Writing College Papers
Dr. Katherine Schmidt
WOU Writing Center
Recognize Your Task
fact
opinion
observation
response
summary
analysis
Assignment Examples
Deciphering Your Professor’s Directions
Biology 101
Document the processes of your lab experiment in a one-page report.
Political Science 101
Consider McCain’s and Obama’s work as senators. Who has effected
more change and why?
Psychology 101
Examine how your past shapes your present: (a) analyze your
childhood, and (b) explain how it has shaped you into the adult you
are today.
English 101
Analyze Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.
Approaching Writing Assignments
Before you leave the classroom:
 written directions versus verbal directions
 how will the professor grade the paper (i.e., what is
most important to her)?
When you’re on your own:
 define/clarify key terms
 who is your audience?
 what kind of research is required to complete the
assignment? and who can help?
 what kind of format should be used?
Discipline-Specific Formats
What is a discipline?
Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially
training that produces moral or mental improvement.
A branch of knowledge or teaching.
Style Guides:
 AP
 APA
 AAA
 CBE
 Chicago/Turabian
 MLA
Academic Writing: Top Tips







The five-paragraph essay is no longer an option (hint: making a
skeleton is the key to success).
Avoid table talk:
Point of View
1st or 3rd: determine the most appropriate
POV for the particular discipline and assignment
Contractions
Word Choice
Exclamation Marks
Do not use it, this, or these at the start of a sentence.
Watch your homophones — there, their, and they’re
Watch your but use — however is an excellent replacement.
Do not use the terms Miss, Mr., Mrs., Ms. when referring to an
individual you have researched or interviewed: use Manuel Aguilar
the first time and Aguilar only every time thereafter.
Do not ever cite Wikipedia as a source in your paper.
Your Routine




Who
Who
Who
Who
is
is
is
is
currently involved in sports?
currently involved in music—playing, composing, or both?
an artist?
a parent?
What is the common thread in the stories you hear?
time
motivation to study and practice
sacrifice
improvement is a constant goal
What if you could feel the same motivators when it comes to attending your classes,
completing your homework, and writing your papers?
When you taste success, you just might get hooked . . .
If you were to approach writing a paper like you would approach your
sport/music/art/parenting, what would the process look like?
WOU Writing Center
www.wou.edu/writingcenter