Friday, November 23, 2007

Analytical Papers - Rules and Guides

PAPER REQUIREMENTS

** All papers should be printed out and handed in at the BEGINNING of class on the due date. Papers should also be emailed to me.

1. Your paper should be typed, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font with standard 1-inch margins, approximately 650-750 words (2-2.5 pages).
2. You must use three quotations (one quote for each body paragraph). DO NOT simply plug in a long quotation to full up space. You should have twice as much of your own writing relating to each quotation you use.
3. Do not use I, you, or we in a formal paper
4. Proof read for run-on sentences
5. Properly cite quotations: (Author's Last Name page#).
6. Use the present tense (not past or future)
7. Use the active tense (not passive)
8. Number each page.
9. Format the paper correctly: name, course, section, date in the right margin; title in bold; no extra space between paragraphs.


GENERAL GUIDELINE

Introduction: 6-7 sentences
First Sentence: Introduce author and play and make general comment on play
Second Sentence: Thesis statement (this is something that you are going to argue in your paper – what is your point? Use the essay question to help you write this.)


Body Paragraphs: 7 sentences (at least)
First sentence: Topic sentence

Second sentence: Introduce Quote – speaker? What is happening?

Quote: remember to cite it properly (Author’s Last Name, p #). Do not use a quote that is longer than five lines for one paragraph. Only one quote per paragraph

Fourth sentence: Explain quote in your own words

Fifth and Sixth sentences: Explain the significance of the quote to your topic sentence. Answer the question: why this quote? What does this quote say that is important?

Seventh sentence: transitional sentence – try to connect idea of this paragraph to the next paragraph.


Conclusion: 6 or 7 Sentences
First sentence: Restate your thesis
Second sentence: General comment
Start specific and end general
Give the reader something to take home.