Writing Tips « Writers Workshop

Writing Tips « Writers Workshop No matter how you take notes though, take the notes with your thesis in mind, think about how the notes you are taking support your thesis. Then make sure the notes you take from your sources are answering those questions. For every book you find that is on your topic look through the endnotes or footnotes, particularly for those areas that relate directly to your thesis. Note down any source used by the author that looks relevant or useful. As regards language, following grammatical and spelling rules enables us to understand each other, assisted by clear formatting. As in any discipline, historians abide by standards so that others can easily understand their work. Limit direct quotations to poignant, strong and well-worded passages. The most useful quotations come from primary sources, because they present the moment or idea as it was originally recorded. Limit quotations from secondary sources to those that present strong arguments or particularly well-worded descriptions. An essay challenges you to synthesize the ideas of others to form your own argument. You cannot simply copy out what others have written. For information on the mechanics of inserting quotations into your essay refer to Formatting Essentials. The conclusion is not merely a regurgitation of the introduction. Improper formatting, footnoting, style, spelling and syntax inhibit the clear expression of your argument and bring down your grade. You should now be in a very good situation to wind down searching for information and really concentrate on finishing writing your paper/assignment. At this point you should feel confident that you have successfully gathered all the relevant information that you need. Avoid repeating point for point what you just wrote in your essay. Briefly summarize the overall argument of your essay and reveal how the subject and your arguments about it are significant. Plagiarized papers automatically receive a failing grade . The Faculty of Social Sciences might also apply more severe academic penalties as outlined in the University of Calgary Calendar. Quotations serve to prove to the reader that what you are arguing is indeed true. But quotations, especially longer ones, should be used carefully and sparingly. Take the full information, because depending on what the source is you will need different parts of it to find the citation. Here are some examples of citations with comments on what you would do with them to track down both the source itself and other possibly relevant sources. The purpose of this phase is to actually find the scholarly articles and books and/or primary sources that will enable you to complete your research. The best way to do this is to refer to your thesis statement, take it apart to its basic components. This might include setting the subject in a wider context or indicating what further research could be done. One way to evaluate your conclusion is to read it immediately after the introduction. If you have identified gaps in your essay or perhaps quotations that do not quite work, return to your notes to fill in the gaps. Hopefully in the main research stage, you read enough from a diversity of sources and took clear enough notes so that you do not have to return to the library or electronic databases. Your writing style is crucial in convincing the reader of the validity of your argument. The bibliography should contain every source you cited in your notes as well as other works you may have consulted for your essay, excluding textbooks and encyclopaedias. The entries are alphabetized by the first word, usually the author’s or editor’s last name, and the second line is indented. Double-space your essay with no extra spaces between paragraphs.