Essay Guidelines
Important: Reread these directions before submitting each essay. If you don’t understand any part of these directions, please ask.
1. Format of Papers: All out-of-class assignments will be submitted via SmartSite. Include your first and last name and assignment name in the (saved) title of each assignment. Use Microsoft Word or its equivalent. Essays must be double-spaced, in 12 point type, using one inch margins, with the right margin unjustified. Make sure that your name, course number, paper assignment number, date, and word count are in the upper right-hand corner of the first page. Creatively title all essays. Choose SmartSite rather than email to submit essays.
2. Supporting Documents: All out-of-class assignments should be submitted with a completed questionnaire and a process log (see below).
3. Process Log: With each submitted paper, include an informally-written log (about a page long) explaining the processes you went through to produce it.
4. Late Papers: Submit papers by the announced due dates. Grades on late papers drop one third of a grade for each day they are late.
5. Plagiarism: Carefully review the definitions and policies concerning academic dishonesty. We will discuss them in class. Please also review the UC Davis Academic Integrity Project.
6. Proper Citation Procedures: Cite sources correctly using the MLA citation style. See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/11/ or your writing guidebook.
7. Revision and Proofreading: Spend as much time revising and proofreading your papers as you do brainstorming, outlining, and writing them. Too many students receive grades that do not reflect the genius of their thought because they choose to submit a first or second draft. Read the final draft of any paper you wish to submit to me several times after you consider it “finished.”
8. The Questionnaire: Include a completed copy of the enclosed questionnaire with each paper you submit. Review the questionnaire carefully, and make sure to respond to every question asked.
