IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
 Did you read your paper for clarity of focus, organization, logic, and
supporting detail?
 Did you use the spell checker or a dictionary for words you weren’t
sure of?
 Did you proof-read your paper for grammatical issues: complete
sentences, fragments, run-on sentences, punctuation,
capitalization, paragraphing?
 Did you ask someone else to proof-read your paper for errors and
clarity?
WRITING GUIDELINES
 Papers must be typed double-space using an
appropriate font (ie, Times New Roman or
Arial) in 12 point.
 Print using black ink.
 All papers are to include a title page and a
reference page - see attached.
WRITING GUIDELINES
 Number all pages - it is okay for the title page to be
number 1 and for the reference page to be numbered
in sequence as well.
 All papers are to be stapled -no plastic covers, paper
clips, folded corners, etc.
 Include your name on each page.
 No hand-written corrections.
CONTENT
 Write an introductory paragraph that states the
purpose of your paper.
 Avoid the use of the word “done” as in “this study
was done on mice”-- use “conducted” or “performed”
instead.
Incorrect: The initial evaluation was done by the
physical therapist..
Correct: The initial evaluation was performed by
(completed by) the physical therapist.
CONTENT
 Numbers one to ten should be written in words. For
number 11 and up use numbers, except at the
beginning of a sentence.
CONTENT
 When you want to use initials or an acronym such as
PTA, you must first spell out the words in full followed
by the abbreviation in parentheses. After that, you
can use the abbreviation:
Example:
Physical therapist assistant (PTA) programs are
developing rapidly. In Ohio, PTA ...
CONTENT
 Do not capitalize the words “physical therapy,”
“physical therapist,” or “physical therapist assistant”
except when referring to the name of a specific
organization or a person’s title.
CONTENT
 Place periods and commas within closing quotation
marks:
Example:
 “This is an example of the correct way.”
 “This is an example of the incorrect way”.
GRADING
 Papers will be graded on content, grammar and
punctuation, and organization but also on how the
paper hangs together as a whole. The grading scale
will reflect the one for all PTA courses.
GRADING
A (92 - 100): A paper which is excellent or all or most aspects.
B (85 - 91): Technically correct for the most part. Your train of
thought is clear to the reader. There is obvious organization.
C (80 - 84): There are errors throughout the paper but the
ideas are good.
F (Below 80): There are multiple errors in grammar and
punctuation as well as a lack of organization. The content is
lacking. The student may choose to rewrite the paper but the
maximum grade will be in the C (80 - 84) range.
TITLE PAGE
The Use of Ultrasound in Treating Low Back Pain
John Doe
PTA 203 - Physical Therapy Procedures
Instructor: Kathy Kropf, MEd, PT
Summer, 2009
REFERENCES: JOURNAL ARTICLE
1. Penny, JN and Welsh, MB. Shoulder impingement
syndromes in athletes and their surgical management.
America Journal of Sports Medicine. 1981; 9:11-15.
REFERENCES: BOOK
1. Nordin, M and Frankel, VH: Basic Biomechanics of
the Skeletal System, ed2. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia,
1989.
1. Penny, JN, Welsh, MB. Shoulder impingement
syndromes in athletes and their surgical
management. America Journal of Sports Medicine.
1981; 9:11-15.
2. Nordin, M, Frankel, VH: Basic Biomechanics of the
Skeletal System, ed 2. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia,
1989.
3. Jessee EF, Owen DS Jr, Sagar KB. The benign
hypermobile joint syndrome. Arthrits Rheum. 1980;
23:1053-1056.