1. Writing College Papers Dr. Katherine Schmidt WOU Writing Center

2. Recognize Your Task factopinion observation response observation response summaryanalysis summaryanalysis

3. Assignment Examples Deciphering Your Professor’s Directions Biology 101 Document the processes of your lab experiment in a one-page report. Political Science 101 Consider McCain’s and Obama’s work as senators. Who has effected more change and why? Psychology 101 Examine how your past shapes your present: (a) analyze your childhood, and (b) explain how it has shaped you into the adult you are today. English 101 Analyze Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.

4. Approaching Writing Assignments Before you leave the classroom: written directions versus verbal directions written directions versus verbal directions how will the professor grade the paper (i.e., what is most important to her)? how will the professor grade the paper (i.e., what is most important to her)? When you’re on your own: define/clarify key terms define/clarify key termskey termskey terms who is your audience? who is your audience? what kind of research is required to complete the assignment? and who can help? what kind of research is required to complete the assignment? and who can help? what kind of format should be used? what kind of format should be used?

5. Discipline-Specific Formats What is a discipline? Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement. A branch of knowledge or teaching. Style Guides: AP AP APA APA AAA AAA CBE CBE Chicago/Turabian Chicago/Turabian MLA MLA

6. Academic Writing: Top Tips The five-paragraph essay is no longer an option (hint: making a skeleton is the key to success). The five-paragraph essay is no longer an option (hint: making a skeleton is the key to success). Avoid table talk: Avoid table talk: Point of View 1 st or 3 rd 1 st or 3 rd : determine the most appropriate POV for the particular discipline and assignment 1 st or 3 rd Contractions Contractions Word Choice Exclamation Marks Do not use it, this, or these at the start of a sentence. Do not use it, this, or these at the start of a sentence. Watch your homophones — there, their, and they’re Watch your homophones — there, their, and they’re Watch your but use — however is an excellent replacement. Watch your but use — however is an excellent replacement. Do not use the terms Miss, Mr., Mrs., Ms. when referring to an individual you have researched or interviewed: use Manuel Aguilar the first time and Aguilar only every time thereafter. Do not use the terms Miss, Mr., Mrs., Ms. when referring to an individual you have researched or interviewed: use Manuel Aguilar the first time and Aguilar only every time thereafter. Do not ever cite Wikipedia as a source in your paper. Do not ever cite Wikipedia as a source in your paper.

7. Your Routine Who is currently involved in sports? Who is currently involved in sports? Who is currently involved in music—playing, composing, or both? Who is currently involved in music—playing, composing, or both? Who is an artist? Who is an artist? Who is a video gamer? u-tuber? facebooker? Who is a video gamer? u-tuber? facebooker? What is the common thread in the stories you hear? time motivation to study and practice sacrifice improvement is a constant goal What if you could feel the same motivators when it comes to attending your classes, completing your homework, and writing your papers? When you taste success, you just might get hooked... If you were to approach writing a paper like you would approach your sport/music/art/hobbies, what would the process look like?

8. WOU Writing Center www.wou.edu/writingcenter