Typing Conventions

·         Use 12 pt. font.

·         Use the standard font, probably Times New Roman.

·         Use black ink only.

·         Use standard margins, 1” at the top and bottom, 1” (or 1.25”) at the left and right.

·         Your text should be justified left, not left and right. In other words, the text will make a nice neat line down the left side, but it will be ragged along the right side.

·         Double space. Double spacing does not mean to put two spaces between words; it means to leave one blank line between each printed line. The best way to double space is to first type the entire essay as a single-spaced essay; when you are completely finished with everything, select all and double space; then print it. If you double space before you write your essay, you might cause yourself some spacing problems. The keyboard shortcut for double spacing is Ctrl + A (to select all), then Ctrl + 2 (to double space).

·         No spaces to the left of a comma or a period.

·         One space to the right of a comma or period. Never hit spacebar spacebar.

·         Quotation marks and apostrophes should be curved, like “ and ‘, not like " and '. To fix this, go Tools > AutoCorrect. Under both the AutoFormat and the AutoFormat As You Type tabs you will find "Straight quotes" with “smart quotes.” If you find either of these boxes unchecked, check them.

·         Points are deducted for errors, so make your paper error free. The errors that are docked most heavily are the following:

  1. run-ons and fragments (if you use one intentionally, mark it as such)
  2. things that would have been caught in spell check
  3. things we’ve covered in class

·         Because your goal is error-free copy, you must proofread your paper slowly and carefully. Make sure there are no run-ons or fragments. Check little words like its/it’s or their/there. It is permissible to correct one or two errors by writing in pen on your final draft; more than that, and you should fix them on the computer and print again.

·         In formal writing, avoid using contractions. Say “do not,” not “don’t.”

·         Use the spellchecker and proofread your paper.

 

About Titles

The standard title for an academic paper is a two-part title:

Creative Part: Straightforward Part

Some examples:

·         Whiffleballs from Venus: The Atmosphere of Darkness in Edgar Allan Poe

·         Tending Dreams: Rabbit Symbolism in Of Mice and Men

In Titles, all words except conjunctions and shorter prepositions get capitalized.