Writing Homework Help

Format:

Word Processor: This essay must be submitted electronically as a Microsoft Word document. File Name: The file name must be your last name, first initial, and “final essay” (e.g., smith,

j, final essay).

Title Page: Include the essay’s title, your name, the date, course name and number,

professor’s name on the title page. The title page should be page number zero, but the

number should not appear.

Headers: Do not put anything into the header.

Page Numbers: Number the pages with 1 appearing on the first page of the essay after the

title page.

Essay Title: Put the title of essay in boldface at the top of the first page of text. Essay Title Page: Follow the guidelines for Chicago-style title page.

Section Subtitles: The essay must be divided into subtitled sections. Include an

“Introduction” and “Conclusion” among these subtitles. Center and boldface the section

titles.

Citations: All citations must be proper Chicago-style footnotes.

Annotated Bibliography: Include a proper Chicago-style annotated bibliography that divides

the sources into Primary Sources and Secondary Sources sections. Continue the page

numbers through the bibliography.

Word Count: The text of the essay must be between 2500 and 3000 words. This word count

does not include the title page, the bibliography, or the footnotes. Be sure that the word- count function of Microsoft Word is not including footnotes.

Regarding footnote and bibliography format: Follow the guidelines for proper Chicago-style footnotes and bibliographic entries.

Proofread:

Review the Essay Writing Checklist.

Proofread your essay and annotations carefully in light of the checklist for clarity, accuracy, and brevity, and proofread for spelling, correct word usage, and grammar.

Proofread citations for accuracy, spelling, and format.

Electronic Submission:

Submit the properly named Microsoft Word document electronically as an email attachment

to atillers@marybaldwin.edu and on Canvas by 5:00 pm, Monday, April 12th (this

deadline is extended from what appears on your syllabus.)

Do not use Google Drive or any other alternative submission system.

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Essay-Writing Checklist

Review the following points as you begin to write your essay and before you turn it in:

 Formatting:

o Review the formatting requirements in the assignment. Have you met all of those

requirements?

 Thesis and Introductory Paragraph:

o Begin with an introduction that includes a clear thesis statement that you prove in the

body of the essay.

o The thesis statement, itself, should be 1-3 sentences. Bold your thesis statement.

o Be sure the thesis statement is a strong, clear, logical, and original statement of fact

about which intelligent, well-meaning people might disagree.

o Provide the context necessary for a reader to know about the subject of the essay (i.e.

the people involved, important ideas and/or events, the time period, and the

geographic location).

o Highlight the major supporting points made in the essay.

 Argument:

o Be sure that the argument as a whole clearly supports the essay’s thesis.

o The argument should proceed logically from one step to the next, from section to

section, paragraph to paragraph, and sentence to sentence.

o Each section should focus on one important aspect of the essay (i.e., Introduction and

Conclusion) or a major aspect of the argument (e.g., a person’s early career).

o Each paragraph should present a single idea, stay on topic, and use only relevant

information, ideas, or examples.

o The argument should reflect a thorough knowledge and understanding of the

information available in the sources.

 Evidence:

o Enclose all the passages taken word for word from a source in quotation marks.

o Do not thinly paraphrase sentences, it is better either to put them into your own words

or to quote them directly.

o Rely on your own words rather than extensive quotes, but be sure to cite the evidence

on which you base your statements.

o Cite sources of all ideas that you take from the sources, as well as all quotes.

o Be sure that the examples you use as evidence clearly support the essay’s thesis.

o Ensure that the examples you use as evidence are the best evidence available in the

sources for the support of the essay’s thesis.

o Do not twist evidence to make it say what you want rather than what it actually says. o Cite evidence using footnotes based on the Chicago Manual of Style Online.

o DO NOT PLAGIARIZE

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 Grammar:

o Paragraphs:

 Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that is supported in the paragraph.

 Construct each paragraph as a complete thought.

 Make each paragraph a single coherent element of the argument supporting the

essay’s thesis.

o Sentences:

 Be sure each sentence is complete, clear, concise, and grammatically correct.

 Each sentence should have a clear subject noun and active verb.

 Each sentence should be relevant to the sentences surrounding it, to the paragraph

in which it is written, and to the essay as a whole.

o Syntax:

 Do not use the first or second person (e.g., I, we, you, my, your).  Avoid the passive voice.

 Use words correctly.

 Prefer nouns to pronouns.

 Do not use wordy sentences.

 Make sure that nouns and verbs agree.

 Use clear verb tenses; the past tense is the preferred tense for history essays.  Do not use contractions (e.g. it’s, shouldn’t, can’t).

 Use a writing guide to ensure proper grammar and clear sentences.

 proofread, proofread, proofread, proofread, proofread, proofread, proofread

o You should always strive for clarity, brevity, and accuracy in your writing.