Write Better

Read through these ideas to improve your writing. For more details, check out the MLA style guide and other writing help on Purdue’s OWL (Online Writing Lab) website. You can also check out this sample MLA paper.

MAIN IDEAS

  • A good essay has one main idea (also called a controlling idea or thesis statement). This idea should be clearly stated at the beginning of your paper (often at the end of the introductory paragraph.
  • The main idea is the point you want to make about the topic. Throughout your paper, you support this main idea
  • Main ideas/thesis statements problems.
    • There is no clear main point or thesis statement.
    • There is a main idea, but it is not meaningful. It is something that is already pretty common knowledge. Always ask yourself, “Why is this point important to make?”
    • Advice for writing papers. One idea is to write about a question and discover the answer to your question(s) as you write. As you summarize your ideas in your conclusion, you really figure out what your main point is. Then, use that main point as your thesis statement and put it close to the beginning of your paper. Then rewrite your paper making sure all your other points help to support your idea.

TITLES

  • Write titles correctly!
  • Capitalize words in titles (except articles and prepositions)
  • Italicize book titles (Don’t use quotation marks for book titles)
  • Put titles of articles, chapters, and short stories in quotes.
  • .

OVERGENERALIZATIONS

  • Be careful not to overgeneralize. Better and more significant ideas usually require subtlety.
  • Watch out for superlatives: words like every, all, no one, everyone, we all, never, nobody, etc.
  • Even avoid making statements like, “Most people think….” It’s much better to say, “Many people think….” or “Most of the people I know think….”
  • Make sure that what you say is really what you mean.

QUOTATIONS

  • Use quotation marks at the beginning and end of all quotes.
  • Block indent quotes 3 lines or longer (Every line is indented), and you don’t use quotation marks.
  • Always include page numbers with quotes. Include author’s family name before the page number if it is not already clear from the context.
  • You should introduce quotes, explain the context of the quote and tell what you want the quote to show.
  • Don’t quote too much. It is often much better to paraphrase than to quote.
  • Example: Alice said, “Curiouser and curiouser” (10).  (Notice that the period comes after the page number but the closing quotation mark is before.

PLAGIARISM

  • Quoting sources without giving credit is plagiarism. It destroys your credibility and ruins any other good points you have made.
  • If you quote any source, even for just one sentence, or use an idea from another source, and you do not cite that source, it is plagiarism.
  • Do NOT copy any words from any source without using quotation marks and citing appropriately. You should know MLA rules for citing so that you can do this easily.
  • When in doubt, DON’T copy. In my classes, this usually results in a zero, plus I feel upset at wasting my time reading ideas that I don’t know are yours.

PICTURES

  • Usually, it is better not to use pictures in an essay.
  • Don’t use pictures for decoration.
  • Use pictures only if they clearly help to make your points.
  • Identify and explain any pictures you use.

PUNCTUATION

  • Be careful that there are spaces only in the correct places.
  • There is no space between “quotes and the words.”
  • Follow the same rule for (parentheses).

GRAMMAR

  • Proofread carefully! Don’t make careless grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes.
  • Pay attention to detail. Spelling and grammar matter. They show that you care about what you are saying. You may need to proofread many times and exchange papers with a classmate to improve your grammar, spelling and punctuation.
  • It is a good idea to proofread the whole paper several times, each time paying attention to a common error type. These are some of the general categories you can pay attention to when proofreading
    • verb tenses (correct & appropriate)
    • subject-verb agreement (singular subject: singular verb)
    • pronouns (case, antecedents)
    • punctuation (periods, commas, quotation marks, etc.)
    • sentences (fragments, comma splices, run-ons)
    • parallelism and balance (such as in lists)
    • articles (the, a, an)
    • capitalization (pay attention to titles)
    • prepositions (These can be hard, but do your best)
    • spelling (spell-check, confused words)
    • adjectives (-ed vs. -ing)
    • adverbs (such as well vs. good)
    • Common mistakes with words
      • Lack (v) vs. lack of (n.). We are suffering from a lack of rain. We lack the rain we need.
    • MLA style for in-text citations

DUE DATES

  • Papers must be handed in on paper (not electronically).
  • Papers are due at the beginning of class.
  • Late papers are allowed but given a reduced grade (which increases with time).

ESSAY CHECKLIST

  1. Did I read and understand all the instructions for the assignment and follow them?
  2. Are my paragraphs a good length, each focused on a certain idea?
  3. Is there a clear introduction, support and conclusion?
  4. Do I have a stated thesis (main point)?
  5. Do I have several, different ideas to support my thesis?
  6. Do I have several details to further explain those ideas?
  7. Have I proofread several times and corrected errors?
  8. Is my paper in the correct format?
  9. Have I read and responded to a classmate’s paper and have I had someone check mine?