Writing Tips & Guidelines from Wesley Buerkle

Note: The following represents Wesley Buerkle's preferences. The suggestions may not hold true for all other professors—actually, I can kind of guarantee that. Always check with your instructors for their preferences.

Page Setup

Margins
The standard is one inch on all sides (i.e., left, right, top, and bottom). Microsoft Word often has a default of 1.25 on the left and right—fix it if you must.

Spacing
Unless I say otherwise, double-space all papers (not worksheets). Please don't reduce or increase the spacing; just be honest about what you have to put on the page.

Font
For me, use Times New Roman, only. I do not like Courier or Arial. Times New Roman is the standard (and the font I have used on this page). For most instructors, unless requested, avoid sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial). Serifs are the little lines on letters [Compare the following two characters F F. See how the first has a foot and little lines hanging off each arm? Those are serifs, and I think they are swell.]

Font size
The standard is 12 point. I find smaller more difficult to read. Most professors do, in fact, notice when a font is larger. Consequently, we suspect that you have less to say about a subject and are trying to fill the page rather than say something of importance or interest.

Page numbers
Usually in the top right corner of the header (not the body) and preceded by your name (if using MLA) or an abbreviated paper title (if using APA).

Heading
Put your name, the course number (e.g., SPCH 3390) or course name (e.g., Persuasion), and the date in the upper left hand corner, single spaced. Example:

Wesley Buerkle
Persuasion
October 11, 2007

Title
If it is a minor assignment (e.g., a chapter outline or response paper), provide a name such as "Chapter 12 Outline" or "Extra Credit Abstract." Major papers should have more descriptive names. Include a title at the top of your paper one line below the heading or on a separate page if you must (though I try to avoid paper waste). Center the title on the page. If you like , you can use a slightly larger or bolded font. No more than one line should sit between the title and body of the paper.

Staples
Use them! A paperclip is not a suitable substitute. Invest in a small, inexpensive stapler if necessary, but do not submit multi-page work that is not stapled. Unless otherwise specified, do not use binders, folders, or those plastic sheets with the plastic clip; they get thrown away.

Writing Style and Habits

Paragraph Length
A paragraph is a mini-paper, that is, it should contain an idea elaborated in sufficient detail. If the idea is rather brief, you add it to similar ideas thus creating subpoints within a larger idea. If the idea is a bit long, it get's its own paragraph. If the idea/paragraph is quite long, you divide it into smaller ideas (i.e., subpoints). With that said, here are a couple rules of thumb for paragraphs that I have found helpful. Note: These are not hard and fast rules, but general guidelines to help you get in the rhythm of good writing.

• Paragraphs should take up at least 10 lines on the page.
• Paragraphs should contain at least five sentences—rarely four.

• Paragraphs should not cover more than an entire page (about 24 lines). I do not mean that it cannot roll from one page to another; I do mean, if it starts on line 16 of page three, it should end before line 16 of page four.

Transitions
Now that I have discussed how to organize the beginning and end of your paper, let me address organizing the body. [Hey, that was a transition.] Transitions create relationship between ideas. Generally speaking, they tell us where we have been and where we are going or how the next paragraph or point relates to the previous. You should use these between paragraphs, points, and sections. For instance, if reviewing research, you may begin the second article summarized by writing a transitional phrase: "Unlike Kenner and Katsimaglis's study, Madden found that women did mind a closer proximity to men they did not know." Here you can find a handy list of transitional words and phrases. See the next discussion for an example of a transitional sentence preceding a topic sentence.

Write Deductively
Begin by stating your point and then supporting it. Think about the point a given paragraph should make; lead with that. The subsequent sentences should argue your case. If someone asked what you learned in a class, you probably lead with, "I learned the basic theories of Communication." Then you move into stating what kinds of research that covers.

The sample paragraph below comes from an abstract of an article on Boy Scout history. Note that the paragraph begins by stating a relationship to the previous paragraph, which even here you can tell was about the ways the Boy Scouts was thought to benefit boys. After transitioning, the topic sentence makes plain the point about to be elaborated.

[TRANSITION from previous paragraph/idea:]The Scouts alone did not benefit from the opportunity to perform a rugged masculinity. [TOPIC SENTENCE:]Hantover finds that Scoutmasters also looked to the Boy Scouts as an opportunity to escape a feminized world and discover their inner masculinity. As opposed to bureaucratic organizations, scoutmasters could achieve respect by demonstrating their character rather than holding a formal position of power. Not surprisingly, many of the scoutmasters were 30 year old, white, Protestant white-collar workers. Clerical workers especially sought positions as scoutmasters, often having only a high school education, that supposedly feminized them without providing the opportunity for professional success as an alternate masculine achievement.

Use of "I"
I have no problem with people writing in the first person, so long as they do so 1) to explain what they, themselves did (e.g., describing the data collection process) or 2) as a voice for the paper (e.g., "In my research I find . . . ."; or "First, I will explain past research."). First person voice in a research project does not grant license to editorialize at will (e.g., "The first article did not make much sense to me but the next one does.").

"How"
"How" often gets used in sentences as a kind of filler word. "How" references the means by which something occurs, not that it did occur. For instance, a person might say, "He told me how he went to Hawaii." This implies that the person in question explained the means by which he traveled (e.g., plane, boat, submarine, etc.). The person speaking may have simply meant to say, "He told me he went to Hawaii." Here is a better example:

• Not Clear: "The research shows how men touch women more than other men." The natural follow up question to this statement is, "How do men touch women more than men? Around the waist? When nobody is looking? Using a ten-foot pole?"
• Clear: "The research shows men touch women more than other men."

Using Sources

Reference authors, not titles
The following regards what is done in a paper's body, NOT the reference list. This advice is to be used in tandem with the reference style you have selected (e.g., APA or MLA). As you integrate research into your paper, focus on the the research's author(s) rather than the title. If you are generally describing the research—not citing a specific passage, which requires a page number—use the author's name: "McCroskey finds that evidence only increases a message's effect in certain circumstances."   

Long Quotes
If a quote takes up four or more lines you need to create a block quote. You should, however, ask yourself if you need as long of a quote as you have selected. Often, using ellipses or a shorter part of the segment will do the job. Long quotes in short papers often look like filler.

Return to Courses | Return to Buerkle Main Page