1. June 30, 2015
8. Revising the Final Draft
• Check overall organization: logical
flow of introduction, coherence and
depth of discussion in body,
effectiveness of conclusion.
• Paragraph level concerns: topic
sentences, sequence of ideas within
paragraphs, use of details to support
generalizations, summary sentences
where necessary, use of transitions
within and between paragraphs.
• Sentence level concerns: sentence
structure, word choices, punctuation,
spelling.
• Documentation: consistent use of one
system, citation of all material not
considered common knowledge,
appropriate use of endnotes or
footnotes, accuracy of list of works
cited.
3. June 30, 2015
King 1
The opening page to your essay should use the format shown below:
Only the first page should include the whole heading and title. All margins--top, bottom, and sides--should be
set to one inch (1") throughout the whole paper. Don't add extra spaces between the heading and the title, nor
should there be extra spaces between the title and the body of the paragraph.
Use a 12 point font. And choose a font that is easy to read rather one that is decorative: "Arial," "Lucida,"
"Modern," "Palermo" or "Times New Roman" are some good choices.
4. June 30, 2015
An Introductory Paragraph for a Research Paper
1. An introduction to your topic in a broad or general way that grabs your reader's attention. It's
going to draw your readers in to your topic "The Hook".
2. Give some background on your topic. Informative sentences that will build to your thesis.
3. Add your thesis statement which makes a claim or states views that you will support or build
upon.
5. June 30, 2015
Topic Sentences
If a thesis is a road map to a paper, then a topic
sentence is a guide to a paragraph. Therefore, you
should think of topic sentences as kinds of mini-
theses, organizing and enabling the development
of each paragraph in a paper. The topic sentence
of a paragraph should convey that paragraph’s
content and organization. It gives a preview of
the paragraph’s subject and the treatment of that
main idea (your view of the subject). Therefore,
use specific language in your topic sentences and
avoid making broad, sweeping generalizations.
Each paragraph should have its own topic
sentence and should focus on only one main idea
or point, which is referred to as paragraph unity.
When your writing shifts to a new idea, you need
to begin a new paragraph and write a new topic
sentence.
6. June 30, 2015
Topic statements should contain:
1. A topic and
2. a controlling idea
7. June 30, 2015
Topic Sentence: This is where the main ideas are
summed up and the thesis statement is restated in a
different, interesting way.
Summation: This is where the reader is told what
he/she should have learned from the essay, why it is
significant and how it relates to the real world.
Concluding Sentence: This is the final thought, the
final chance to leave the reader with something to
think about. It should be a bold statement that
cements the essays message in the mind of the
reader.
A conclusion should have...
8. June 30, 2015
Double-space all lines
• Arrange entries alphabetically by the author’s last name
• The first line of each entry is at the left margin. Any additional
lines for an entry are indented five spaces
Additional formatting guidelines for individual parts of a
bibliography entry:
• Author: Last name first, followed by a period. With regards to
initials and full name usage, the author’s name should appear as it
does on the title page of the work being cited. For example, if the
author’s name appears on the title page as Anthony T. Boyle,
Ph.D. should appear as Boyle, Anthony T.
• Punctuation: Periods appear after the author, title, and the very
end of the complete entry. A colon appears after the place of
publication, and a comma is placed after the publisher. For other
types of sources, see examples.
• Title of Sources: Follow the capitalization on the title page.
Include any subtitles and, if not already shown, use a colon to
separate the title and subtitle. Underline the entire title. For other
types of sources, see specific examples.
10. June 30, 2015
Conventions
Conventions are the standard
rules of spelling, grammar,
usage, capitalization, and
punctuation that all writers must
adhere to so that the reader can
understand the writer's ideas
clearly and easily.
11. June 30, 2015
Presentation
Presentation is the final step in the
writing process when writers offer
their work for others to read. An
effective presentation successfully
combines verbal and visual
elements so that reading the
composition is easy and enjoyable.
12. June 30, 2015
Sentence Fluency
Sentence fluency is the rhythm
of the composition. The writer
needs to construct the sentences
so that they read smoothly with
some variation in length and
structure to add interest and to
reinforce meaning.
13. June 30, 2015
Word Choice
Word choice is the selection of rich,
vibrant words and precise phrases that
convey the writer's ideas most
effectively. It's important to remember
that the creative use of everyday words
can leave a more lasting impression
than lofty vocabulary.
14. June 30, 2015
Voice
The voice of a composition is the
personality of the writer speaking through
the written words. It is the unique tone of
each individual writer that sets his or her
work apart from other writers.
