certain that there is no need incomplete sentences.
• c) Punctuation. Punctuation should follow standard guidelines. There is often confusion about commas. There are some simple rules that will keep you out of trouble. I have summarized them here. Otherwise, consult a writing manual or ask the instructor. “The Elementary Rules of Usage” from William Strunk’s the weather of Style covers most cases of comma usage including those who connect with independent and dependent clauses.
• d) Tenses. Be consistent in your usage of past and present tense. It is accepted practice to put everything in the present tense if you are writing a thought paper (ideas, philosophy. As an example, you may write, “The Buddha says, . . . .” or “The Tibetan master Milarepa behaves in unconventional ways.” You should put scholarly assertions in the present tense (“I think,” “Gregory Schopen states”) and historical facts in the past (“Shakyamuni delivered a sermon,” “Devadatta turned traitor”) if you are writing a research paper dealing with historical issues,. In virtually any full case, be consistent.

There are a few stylistic matters to note.

• a) Use natural English. There is no need to fill your paper with technical vocabulary or difficult terms. Should you choose use them, they will have a greater effect whenever you write in most cases in clear, straightforward English.
• b) Avoid using conjunctions that are too many qualifiers, such as for instance “however,” “then,” and “given that.” Usually, your reader will understand how one sentence pertains to the next with no usage of these terms, and the paper that is resulting be simpler to read. Make use of your own good judgement as to when they’re necessary. As a rule of thumb, use sparingly.
• c) Gendered pronouns. It is currently widely considered that the exclusive usage of male pronouns to refer to both sexes is unacceptable. There are a number of strategies you can use to negotiate this matter. You may use i) male and female pronouns alternately, ii) neutral pronouns such as for instance “one” and “they”; however, avoid mixing those two pronouns when you look at the same sentence, iii) both (When an individual finds him or herself in this example . . .), or iv) “s/he”. You can find, however, possible exceptions. When you yourself have any relevant questions regarding this, please see me.

Don’t use “one” and “they” as pronouns when it comes to referent that is sameThis confusion arises due to the use of “they” as opposed to “his” or “her.”) Be cautious if you use humans or beings that are human replace “men.” “Human beings” is usually more appropriate than “humans,” and quite often “people” is an improved choice.

Common Errors

• a) ” distinctive from.” “Different from” could be the usage that is correct not “different than.”
• b) “Complementary” versus “Complimentary.” Be sure to know the difference between both of these words. Yin and yang are complementary. Words of praise are complimentary.
• c) “Affect” versus “effect.” One can assess the economic ramifications of having inventory that is too much but one cannot easily affect nationwide economic trends which could decrease consumer demand.
• D) A “novel” is a ongoing work of fiction. Memoirs, journals, biographies, and autobiographies are nonfiction works. Do not relate to them as “novels.”