Paper Points

1. Paper Points Media Arts Seminar

2. Powerful Paper Structure Introductory paragraph: Establish the concept of the paper and the ideas or arguments you are going to prove or disprove. Then, move on to… Body paragraphs: These are multiple paragraphs which will prove the various points you may have laid out in your introduction. They will be filled with statements which are then supported by quotes. Make a new paragraph each time you move onto a new topic, and transition between them so there’s a logical flow that builds up. Once you’ve made your points… Conclusion: Wrap your paper up with a nice and neat conclusion. People often describe it as a “reverse introduction” where you go from summarizing the specific points you made in the paper to applying the relevance of those points to the world at large.

3. Key to Quotations. • When making an argument, you cite quotes from various sources to support your argument. On average, your common structure should be a statement, and then a quote to prove your point. • The main period where you will break this structure is when you quote a source, and then make an argument proving that source wrong—then, ideally, you should quote another source to support your argument afterwards. • Avoid quoting in the introductory paragraph. Your intro should be where you set up your point of view and what you are going to argue, not what someone else has argued. • Common misconceptions about quotations: • Quotations are not just something to prove you read the text. • Quotations are not something graded just on quantity, but on their effective use. • You do not quote to agree with the article or paper. You quote the article or paper because it agrees with you, or because it validates your point. Interpret, do not summarize. • Avoid quoting an article and telling us what the author means unless the statement might be extremely cryptic.

4. Clarity Only Helps You. How many of you wrote something like this: “Many peoplewould look on this painting after knowing it was by Hitler and see it differently” and then changed the subject? Or this: “We all know that art can be anything.”? In the event someone does not see the painting differently, in the event someone does not believe that art can be anything, your are sunk unless you can support your statements! - Don’t tell us that many people would see Hitler’s painting differently, just give an example of how people might see it differently! - Give an example of how broad art can be. Do not assume people think like you! Be specific! Be direct! - The point of an argument paper is to make your argument and support it. You can not be too clear about what you mean. You can be too vague. Find out more about Argentum ad Populum and other logical fallacies that will weaken your paper by typing “Logical fallacies” into your favorite search engine today!

5. Don’t Try to Look Smrt[sic]. • Big words don’t make good papers. Well structured, well supported arguments make good papers. Use words you’re familiar with, make simple but true sentences that build structured arguments. • Do not use slang. Take the content seriously, but resist language and phrases you do not normally use. Using complicated phrases and words incorrectly will destroy your clarity. • Stick to standard citation format. Stick to standard symbols. Different symbols, such as brackets, [], and parentheses, (), have specific uses in MLA format.

6. Common Mistakes • A/an. • Their/There/They’re. • Commas are for off-setting ideas, or for lists. • Use of quotation marks, both single and double. • Semi-colons and colons. • Run on sentences. • Use parenthetical statements (brief statements designed to add clarity) as sparingly as possible. • Indent your paragraphs. • If you are having persistent problems with spelling or grammar, the best way to check this is to read your paper OUT LOUD word for word. If you are worried about looking or sounding weird, imagine how it looks when you turn in a paper with a sentence similar to the following: “Jaar photography the villagers in a way that seem really touching, and brought to light the problem of African.” You can also visit my office hours and I can help proofread your paper.

7. Spacing and Formatting Guys. Seriously. Your spacing tricks. Are painfully obvious. And we’re not stupid. So quit it. Or you will get dropped a letter grade. (Surprise! We haven’t forgotten the tricks we did in high school either.)

8. Works Cited • You must use standard MLA format for your in-text citations. • You must have a Works Cited page. It must be its own page. • You must follow MLA standards for all of your sources cited. This standard is readily and immediately available online, a handout was also passed out in class. • “Works Cited” must be centered, in regular text, at the same font size at the top of the page. • Get help to verify a source’s reliability if you need it, or are unsure. The Purdue Owl has articles, and Megan and I are available during office hours, or via e-mail to help. • If you are not sure if you are citing properly, ask for help. The Purdue Owl has all forms of citations, and Megan and myself are available for in person help. Do not be afraid to ask for help even if you think you should be able to find it on your own. IF YOU DO NOT CITE YOUR SOURCES, IT MAY RESULT IN A ‘0’ GRADE FOR THE ENTIRE PAPER. IF YOU DO NOT FORMAT YOUR CITATIONS PROPERLY, YOU WILL LOSE 10 POINTS (A LETTER GRADE) OFF YOUR FINAL GRADE.