WRITING 3-4 PAGE PAPERS: THE GROUND RULES

Remember to get these papers done on time! Late papers lose points. Follow the schedule exactly.

Short papers are actually harder to write than longer papers. They require concise writing and careful outlining. You have to know what you want to say before you start writing. You do not have room for long introductions or conclusions- you have to get right to the point.

The basic steps in writing are the same as for any assignment.

 FIRST is to take notes on your reading and/or research, after selecting one of the questions you want to answer.

 SECOND is to brainstorm an answer, writing down your ideas, that you can then organize into an outline.

 THIRD is a rough draft, which uses pieces of your notes, and

 FOURTH is to read that draft through to revise and make changes. This is a key stage that a lot of people forget, but it usually makes a full grade of difference in the final product (it turns a C into a B, or a B into an A).

 FINALLY, proofread your text for spelling, punctuation and grammar. A computer spelling program is required, but you should also, always, have a friend read through it, to tell you if it makes sense and to find errors you can't see.

FORMAT: Always use

One inch margins
10 or 12 point type in a legible font
Headings and sub-headings where appropriate
Remember to put your name and the assignment number on each paper!!!

STYLE: Your papers for this class do not have to be in a stiff academic style - but the MUST be literate. This means they have to follow rules of grammar, and words must be used in their generally accepted meanings. I do not mind if you use the first person, or relate your own beliefs or experiences, as long as they contribute to your answer.

GRADING will be based primarily on content, but we will take away points for poor style, grammar, spelling or composition. Proofreading for typos will always help your grade. You will get a point score and some written comments on every paper.

YOU MUST TYPE YOUR ESSAY. No handwriting will be accepted.

REFERENCES AND SOURCES: You can use any footnote and reference style that you are comfortable with. I prefer the American Anthropologist style that puts all references in the text like this (Wilk 1993: 122-123), and then has a bibliography at the end that includes all the sources referenced. If you have already mentioned the author or the title in the text, you can just write the page number in parentheses like this (124).

REMEMBER: The important thing to remember in writing these essays is to BE CRITICAL. You are here to learn to think things through for yourself, not to learn facts and parrot them back to me. We want to hear your reasoned opinions. We want to see what you can do with the ideas and resources at your disposal. We want you to show us that you have read and understood the assignment and relevant readingsw, but more than that we want to see that you have processed, digested and used this material to further your own growth.

PLAGIARISM is copying or paraphrasing someone else's work without a footnote or quotation marks that tell where the text or ideas come from. You are welcome to discuss the paper topics with each other, but your writing must be original. Any paper that includes plagiarized material will receive a grade of F, with no chance for a rewrite.

LATE PAPERS will lose points. If you are having trouble with a book or paper topic, please come in and talk to your AI before it leads to your paper being late.

Always remember to keep a copy of every paper you turn in. We are not responsible for lost papers, and may require you to turn in another copy. Also keep all your notes and other research materials.