Importance of finding evidence before writing a thesis statement.
Avoid situations where a thesis must be changed due to lack of evidence.
Example:
A student outlined her paper but couldn't find evidence, leading to a requirement to alter her thesis.
Personal anecdote: difficulty finding evidence in databases.
Outlining and Structuring the Paper
Working Thesis Statement:
Start drafting an outline once a working thesis is established.
Assignment requirement for submitting an outline.
Personal Writing Style:
Using the approach of “pansting”—writing freely without a formal outline.
Outlines can be beneficial for those who prefer structured formats.
Assignment Outline:
Required for English class; importance of thoroughness in outlines to avoid major revisions later.
Emphasis on specificity in outlines to prevent extensive rewrites during the drafting phase.
Drafting and Submission Process
Outline Importance:
Detailed outlines prevent vague ideas that lead to poor rough drafts.
Rough Draft Submission:
Rough drafts should be ready for revision based on instructor feedback before final submission.
Introduction Writing
Length and Structure of Introductions:
Recommended length: 5 to 7 sentences; at least one sentence must include the thesis statement.
Clarity in Thesis Statement:
Thesis must be clear and concise.
The instructor dislikes vague statements, stressing clarity in writing.
Quoting and Quotation Integrity
Limitations on Quotations:
Only 20% of the paper should consist of quotes; failure to adhere can result in significant point deductions.
Consequences of excess quotes can lead to losing up to 55 points.
Spell Check Importance:
Strong recommendation to use spell check for papers to avoid basic errors.
Paragraph Unity and Cohesion
Definition:
Unified paragraphs: Each paragraph should address a single main idea or sub-point from the thesis.
Coherent writing: Information should be organized logically without unnecessary jumping between topics.
Structure of Body Paragraphs:
Each sub-point from the thesis should have a dedicated section or paragraph.
Example of structuring: if the thesis includes multiple topics (health care, energy resources, population), each should have related paragraphs together without scattering references throughout the paper.
Writing and Editing Best Practices
Capitalization and Punctuation:
Students must ensure capitalization is correctly applied to names and titles only.
Common issues with punctuation need attention, especially at the end of sentences.
Sandwich Method for Quoting:
Introduce quotes with context and attribution.
Example:
“According to [Author], [source] states, ‘[quote]’.”
Avoiding Academic Dishonesty
Recognition of AI Usage:
The instructor can identify AI-generated content.
Importance of Citing Sources:
Emphasizes correctly crediting all sources to avoid plagiarism.
Draft Feedback and Revisions
Instructor’s Role in Feedback:
Rough drafts will receive extensive feedback to guide revisions.
Importance of Feedback:
Proper adherence to guidelines can prevent significant point loss.
Assignment Details
Overview of the Assignment:
Worth 20 points; expectations for length: 2-3 pages.
- Discussing the definition of an argument and the objectives of position papers.