SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING GOOD PAPERS

Choose a Topic

• Choose a topic that interests you.
  
• Where possible, make the topic relevant to your work or life experiences.

• Narrow your topic down to a manageable statement that can be covered in the number of pages assigned.

• Provide a focus for your paper.

Research the Paper

• You can be reasonably sure that other authors have, already covered your topic, or parts of it.  Find them.

• Some sources of information:
• Internet
• Text books
• Libraries: catalogues, reference sections, special collections, periodical listings, reading rooms, librarians
• Professors
• Fellow students

• Keep track of your research and what you find.

• As you do your research, define your paper in greater detail.

• As you see the direction your paper is taking, focus your research on those areas that are pertinent to that direction.

Write the Paper

• Be prepared to write at least three drafts.

• Organize your notes and reference material in the order dictated by your outline.

• Using your outline as subject headings, start putting your ideas down on paper.  Ideally use a word processor so that changes can be made easily.

• Reread this rough draft, adding, deleting and inserting ideas where appropriate.

• Recopy this rough draft into a clean working copy.  Make some effort to smooth out the rough spots, spelling mistakes, etc.

• Put this working copy aside for 2-3 days.  Reread the paper after 2-3 days with a critical eye.  Ask yourself some of the following questions:

• Are the points clearly stated and well developed?

• Do the ideas follow each other smoothly, do they flow or are they disjointed

• Has the question been well developed?  Have arguments for and against been well stated?

• Does the material presented support the conclusions reached?

• Does it make sense?

• Are all quotations supported by appropriate references?

• Are my footnotes, bibliography and other supporting material accurate and well presented?

• If I were a teacher reading this paper, what mark would I give myself?

• Write a final copy of the paper.  Proofread it for errors of spelling, punctuation, grammar and sentence construction.
• Type the copy to be handed in:
• Double-spaced
• White 8 ½ x 11 paper
• 1 ½ inch margins all four sides
• Title page.

• Final proofreading.

• Make a photocopy for your files.

• Hand the paper in on time.