Writing Papers in the English Department:
. 10-12 pages, ex-title page and bibliography;
. follow Style Sheet guidelines CAREFULLY – these are not optional, and papers that
disregard them will not be accepted;
. plagiarism will be severely sanctioned;
. give your essay an informative title;
. all papers should demonstrate original thought, insightful analysis and coherent
argumentation.
. FINAL VERSIONS SHOULD BE HARD COPIES, AND HANDED IN, NOT SENT
ELECTRONICALLY
1. Graded Essays (BA 7)
- Come up with a topic related in some way to the seminar – check with teacher to get
approval.
- Come up with working thesis and bibliography of primary and secondary reading – check
with teacher to get approval and advice.
- Do the reading, and then write a statement of intent (one paragraph, containing thesis) –
hand in to teacher for approval.
- Establish a detailed outline (including passages that you are going to quote/use in your
essay); write three pages (these can be the introduction, a section from the body of the essay,
or a summary of what you intend to write). Hand this in to teacher for comment and approval.
- Write the essay, and hand it in. Your teacher and a professor will read it, discuss it, and
decide on a grade.
2. Ungraded Essays – Attestation (BA5 and BA6)
- Come up with a topic related in some way to the seminar – check with teacher to get
approval.
- Come up with working thesis and bibliography of primary and secondary reading – check
with teacher to get approval.
- Do the reading, and then write a statement of intent (one paragraph, containing thesis) –
hand in to teacher for approval.
- Establish a detailed outline (including passages that you are going to quote/use in your
essay). Hand this in to teacher for comment and approval.
- Write the essay, hand it in. Your teacher may send it back to you one time, with comments,
suggestions and corrections; make the changes proposed, rewrite the sections marked for
rewrite, and hand back to teacher.