Deadlines Submit your papers because of the deadlines stated in the syllabus. You have three grace days for all papers except the final paper, for which there are not any free extensions. By the day before the deadline if you have a problem before the final paper, be sure to talk to me.
Basic Elements
- Mechanics are very important. These are the basic tools that make the paper possible.
- a) Descriptive Title. As simple as this can be, some social people forget.
- b) Introductory Paragraph or Thesis. A thesis paragraph states what you are setting out to show in your paper and just how you will repeat this. An introductory paragraph provides your reader with an obvious knowledge of what the paper is about. As a whole it is a good idea to steer clear of the overuse of this first person voice, because this can interrupt the flow of the prose. Here are some examples to give some thought to:
Effective paragraph that is introductory will not use “I”: In Dakota-A Spiritual Geography, Kathleen Norris writes about her life on the Western plains of the United States. She describes it as a kind of monastic world by which she has been able to come in touch with her spiritual roots through the lives of the people there, the land, and also the solitude of her own inner life. She will not falsely idealize life in the plains as some kind of paradise out of the urban jungle. In fact, she actually is critical regarding the insularity and pettiness associated with the towns that are small which she lives and works. As opposed to detracting through the positive feeling of her life there, however, her critical perspectives make her work more real and lead your reader to would like 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 by the beauty of Kathleen Norris’ prose and her capacity to convey the subtleties and complexities of her life there, of men and women, place, and time, the relation between work, art, as well as the life that is spiritual. In the beginning, I read her work as the account of a woman and a culture vastly distinct from personal. When I continued to read, however, I became conscious that, in a few ways, her world mirrored mine. While speaking away from a distinct geographical and cultural landscape, Norris will make us recognize features of our own lives of which we possibly may not have been previously aware. Weak paragraph that is introductory uses “I”: In this paper, i am going to come up with Kathleen Norris’s book Dakota-A Spiritual Geography. I shall discuss her views in the relation involving the Dakotas as a geographical location and a spiritual place. I will show that there is a connection between the 2. I shall use ideas from her work as well as Carol Christ’s ideas about nature. I shall also show that, while beneficial in several ways, Christ’s ideas are insufficient for understanding Norris’ complete view of life into the Dakotas.
- c) Conclusion. The final outcome brings the basic ideas of one’s paper back in succinct focus. This might involve some summarizing but should also refocus ideas by reformulating several of your ideas that are thesis/introductory a way extremely hard with out browse the body of one’s paper. You may not answer all relevant questions which you raised or resolve all issues outlined in your introduction. One good way to conclude your paper would be to raise questions that are further showing your awareness of their existence and possibilities for further inquiry. Sometimes, the best 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 perhaps the lectures. If you make a statement that seems controversial and you don’t cite a reference, then I will not know where your thinking came from. You can not be too careful on this point.
- e) Format for References. When it comes to paper that is final i will ask which you all use footnotes or endnotes following the format given in the syllabus additionally the writing sample. Take note the utilization of commas and parentheses. For shorter papers, you might use parenthetical notes. (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, don’t use quotation marks at the beginning and end of the block. Use the margin command rather than the tab command to create block quotations. This will make it much simpler for you.
- h) Subheadings. These are not necessary, however you may find it useful to insert subheadings while you go along. They are able to assist you to to organize your paper as well as to allow the reader understand that new topics are now being addressed.
- a) Look at your spelling. There should be few errors in this regard.
- b) Run-on and incomplete sentences. Avoid sentences which are too much time. Check to ensure that you do not have sentences that are incomplete.
- c) Punctuation. Punctuation should follow standard guidelines. There was often confusion about commas. There are many rules that are simple will keep you away from trouble. I have summarized them here. Otherwise, consult a writing manual or ask the instructor. “The Elementary Rules of Usage” from William Strunk’s sun and rain of Style covers many cases of comma usage including those that apply to independent and clauses that are dependent.
- d) Tenses. Be consistent in your use of past and tense that is present. If you should be writing a thought paper (ideas, philosophy), it is accepted practice to put everything in today’s tense. As an example, you might 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 just about any case, be consistent.
There are a few matters that are stylistic note.
- a) Use natural English. You don’t have to fill technical vocabulary to your paper or difficult terms. Them, they will have a greater effect when you write for the most part in clear, straightforward English if you do use.
- b) stay away from too many conjunctions and qualifiers, such as “however,” “then,” and “given that.” Usually, your reader will discover how one sentence relates to the following with no utilization of these terms, and also the resulting paper will be simpler to read. Use your own judgement that is good to when they are necessary. As a rule of thumb, use sparingly.
- c) Gendered pronouns. It is now widely considered that the exclusive usage of male pronouns to custom writing refer to both sexes is unacceptable. You can find a number of strategies which can be used to negotiate this matter. You might use i) male and female pronouns alternately, ii) neutral pronouns such as “one” and “they”; however, avoid mixing those two pronouns within the same sentence, iii) both (When an individual finds him or herself in this situation . . .), or iv) “s/he”. You can find, however, possible exceptions. If you have any relevant questions about this, please see me.
Avoid using “one” and “they” as pronouns when it comes to same referent (This confusion arises due to the utilization of “they” as opposed to “his” or “her.”) Be cautious when you use humans or human beings to replace “men.” “Human beings” is generally more appropriate than “humans,” and often “people” is a significantly better choice.
Common Errors
- a) ” distinctive from.” “not the same as” may be the usage that is correct not “different than.”
- b) “Complementary” versus “Complimentary.” Be sure to know the difference between these two words. Yin and yang are complementary. Words of praise are complimentary.
- c) “Affect” versus “effect.” One can measure the economic ramifications of having inventory that is too much but one cannot easily affect nationwide economic trends which will decrease consumer demand.
- D) A “novel” is a ongoing work of fiction. Memoirs, journals, biographies, and autobiographies are nonfiction works. Try not to make reference to them as “novels.”