religious essay

Vivian

Religious Studies

UPPER-DIVISION PAPERS

DOs & DON’Ts CHECKLIST

DO

· include a title page

· use capital letters for each word in the title except itty-bitty words (the, of, etc.)

· include a subtitle if the main title doesn’t clearly show what the thesis is

· use standard 12-point font (Times New Roman, Calibri) and standard margins

· underline, italicize, or boldface your thesis

· use default margins

· use primary sources over secondary (that is, if the text quotes a passage from scripture, go to the source to be sure, and copy it from there, with the reference. Don’t give the page number of the text.

· stay on topic (keep checking your thesis statement to be sure you are)

· make sure your thesis is an argument (not: “many Indians died in the westward movement”)

· include a bibliography IF you do research (not needed otherwise)

· give the page number (in parentheses is fine) if you quote or paraphrase a source— any source

· use italics or underlining for titles of books; use “ ” for articles or web titles

· number the paragraphs

· number the pages

· make sure each paragraph is developed (has discussion and examples)

· make sure paragraphs have good transitions

· use the present tense when discussing books or articles, unless you’re making a historical point

· use inclusive language (no “man” or “men” unless you mean males)

· introduce quotations

· create your own creative language (metaphors, similes, etc.)

· check any word that ends with an “s” to see whether it’s a plural or a possessive (or both)

· check each pronoun for its antecedent (its noun)

· check to make sure that participles have the right subject (wrong: while running to the store the car hit him)

· put ALL periods and commas inside the quotation marks; colons and semi-colons go outside

· cite this way: “quote”[footnoteRef:1]. [1: ]

· check to make sure you’re spelling the author’s name correctly

· reserve “I” statements for the beginning and or end of the paper

· Use Word preferences to check for a lot of these!

DON’T

· use the passive voice!

· repeat your title page info on the first page of your paper

· makes assertions without support (discussion and/or examples)

· use “also,” “another,” “in addition,” numerals, ordinals (including words like “last”), or chronology as transitions (either at the beginning of a paragraph, or internally)

· use the book The Road Less Traveled (we know it’s a book)

· “use the book of Ephesians” or “the letter to the Ephesians” or “the book of Exodus.” Just use the name of the book. (And note that the letters in the New Testament aren’t really “books”

· make very general assertions (e.g. “Christians believe”). In general, stick with the discussion of the book; don’t move from one person to “Indians” or “Jews.”

· use the plural pronoun “they” when its subject/antecedent is singular (“What a person does in their own time….”

· have source quotations/paraphrases take up more than a third of a paragraph

· use “novel” for a non-fiction book

· use “you”

· have extra space between paragraphs

· use “In conclusion” in the conclusion

· Use Word preferences to check for a lot of these!

· use “etc.”

· use “mentions”

· use “many scholars say”—it’s vague. Who?

· use “one of” [the themes, the topics, etc.] to introduce the body of the paper

· use clichés (“paints a picture”)

· use text-speak (“i’ve”)

· use a comma to separate complete sentences (a sentence has a subject and a verb)

· use really, really long paragraphs or really short ones

· use grandiose words (“incredible,” “extraordinary,” “really great”)

· use “I” statements except for emphasis and/or at the beginning and end of the paper (even there they may not be necessary)