WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
All essays must be submitted by the date indicated below.English 1A
Summer Session 2010
Assignments
• Thursday, June 17, 2010 - Essay due on Scenario 1 or Scenario 2 on pages 95 – 96 ( 3 – 5 pages).• Thursday, June 24, 2010 - Essay due on Scenario 1 on page 228. Topics may be taken from the “Research Project” web site (MLA Format Only) ( 5 – 10 pages). Click here for topics.
• Thursday, July 1, 2010 - Essay due on Scenario 1 on page 228. Topics may be taken from the “Research Project” web site. The topic may not be the same as that used for the June 24th essay assignment. (APA Format Only) ( 5 – 10 pages). Click here for topics.
• Thursday, July 8, 2010 - Cause and Effect Essay due on Scenario 1 on page 315. Topics may be taken from the “Research Project” web site. Additional Cause and Effect topics will be provided (MLA or APA Format) ( 4 – 10 pages).
• Thursday, July 15, 2010 - Take home essay exam due. Topics will be in reference to the book You Gotta Have WA (MLA Format only) ( 3 – 5 pages).
FORMATTING OF ESSAY
If you plan to include sources for your essay, please use either the MLA Style Manual or the APA Style Manual.If you do not use outside sources for supporting your essay, here are some generic suggestions for formatting your essay that does not ask you to use a specific style manual, but if you have any doubts or questions, ask your instructor!
Word-processing is not just a clever technological device to make your writing look good; it makes the composing and editing processes much easier and even fun.
Double-space all typing in all documents.
A serif typing font should be used, something like Times, Times Roman, or Times New Roman in a 12-point font size.
Cursive scripts are forbidden.
Never mix font styles.
Don't use anything fancy and avoid the non-serif fonts (except for titles and subtitles, if you have any), as they can become difficult to read after a while.
Use one-inch margins (or a bit more, never less), all the way around the edge of your text. Do not use justified margins (even right margins), even though your word-processor makes that look really nifty. Justified margins tend to create some word-divisions and spacing that are not appropriate.
Use plain, white, 20-lb., 8 1/2- by 11-inch paper. If you use tractor-fed paper, use only laser-cut paper and carefully remove the fringes. (But it is definitely time for a new printer!)
Use plain black printing off a good laser or bubble-jet printer. Dot-matrix printing is acceptable if the copy is strong and dark; otherwise, take your floppy disc into a computer lab where you can print your paper using a better printer.
Spacing: With modern word-processors, it is a good idea to get into the habit of using only one space after a period, question mark, semicolon, colon, etc. Word-processors will allow for the appropriate spacing. A double-space can actually do weird things, especially if your margin is justified (which is probably not a good idea). If you have any questions about this, ask your instructor (some of whom learned to space their typing on ancient typewriters and still use double-spacing after periods).
Spacing around quotation marks and parentheses can raise questions.
The most important rule you must remember about quotation marks is that in the United States, periods and commas go inside quotation marks regardless of logic.(Titles can be important. If you can't think of a good title, it might mean that your paper has no real focus. Capitalize the first, last, and important words of your title. A title can end in a question mark or exclamation mark, but it cannot end in a period. (This is different from usage in other languages.)
You might use quotation marks in a title if it refers to someone else's title (of a poem, say), but do not put quotation marks around your own title (e.g., Robert Frost's "Design" could be your title, but not "Robert Frost's 'Design'.").
A title page is probably unnecessary. Place your name, date, and course number at the top left side of the first page. Place your last name and page number in the upper right corner of every page beginning with page two. Never use the back of a sheet of paper; staple additional sheets at the upper left-hand corner.
Please do not use plastic binders; they're cumbersome and a waste of money. This instructor usually wants a nice, flat stack of papers to cram into an attache case or backpack, and those plastic folders just get in the way when it's time to grade the papers.
Evidence of careful re-reading and editing here and there (a last-minute correction done neatly with pen) is permissible; sloppiness is not. Last-minute corrections can be accomplished on a word-processor, and your paper ought to be nearly perfect when you hand it in.
Do not wait until the very last minute to write or print out your paper!
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