Notes from First Papers

College Composition

Dr. Downing

Kutztown University

Fall 2008

Preface• There is a lot of information in this slide show.

• I will review all of it with you at least once.

• I suggest you review it several times on your own.

• The most significant learning aspect for the majority of my students involves mastering MLA documentation.

• Slides relating to MLA documentation appear near the end of this slide show.

• Now, even though I am suggesting that MLA is important, I want to stress the point that all of the information contained in this slide show was generated by the first round of papers from my two College Composition classes.

• Therefore, if you have not mastered certain aspects of this slide show, you should focus on the slides that pertain to you (particularly if you see that I have indicated such issues on your papers).

“According to…”

• Begin your essays with “According to…”

• Then cite the author’s name, essay title, website, and/or book title.

• Provide a quote or two from the primary text to enable the reader to understand your starting point.

Quotes• Be sure to directly quote primary and secondary

sources in your papers.

• You MUST quote any information in your paper that is taken verbatim from another source.

• Do not dump quotes. You should not replace your own writing with extended quotes from a book or article just to hit your word count. Quotes should be used judiciously, not carelessly.

• Avoid orphan quotes. This means that you should introduce all quotes before quoting: “Ruiz writes…” “Campbell claims...”

Follow the Models

• Always follow models closely. Few things aggravate a professor more than students who do not follow the models. We cannot help but think: “I am showing you exactly how to write these essays and you have not taken the time to print and review the models. What’s the deal? Are you actively trying to do poorly?”

Unity

• Unity = the relationship between title, thesis, topic sentences, and content. If one is out of whack, the unity of the paper is at risk. Each of these elements should reinforce one another.

Sentences and Paragraphs

• Keep sentences simple and clear. • Keep sentences to a single thought. If you wish to

combine thoughts, you must learn how to link sentences with a “, cc” construction (fanboys).

• Keep paragraphs to a single topic. If you find yourself writing: “The final two points are…” You are going to get lost in the paragraph. Make one point per paragraph. Then create another paragraph.

Sentence Sense

• Sentences must have a subject, a verb, and must form a complete thought.

• Which of the following groups of words is not a sentence?

1. Before I came to school in 2007.

2. Joseph Campbell taught at Sarah Lawrence College.

3. After my car broke down and ran out of gas.

Present Tense

• Stay in present tense when discussing literature, essays, film, or articles. “Ruiz argues…” “Campbell claims…”

• This should be consistent throughout the paper.

Their/They’re/There

• “Their” is possessive: That is their house.

• “They’re” is a contraction: They are • (avoid contractions in formal writing)

• “There” is location: She is over there.

Learn these!!!

What and How

• Avoid starting declarative sentences with “what” or “how,” because your reader thinks you are going to ask a question.

• When this happens, the reader has to re-read the sentence and convert it into a declarative sentence.

• Avoid: “What Ruiz means to say is…”

• Use this style: “Ruiz means to say that…”

Colons vs. Semicolons

•Colons look like this :

• They are used before lists and to separate titles from subtitles

•Semicolons look like this ;

• They are used to separate two related independent clauses and items in a series that contain commas.

Titles

• Your titles: Create accurate titles. If you want to be creative, use a main title and subtitle. The main title can be creative or symbolic; the subtitle can be accurate. Separate the two with a colon :

• For example, “Restoring the Myths: Converting Stereotype to Archetype in Five Plays of August Wilson.”

• Other titles: Book titles should be in italics; article titles should be in “quotation marks.”

• Do not blend italics and underline in the same paper. Pick one and stick with it. They both mean the same thing. Italics are preferred because underlining = Web link.

Authors

• Refer to authors by last name:

• “Ruiz,” not “Miguel.”

• “Campbell” not “Joseph.”

• The only exception is when you are referring to them within a family situation where one or more persons might share the same last name.

Use Your Own Words

• Avoid ending paragraphs and/or papers with quotes from another person. Do not allow another author to steal your thunder.

• A lawyer in a courtroom would NEVER allow someone else to have the final word.

• If you want to use a strong quote, use it at the beginning rather than at the end of your paper.

• End paragraphs and papers in your own words.

Format

• Avoid contractions and abbreviations in formal writing.

• Avoid “I/You” trap. If you mean “I”, say “I”. Avoid “you” unless you are writing instructions for other people to follow.

• Left justify only. Right margin should be ragged.• Fonts: Arial, Times New Roman• Put a space between your last name and page

number in header.

Word Count

• Stay within word count limits. Too many words creates sloppy writing. Too few words indicates a lack of development.

• Many of you are at the stage where you need to practice tightening your essays.

• Be sure to give the reader credit: If you have already mentioned a certain point, you seldom need to repeat it.

Sources• Always cite sources for college-level papers.

• Use “According to…” to introduce your sources

• Use parenthetical citations to take the reader to the Works Cited page (Downing 16).

• Always include a works cited page for college-level essays (unless otherwise instructed).

• Many of you are precisely at this point: Your writing is solid. Now, you must master MLA documentation.

• See the OWL at Purdue.

• See the MLA Handbook that is recommended for this course.

Works Cited

• Under MLA guidelines, the reference page should be called Works Cited (not “sources”; not “references”).

• Entries on the Works Cited page should be listed in alphabetical order.

• Entries on the Works Cited page should use reverse indentation.

• Be sure to spell out websites on Works Cited page:

• “About Joseph Campbell.” The Joseph Campbell

Foundation. 2007. October 12, 2008. http://www.jcf.org/new/index.php?categoryid=11

Works Cited (continued)

• The actual and complete URL for the cited article should appear at the end of the entry on the Works Cited page

• Listing the URL for the website’s index page is not enough.

• URLs should NEVER appear in the text.

• Instead, the connection point between the parenthetical reference and the Works Cited page should begin with the Works Cited entry.

• For example:, if your Works Cited entry looks like this:

“About Joseph Campbell.” The Joseph Campbell Foundation. 2007.

October 12, 2008. http://www.jcf.org/new/index.php?categoryid=11

• Then the information you place in parentheses should look like this:

• (“About Joseph Campbell”). That will take me directly to the article on your Works Cited page.

Proofreading

• Read your work out loud to yourself.

• Sentences should be clear and to the point. If it sounds bad, it should be re-written.

• Start drafts immediately and make sure to share them with the professor during office hours or classroom workshop.

• Visit the Writing Center and find someone you can work with.

Final Thoughts

• Good writing does not require that you be a genius. Instead, it requires that you put TIME into your assignments.

• Start early, ask lots of questions, read your work aloud, and seek other eyes. That’s the secret to success in College Composition.

• Questions?