Requirements for Writing Assignments

1. Requirementsfor Writing Assignments • Follow APA 5th edition • 1’’ margins • Not all pages may have one inch margin at bottom of page if using widow/orphan control • 12 pt font / Times New Roman • For confidentiality, avoid using real names of people and places

2. Title Page • Include title page – title page is the first page of your document and included in the same electronic file as document • Include page header (but not Running Head) • Double-space title page

3. Left-justify text • Include title (centered at the top) on first page of text • Double-space text

4. In formal academic writing • Avoid writing like you talk • Double space everything after the heading (even between paragraphs) • Develop an original title that suggests your topic. The title is included on the Title page and also at the beginning of the first page of the paper • Capitalize first, last, and major words of title

5. Do not bold, place in quotation marks, underline, italicize, place in all caps, or use a period at the end of your title • Avoid unnecessary commas • Only use commas if there is a reason • Avoid using commas between conjunctions (and, but, etc.) that link dependent clauses (cannot stand alone as a complete sentence)

6. Do not use the word “you” as an indefinite pronoun • Avoid using the word “you” to mean anyone – to refer to people in general use the word “people” or the word “one” • APA: Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks; colons and semicolons go outside quotation marks; questions marks and exclamation points go inside quotation marks if they are part of the quotation

7. Avoid beginning sentences with “and” or “but” • Avoid the use of slashes between words (to stand for the word and or or • Avoid using contractions • Avoid using acronyms (the first time) • Avoid beginning consecutive paragraphs with the same word • Avoid beginning consecutive sentences with the same word

8. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent Correct example: A teacher works hard when he or she has to write daily lesson plans. (he or she is the pronoun which is singular; the word teacher, the pronoun’s antecedent, is also singular)Incorrect example: A teacher works hard when they have to write daily lesson plans. (the pronoun they is plural but its antecedent, the word teacher, is singular)

9. Avoid the overuse of the word “that” • Avoid using “In my opinion…,” “in order to…,” “I believe,” and “I think.” • Avoid vague words - use definite, specific, concrete language (Example: Instead of using the words “in spite of the fact” use the word “though” or although”)

10. Use spell check (but will not check correct word usage – for example principal/principle and to/too/two) • Allow enough time to proofread your work and have someone you trust proofread your work so you can make corrections (with a word processor) BEFORE you turn in the assignment

11. Paragraphs should be between 3-7 sentences (a 5 sentence paragraph is best) • Visit the Student Success Center in Langdale Hall for help and tutoring