Frequent Trouble Spots for Essays which Incorporate Research

Basic Reminders:

1.) All the writing “rules” you have learned before still apply -- e.g., you need an introduction and a conclusion; you need a thesis, directional, or forecast statement; you should have topic sentences for your main ideas/body paragraphs; you should have only one main idea per paragraph; you should have a clear structure; and you should have clear transitions.  A lot of this we probably reviewed in the conference.

2.) Sample introduction paragraphs and conclusion paragraphs are now on the course website, under “Course Handouts,” then under “Essay 2.”

3.) Remember to save time for editing and proofreading -- do this on one of your hard copies!  Read backwards (by sentence and by paragraph), point to each word as you read, read out loud, have someone else read it out loud, etc.

4.) Your paper should be between 3 and 5 pages -- no longer than 5 pages (text pages, does not include the Works Cited and Consulted page).

6.) You may use personal knowledge, ideas, opinions, and interpretations in this paper for support and development -- that’s what the analysis/synthesis parts of the body paragraphs are for.

Use of Research Sources:

1.) Remember to double-check ALL summaries, paraphrases, and quotations for accuracy and for correct parenthetical citations.

2.) Remember to double-check ALL items of common knowledge -- did you find the exact same information in at least 3 sources?

3.) Beware of too much quotation -- ask me if you are unsure.

4.) Remember to use square brackets [ ] in quotations if you need to change something, such as capitalization, verb tenses, or pronoun references.

5.) Remember to use ellipses dots . . . (three spaced periods) in quotations if you need to remove something -- just don’t change the meaning with your omission.  Also, you do NOT need ellipses dots at the beginning or at the end of a quotation -- only when you remove something from the middle.

6.) Do not use summaries, paraphrases, or quotations as “filler” -- be sure the reader knows why you have used a summary, paraphrase, or quotation.  And ALMOST NEVER end a body paragraph with a summary, paraphrase, or quotation -- END ALL PARAGRAPHS ON YOUR OWN.

MLA In-Text Citations:

1.) Use a “signal phrase” for introducing ALL quotations and source information longer than one sentence -- and use a variety of signal phrases.

2.) Use an author’s full name the first time he or she is mentioned; only last name after that.  The exception might be if you are referring to the writer of a personal essay, if the writer is also a participant or a “character” in the essay.

3.) Ensure accurate punctuation of quotations and citations.

4.) For parenthetical citations, the most common form is the author’s last name and page number -- e.g., (Rush 76).  No commas, and no “p.” or “page” or or “pg.” or “pp.”  Do not include the date.  The final period of the sentence goes AFTER the (  ) citation.

5.) Page numbers might be (4-7) or (4, 7, 11) or (4+) or (n.pag.).

6.) If you don’t have an author’s name, or if you have an electronic source without page numbers, use a shortened version of the title, with appropriate underlining/italicizing or quotation marks.

7.) Be sure the in-text citations correlate directly to the correct end-of-text citation.

MLA End-of-Text Citations:

1.) Check my handouts and the LBB to ensure the correct formats -- including punctuation and mechanics.

2.) Remember to alphabetize the sources -- do not use numbers or bullets.

3.) Remember to double-space the entire page.

4.) Remember the correct title of the page -- Works Cited and Consulted -- and don’t bold, underline, italicize, quote, or enlarge this title.

5.) Remember the “reverse indentation” or “hanging indentation.”

Any Other Questions?