Suggestions for Improving Your Papers

1. Look closely at the correction codes:

Green highlighting = two or more sentences run together

Yellow highlighting = a fragment of a sentence

a loop= take it out

2. Please don=t underline your title or put it in quotation marks.

3. Use a thesis sentence to organize your paper. Everything else should back it up.

4. Try using one general (topic) sentence to limit and control what goes into each main body

paragraph.

5. Add better supporting details. Make your ideas and details interesting and original.

Come in with a detailed plan.

6. Be sure everything is clear.

7. Move smoothly from one point to the next.

8. Proofread more than once. Double check for easily confused words (such as too/to

and then/than). Be sure plural pronouns (such as their, they, and them) refer to plural

antecedents. Check for word ending mistakes. These are considered serious.

9. Avoid the word you. Well is also too casual in AWell, I got the job.@

9. Get some extra practice by using the topics I gave you and taking extensive notes during

classes.

11. Come in for help. I=m in my office (201 Wilson East) at 10:00 on Monday, Wednesday

and Friday and 11:30 on Tuesday and Thursday.

12. For help on run-ons and fragments, study chapters 13 and 14 in your Handbook.

13. Count your words. Aim for 500 words on in-class papers. For out-of-class papers,

you=ll hate your grade if you have fewer than 500 words.

14. After this, please put your name on the back of your papers.

Form the habit of questioning assumptions and thinking things through.