Paper Pointers
Nuts and Bolts
Always double space.
Always number your pages.
Always staple.
Always have a title.
Use 12 point font.
Printing on both sides is fine and good.
Proofread.
How to incorporate readings (and other materials)
* Superficial versus Deep. Use readings as support of your argument, or as a way to deepen the ideas you're pursuing. Your examples from the readings must clear relevance to the point you're making.
* Focus on authors’ ideas, not just bland information.
* “Dialogue” between authors (including you). How are readings talking to -- and possibly arguing with -- each other? Really think about their ideas and respond with your own.
* If quoting directly, include page number at end of sentence in parentheses (44). Include the author's last name if you haven't already identified them by name (Warner 21).
* A Works Cited page is not necessary because all cited information should be material assigned for this class.
Rules for quoting
Only quote when you couldn’t say it better yourself.
Always incorporate quotes within your own words. In other words, never have an entire sentence that is nothing but a quote. For example, you can write: Warner argues, “industrial food can be scary” (39).
OR: Warner argues that “industrial food can be scary” (39).
OR: As Warner writes, “[w]e can’t assume everything in the grocery store is safe” (213).
Let ideas drive your paper and dictate your structure
Essay versus encyclopedia. All writing for this class should be idea-driven essays -- not dry encyclopedia-style writing. Ideas (backed up by evidence) should be in the foreground.
Remember: Information without analysis is boring and useless.
Look for the big picture.
You can do interesting things as a writer, within limits. The better you are as a writer, the more you can play.
Think about returning to an opening point in your ending.
When analyzing food and culture, don’t assume that any one way of doing things is natural or normal.
Ask deep questions, and don't be afraid to explore ambiguity.
Always double space.
Always number your pages.
Always staple.
Always have a title.
Use 12 point font.
Printing on both sides is fine and good.
Proofread.
How to incorporate readings (and other materials)
* Superficial versus Deep. Use readings as support of your argument, or as a way to deepen the ideas you're pursuing. Your examples from the readings must clear relevance to the point you're making.
* Focus on authors’ ideas, not just bland information.
* “Dialogue” between authors (including you). How are readings talking to -- and possibly arguing with -- each other? Really think about their ideas and respond with your own.
* If quoting directly, include page number at end of sentence in parentheses (44). Include the author's last name if you haven't already identified them by name (Warner 21).
* A Works Cited page is not necessary because all cited information should be material assigned for this class.
Rules for quoting
Only quote when you couldn’t say it better yourself.
Always incorporate quotes within your own words. In other words, never have an entire sentence that is nothing but a quote. For example, you can write: Warner argues, “industrial food can be scary” (39).
OR: Warner argues that “industrial food can be scary” (39).
OR: As Warner writes, “[w]e can’t assume everything in the grocery store is safe” (213).
Let ideas drive your paper and dictate your structure
Essay versus encyclopedia. All writing for this class should be idea-driven essays -- not dry encyclopedia-style writing. Ideas (backed up by evidence) should be in the foreground.
Remember: Information without analysis is boring and useless.
Look for the big picture.
You can do interesting things as a writer, within limits. The better you are as a writer, the more you can play.
Think about returning to an opening point in your ending.
When analyzing food and culture, don’t assume that any one way of doing things is natural or normal.
Ask deep questions, and don't be afraid to explore ambiguity.