GuidelinesforPapers

Format

  • Typed,double-spaced,size12standardfont(please choosefrom TimesNewRoman,Garamond,orHelvetica)inMicrosoftWordforelectronicsubmission.
  • 1-1.5 inchmargins.
  • Page numbers are required at the bottom of each page.

OrganizationandStructure

  • Youmusthaveasolidintroductionandthesisdevelopedthroughoutthepaper.Eachtopic(subpoint)youdevelopfromyourthesiswillhave itsownheadingorparagraph.
  • Methodsoforganizationmayvary.Some studentsmayfollowathemechronologicallythroughout,whileothers mayusetopicalsubsectionstodeveloptheirthesis.
  • Thecontent ofthebodyparagraphsshoulddemonstratehowthethesisistrue.Examplesshouldbedrawnfromsourcestosupportthethesis.Youshouldthendiscussyourowninterpretationandanacademicresponsetothecriticalsourcematerial.
  • Besureeachsubpointiscoveredandthatthereisanaturalflowandprogressionthroughthesesubpoints.
  • AllwordsnotinEnglishmustbeeitherunderlinedorinItalics.

Sources and Quotations

  • If you choose to use sources, please avoidusing Wikipedia, Google,Yahoo,orgeneralizedInternetsearches;youarelikelytofindmostlyunhelpfulblurbs.Thesesearchesalsogetyou intotroublebyleadingyoutonon-academicsourcessuchasstudentpapersandsitesdesignedforthoselookingtoplagiarize.
  • MLA format is recommended for in-text citations. Turabian is good alternative. (More information on these formats can be found online.)
  • Alldirectquotationsincludeapagenumber,either attheendofthesentenceorinafootnote (if you are writing in Turabian format);quotesfromtheWebwillnot haveapagenumber.Besuretoinclude theWebsiteonyourbibliographypage.
  • Any timefourwordsormorecomedirectlyfromareading,theymustbeplacedinquotationmarksandcited.
  • Useblockquotationformatwhen threeormorelinesare quoted,andafootnoteattheendoftheblockquote.Blockquotesdonotrequirequotationmarks.(Please refer to the online style guide for the format you choose it utilize.)
  • Whencitingasourcethefirsttime, usethefullnameofthesource,suchas“AccordingtoMillardErickson.”Thereafter,usetheirlastname.
  • Whencitingscripture,usetheform“Matthew8:11” or “Matt 8:11”.

Bibliography

  • Either MLA, APA, or Turabianformat is recommended for your bibliography. (More information on these formats can be found online.)
  • Everyworkthatyouquote or acknowledgemustbelistedona bibliography pageattheendofyourpaper.
  • Please note, your bibliography is not considered “a page” of your paper.

Grading

  • Besuretoreviewthe gradingrubricwhileyouwrite. You must score at least an 80 to pass.Besuretoreadthe paperdescriptionthoroughly.Usingtherubric,gradeyourworkwithitasanadditionalproofread.