Film paper (Research Paper)

Style Guide for written assignments

1. YOUR PAPERS MUST CONTAIN PROPER CITATIONS. Organize your references in any style you like. The important thing is that someone else (like me) can find your information. When using internet material, please include the exact weblink for the page containing the information. BE CONSISTENT with the style you use

2. The format for all papers is a 12 point font, double spaced, with 1” margins on every side.

3. Number all pages after page one.

4. Staple pages together. DO NOT paper clip or fold pages together.

5. If you don’t already own a writing handbook, buy one. The Elements of Style by Strunk and White is my favorite. Whichever one you prefer, use it well.

6. Use topic headings to improve the flow of your paper.

Common writing mistakes

First and foremost, please proofread your papers. Spell check helps (and please do it), but it is not sufficient.

1. Apostrophe use: Use an apostrophe to indicate a contraction (can’t) or to indicate a possessive (Shawn’s). Don’t use an apostrophe with an s to indicate a plural.

2. The possessive of company is company’s. The plural of company is companies.

3. A company is a singular entity, therefore a company names takes the singular pronoun it and the possessive its.

4. it’s/its. It’s is the contraction of it is. Its is the possessive form it. There is never a time where its’ is used.

5. Make sure you get they’re/their/there right. Similarly, to/too/two.

6. lead is the present tense. led is the past tense.

7. affect (usually a verb meaning “have an influence on”)/effect (usually a noun, the verb form means “to create”)

8. who (applied to a person or people)/that (applied to companies or things)

9. Make sure you have agreement in number (i.e., both singular or both plural) between nouns and verbs.

10. Noun/pronoun agreement: Singular nouns take singular pronouns, plural nouns take plural pronouns. The subject of a sentence (a noun) must agree in number with the verb.

11. Paragraphs should have at least three sentences and only one main idea. If a paragraph is longer than 2/3 of one page, it should probably be broken up. Similarly, like Hemingway, keep your sentences short and punchy. It makes them more readable.

12. To quote Strunk and White, “Good writers try to avoid try and.” This is a particularly pet peeve of mine. Try and is grating enough is spoken language. It’s unbearable in written assignments.

And finally, group papers should be group efforts. It is a mistake to assign different members of the group a section of the paper and try to put the whole thing together the night before it is due. You should at least agree on the main ideas to be covered before splitting up the paper, as well as the grade the group is trying to achieve. Make sure that the paper is in one typeface with a common format. The use of I in a group paper is only acceptable if you are quoting someone.

Always remember that people make judgments about your ability, competence, and diligence when they read your writing!