Research paper Common Problems, etc.

Grammar -- A “clean” page is not necessarily fine. I don’t mark every error because grammar is part of what I am assessing on the final draft. I usually point out a few things (especially if I notice a pattern of certain types of errors), and then you need to find similar errors on the remaining pages. If I marked every error for you, it then becomes “my” paper and you are simply the typist.

Remember that this is a formal, persuasive paper (so your tone should be factual and persuasive, not casual/conversational). Don’t “talk” to the reader or tell them what to do, etc. No: In this paper, I am going to show you that college athletes should be paid because.... Yes: College athletes should be paid because...

No personal pronouns “…it will be beneficial to our country’s economy…” “Driving your peers, texting, and grooming, eating, or drinking are huge distractions…”

“…it will be beneficial to our country’s economy…” (options: the, this, America’s) “Driving your peers, texting, and grooming, eating, or drinking are huge distractions…” (options: one’s, or delete)

No personal pronouns “America needs to find a renewable energy source because it will help relieve our oil debt…” “Our country could consist of healthy fruit bars or smoothie factories everywhere we looked, instead of seeing a Burger King of McDonald’s everywhere we went.”

“America needs to find a renewable energy source because it will help relieve our oil debt…” (options: the, America’s) “Our country could consist of healthy fruit bars or smoothie factories everywhere we looked, instead of seeing a Burger King of McDonald’s everywhere we went.” (options…?)

Works Cited (not “Bibliography” or “Citations” or “Work Cited” or “Works Citied”) Works Cited “Industrialized Countries-Electricity Production by Source.” Global Energy Network Institute Web. 29 Nov “Is Nuclear Power Safe for Humans and the Environment.” Alternative Energy Web. 31 Oct Mariotte, Michael. “False Promises Debunking Nuclear Industry Propaganda.” Alternative Energy. May Web. 29 Nov. 2011

Q: What do I put in parenthesis for citations?? A: The author’s last name, or first word(s) of the title (if there is no author). Works Cited “Industrialized Countries-Electricity Production by Source.” Global Energy Network Institute Web. 29 Nov “Is Nuclear Power Safe for Humans and the Environment.” Alternative Energy Web. 31 Oct Mariotte, Michael. “False Promises Debunking Nuclear Industry Propaganda.” Alternative Energy. May Web. 29 Nov

Internal citations in your paper: (“Industrialized”) (“Is Nuclear”) (Mariotte)

Examples: “The United States has over ninety-five percent of radioactivity in the Atomic Age” (Mariotte). Seventy-seven percent of France’s electricity comes from nuclear energy (“Industrialized”).

Parallel Structure Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. **Make things match!!!

Parallel structure with –ing (gerunds) Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling. NOT Mary likes to hike, swimming, and bikes.

Parallel structure with infinitive phrases (to ___) Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle. OR Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.

Not Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner. Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.

Not Parallel: The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and his motivation was low. Parallel: The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.

Parallel structure & thesis statements Eh: Teachers shouldn’t have guns in the classroom because students couldn’t concentrate, it’s dangerous, and students would get their own guns.

Better: Having guns in the classroom makes it difficult for students to accomplish their work, puts students and teachers at risk of injury, and sets a bad example for students.

Best: Allowing teachers to have guns in school would compromise student achievement, endanger students and teachers inside the classroom, and encourage students to seek out their own form of protection.