How To Do Well On Your Next Paper
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This document provides tips for writing a strong academic paper, including reading the assignment carefully, organizing the paper around a clear thesis, using specific examples, revising, using the rubric as a guide, using an appropriate academic tone, being concise and precise, being careful with Microsoft Word features, citing sources properly, and consulting the APA style guide.
How To Do Well On Your Next Paper
- 1. TOP TEN WAYS TO DO WELL ON YOUR NEXT PAPER
- 2. 10: READ AND FOLLOW THE ASSIGNMENT
- 3. 9: MAKE A POINT: ORGANIZE YOUR PAPER AROUND A CLEAR THESIS
- 4. 8: USE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
- 5. 7: DON’T EXPECT TO GET IT PERFECT THE FIRST TIME: GOOD WRITERS REVISE
- 6. 6: USE THE RUBRIC AS A GUIDE
- 7. 5: USE A TONE SUITABLE FOR AN ACADEMIC PAPER
- 8. SUITABLE ACADEMIC TONE Leadership studies is a social science discipline. Write in a tone appropriate to the discipline and the assignment. APA requires that you avoid slang, clichés, and overly poetic language: When all is said and done, leaders are the bread and butter of their organizations. Nothing is more important than a leader who can be steady as a rock and hold the fort in troubling economic times. God willing, I pray that I will be able to fulfill my destiny and lead my team through these trials and tribulations.
- 9. SUITABLE ACADEMIC TONE One possible revision: Leaders need to set a good example for their organizations. Nothing is more important than strong leadership in troubling economic times. Leaders who can stay focused through the current downturn will be ready when market conditions improve.
- 10. 4: BE CONCISE, CLEAR, AND PRECISE
- 11. BE CONCISE Phrase things positively: Good writers do not refrain from revising their papers. Good writers revise their papers. Use the active voice whenever possible: Passive: Problems should not be avoided. Active: Good leaders deal with problems directly. Avoid unnecessary wordiness: Being that leaders don’t always make their expectations clear, it is understandable that employees do not meet them. Leaders often fail to make their expectations clear, which makes it harder for employees to meet them.
- 12. BE CLEAR Use topic sentences to help readers get the point of each paragraph. Avoid an overuse of rhetorical questions. Why is good leadership so rare? Where will the leaders of the future come from? Are schools doing enough? Good leadership is hard to find. Colleges may need to make changes to their curriculums to help train the leaders of the future. Good writers revise their papers. Build your sentences around a clear subject and an active verb whenever possible: The mentoring of others is an important characteristic of good leaders. Good leaders look for opportunities to mentor others.
- 13. BE PRECISE Be precise with numbers: A few years ago, I was offered a position to supervise a unit with numerous employees. In 2009, I was offered a position supervising a human resources unit of 27 employees. Be precise with words. Synonyms don’t always mean the same thing: I covet the generation of a more obliging employment milieu. I want to create a more supportive work environment.
- 14. 3: BE CAREFUL WITH MICROSOFT WORD FEATURES
- 15. 2: USE SCHOLARLY SOURCES AND CREDIT THEM APPROPRIATELY
- 16. 1: REMEMBER: YOUR APA HANDBOOK IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Editor's Notes
- #5: Cite specific cases and ideas from the text. If it’s a reflection that asks you to write about your experience, choose specific examples from your experience that relate to the points you’re making. Don’t just tell me you are the kind of person co-workers come to when there is a problem, use a specific example of when co-workers sought your advice in a crisis.
- #8: Avoid overly ornate or inflated language. If your ideas are lackluster, trying to jazz things up with polysyllabic words will not help Avoid slang APA also discourages the use of contractions
- #9: All examples are made up – these are not actual student papers. I will only use student papers for good examples. These are typical of things I saw in student papers last term. Spot the problems: “ When all is said and done” – cliché “ bread and butter” – cliché, slang “ steady as a rock” – slang “ hold the fort” – slang/cliché “ God willing, I pray…fulfill my destiny…” – Overly poetic: this is an essay, not a speech or a sermon.
- #10: For one thing, it’s a lot clearer here what I’m trying to say.
- #12: For one thing, it’s a lot clearer here what I’m trying to say.
- #13: For one thing, it’s a lot clearer here what I’m trying to say.
- #14: Precision with numbers helps your readers understand exactly what you mean. Not all of us have the same definition of “numerous.” Precision with words requires knowing the exact meanings and connotations of words – not something you can get by using the MS “Synonyms” tool (which is how I generated that horrible sentence)
- #15: Thesaurus (as in the last slide): Before inserting a random synonym into your paper, ask yourself: Do you know what this word really means? Also, see “be concise and precise” Sometimes it recommends really wordy phrases (“in the manner of”) Spell check: Does not substitute for proofreading, unfortunately. Grammar check: Somewhat useful but isn’t always reliable. Autoformatting: Sometimes formats in ways you don’t want it to, does not follow APA format.
- #16: Plagiarism is no joke, especially in graduate school.
- #17: There are too many rules to memorize them all. I have to look them up and so will you.