1. Give your paper a meaningful title. 

2. Include your name, the date, and the Course number. 

3. Use headings in your paper to separate major sections. In an 8-10 page paper, I would expect 3-5 major headings. Headings help a reader get a quick overview of the paper, and keep track of the outline. 

4. In your Introduction, give a general overview of the entire paper, including the main topics (sections) you plan to cover. Include a clear statement of the main theme/thesis/hypothesis of your paper. 

5. In your Conclusion, summarize the main points you have covered. 

6. Try to document one or more "competing philosophies" surrounding your topic. 

7. Back key points with primary sources wherever possible. 

8. Limit your paper to 2500 words, which should fit on 8 pages, 12 point type, 1" margins, double-spaced. 

9. Economize in your use of words; don't repeat (except for dramatic effect); don't pad. 

10. Be sure to carefully vet the reliability of online resources. Do not use unreliable sources, or do not use them without acknowledging in your paper the nature of the source. 

11. Be sure to use complete and accurate citations (footnotes, endnotes, or running, in-line citations). Also include a complete bibliography, separating primary and secondary sources. Choose a citation style, and use it consistently. (See the online Library Reference Room for style guides.) When in doubt, cite. 

12. I encourage the use of supporting exhibits: tables, charts, graphs, illustrations, maps. Number and caption each exhibit so that you can refer to it in the text by number. (E.g., "Figure 1 shows the dramatic drop in agricultural prices after the Civil War.")  Either put the exhibit on the page of text which first mentions it, or by itself on the next page. 

13. Bring a printed copy of your paper to class AND submit it to the Digital Drop Box in a form that can be opened in Microsoft Word. If you are unsure, you try opening it in Word before you submit it. Remember, you must Send the file, not merely Add it. 

14. Before submitting your paper, re-read and proof-read it carefully. Your goal is to have NONE of the following types of mechanical errors:

Key to comments on mechanical errors (avoid these): 

ww                = wrong word
awkw             = awkward word or phrase 
gram              = grammatical error 
poss              = incorrect use of possessive 
pn, or pronoun = wrong pronoun or missing or unclear antecedent
Ten or Tense   = keep tense consistent 
                        (don't switch between present and past tense) 
Passive          = avoid passive voice
                         DON'T say: "There was much opposition to this law."
                         DO say: "Many farmers in the West opposed this law." 
                         (Identify the subject.)
                 = delete 

/------/              = delete 
^                    = insert here 
¶                    = new paragraph 
Sp                  = spelling error 
lc                   = lower case 

              = upper case (triple underline = capitalize)

I&SS              = indent and single space (for quotes 3 lines or longer) 
                         Note that when you do indent and single space a long quote, 
                         you do not use quotation marks.
Non seq, or non sequitur = this idea does not follow from what you just said 
Frag               = sentence fragment
Not parallel, or not || = either grammatically or logically, 
                                 something is not in parallel form 
Cite, or Ftnt     = provide a citation (footnote to the readings to support this point
Evidence         = what evidence do you have to support this claim (similar "Cite") 
?                    = something does not make sense to me