TIPS FOR PAPER WRITING
By Erin Murphy*
1) Spell check and proof read
- Do NOT ignore those red and green squiggly lines that
appear on your computer screen!!
2) Use proper citation format
- Get used to using proper citations now. Professors in
upper year courses will not tolerate improper bibliographies and footnotes.
Go out and buy a good book on academic essay citations, and develop this
habit immediately
3) Use this as a model for your essay:
- Thesis: definitive statement that clearly
states the position you will argue
- Context/ Background: use only necessary
information and keep it BRIEF
- Arguments that directly support your thesis:
- Argument #1
- Argument #2
- Argument #3
- in an 8 page paper, there is normally not enough
space to develop more than three arguments
- Conclusion: not just a restatement of
your thesis, but an opportunity for summary and further reflection.
Example:
- Thesis: King’s College is better than
main campus
:
smaller class sizes
- Argument #2
:
friendlier students and professors
- Argument #3:
beautiful
setting
Conclusion: King’s College is a welcoming,
warm place to study
What NOT to do:
- Thesis: King’s College is better than
main campus
- Argument #1: history of King’s
College
- Argument #2: history of main campus
- Argument #3: the new stadium is a
great place to watch football games
- Argument #4: late penalty policies
need reform
- Conclusion: King’s College is better
than main campus
There are valuable essay writing resources at your
disposal. Visit www.sdc.uso.ca
* If you use this document please do so with
appropriate attribution.