7 pages essay

· Must have a thesis statement. Thesis statement must be at the end of the introductory paragraph.

· Must have a hook in the introductory paragraph

· Must have a reference to primary source in the first paragraph (the one after introductory paragraph. Must mention two counter arguments in the first paragraph.

· Must introduce and analysis quotes.

· Must use 7 secondary sources (3 e-books, 3 academic journals, 1 podcast or blog etc). Must have 1 primary source.

· Block quotes must be 4 lines or above.

· Always have a thesis statement. There are several links in the Writing/ Essay pages in CANVAS on how to create an effective thesis. When an essay lacks a thesis, it is usually very disorganized. The word I/ We or You should NEVER be used in your thesis statement. See the examples we reviewed of good thesis statements from either the Sheridan Baker Thesis Machine or your WR .

· Always use the PRESENT TENSE when you are writing about literature.

· Make sure your paper is in MLA format. There is a short video in the Writing/ Essay pages in CANVAS if you have forgotten what MLA is. Your margins should be 1 inch all around; you MUST use Times New Roman, 12-point font and double –spaced. Playing with the margins and fonts in order to write less is a no-win game.

· Always have a HEADING on the top left of your paper and a HEADER on the top right. See MLA format video short if necessary.

· INDENT at the beginning of each paragraph.

· DO NOT hit enter multiple times after a paragraph in order to use up space and write LESS.

· Never use I/ We or You in your essays. Use he/she or one instead.

· Don’t use slang in your essays. Use formal English. Your essay is not a replication of a conversation with a friend!!!

· Follow the MLA conventions for titles. Your essay titles from WOI are in italics.

· Follow MLA format for citation. There are links to integrating sources correctly into your paper in the Writing/Essay pages in CANVAS. You also have the same information in WR . You can also check OWL PURDUE in CANVAS. Remember to use the Quote Sandwich when citing any quotes.

If you are using a BLOCK QUOTE, again follow MLA format. See examples in OWL PURDUE and in your WR .

· Your concluding paragraph should be a summary of your paper. Ensure you end it with a strong clincher /ending sentence.

· Make sure you satisfy the LENGTH requirements of the assignment. If you are required to write a three-page paper PLUS a Works Cited page, DO THAT!!!

· Your Works Cited should be your final page in your paper. There is a sample Works Cited in your WR for you to follow. It should be alphabetized and double-spaced. The second line of each entry should be indented ½ inch. When you use the cite button on any database you are using or www.easybib.com, make sure you check the citation for any errors in punctuation.

· Your secondary sources should always be peer-reviewed. Check for currency too. Find sources with up-to-date information depending on your topic.

· If you use a source that is NOT in the online library, use http:// www.easybib.com to correctly format your source in MLA format.