General Guidelines for Paper Assignments

I. Your paper must make an argument. That is, you must develop a thesis in response to the question asked and then construct an essay that supports that thesis with evidence.

II. You must prove your argument in a clear, coherent, and logical manner. To do this effectively, pay attention to the following:

A. Paper structure--your paper must have clear organization--an identifiable beginning, middle, and end

1. An introductory paragraph which makes clear to the reader that you are engaged in a critical analysis of the readings and which includes a THESIS STATEMENT, meaning a single declarative sentence that expresses the overall point or argument that you intend to make in your paper

2. Supporting paragraphs which provide evidence for your argument:

a. Each paragraph must begin with a topic sentence--a sentence that clearly states the point you are making in that paragraph

b. Each paragraph should be well-developed, thus taking up anywhere from half to three-quarters of a page

c. To persuade your reader, these paragraphs should provide concrete examples that support & prove your overall argument--to be effective, you must not only provide the examples but also explain why they prove what you say they prove

3. A concluding paragraph which in some way restates the main argument of your paper, but also broadens your original point

B. The clarity and force of your paper also depends upon clear writing style and sentence structure. Make sure that you follow the basic rules of grammar--mistakes, misspellings, and poorly written sentences detract from the quality of your thought.

III. Paper format:

· Papers should be typed, double-spaced, with numbered pages, & a separate title page

· Margins should be about 1 inch

· The sources for all quotations and paraphrasing should be identified in numbered ENDNOTES placed

on a separate sheet at the end of the paper

IV. Example of endnote citation form:

When you cite a book or article for the first time, provide all bibliographic information; later endnotes require only author’s last name and page number):

1. J. J. Methvin, Andele, The Mexican-Kiowa Captive: A Story of Real Life Among the Indians (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1999), 53.

2. Methvin, 25.

V. Other Sources for Stylistic Suggestions:

· Richard Marius and Melvin E. Page, A Short Guide to Writing about History

· William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White, The Elements of Style