How to Avoid a ResearchPaper Disaster

Start Off on The Right Foot

• Appearance– Format– Type– Paper

• Binding• Title page

Title Page

• Check your guidebook• Keep it simple• First impressions are important• Title, name, class/section, date

First Page

• Make a strong immediate impression

• Appearance• Spacing• Thesis

The Rest

• Use quotes judiciously• Keep your standards high• Don’t use “stretcher” techniques

Getting Into the Right Frame of Mind

• Think positive• Select a tone• Take breaks• Keep your tone consistent

Some Specifics

• Paragraphs• Grammar• Rhetorical questions• Spelling• Common errors• Proofreading

Paragraphs

• Remember what a paragraph is supposed to do

• Be kind to your reader• Count sentences• Break when it makes sense

Grammar

• Remember the “big four”– Subject/verb agreement– Comma splices– Run-on sentences– Sentence fragments

• When in doubt, check your handbook

Rhetorical Questions

• If you use a question mark, make sure you provide an answer

Spelling

• Don’t rely on spell check• Think about homonyms• Think about commonly confused

words

Common Errors

• Pronouns that refer to “people” specific nouns

• Antecedent agreement• The “no-no’s”

– a lot– due to

Proofreading

• Selecting your proofreader• Three levels

– word– sentence– paragraph

Documentation

• Selecting the right form• Footnotes, endnotes, or in-text• Correctness