Writing Guidelines for Graduate Students

Papers written for this course must offer personal analysis of as well as discussion of scholarship on the chosen topic. Papers may offer personal interpretations based on close, attentive reading of a specific and well-defined aspect of a text. Such interpretations however must always be presented and discussed in the context of research / scholarship. Possible subjects for papers include consideration of the significance of themes, situations, passages, images, characters, symbols, motifs, language, structure, etc. of the chosen text(s). Papers must provide evidence for all their claims in the form of extended discussion and explanation of relevant textual and contextual features as well as references to the work of other scholars. In addition to logical thought, reading comprehension and writing skill, papers should feature independent thinking, originality, precise and detailed analysis, as well as understanding of the complexities of meaning in literary texts. Papers must also show awareness and accurate use of primary and secondary sources, relevant facts, historical information, cultural/intellectual backgrounds, different interpretations, and literary terminology and concepts. It is strongly recommended that students consult with the instructor, well in advance of the deadline, concerning the topic and progress of the paper. Here follow a few rules (see also Writing About Literature):

• In general, follow the MLA format and style guidelines (see Joseph Gibaldi's MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers)
  
  
• All papers must be TYPEWRITTEN. Handwriting is not acceptable. Do not attempt to stretch out your paper by choosing large font sizes or overly fancy font types. A reasonable font size should yield about 250-300 words per page.
  
  
• Use 8 1/2 X 11 white bond paper. Avoid erasable paper. Do not use folders, plastic covers, or title pages. Margins : One inch on all sides (right, left, top, and bottom margins). Spacing: use double-space throughout.
  
  
• Write your full name, course number, instructor and date on the upper left or upper right corner of the first page. Number all subsequent pages in the upper right corner, your last name preceding each number. Fasten your paper with a staple or paperclip in the upper left corner.
  
  
• All sources used must be cited in footnotes or a list of Works Cited at the end of the paper. A proper reference must include such information as author, title of text, title of book or journal where printed, edition, publisher, place of publication, date of publication, inclusive page numbers. Example:

  Racine, Jean, Phaedra, Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, ed. Maynard Mack, Expanded Edition (New York: W. W. Norton, 1995), pp. 356-398.
  

• Titles of long works (novels, plays, magazines, journals, newspapers, films, paintings, etc.) are underlined or italicized. Example: The Great Gatsby, A Clockwork Orange, The Mona Lisa, The New York Times, Death of a Salesman, The Atlantic Monthly. Titles of shorter works (poems, short stories, articles, essays, songs, etc.) are enclosed within quotation marks. Examples: "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," "The Rocking-Horse Winner," "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."
  
  
• Notice carefully the proper punctuation and spacing in the use of quotations and parentheses containing page references. Examples:

  Phaedra told Oenone, "I see a monster" (p. 155).

• Note the correct use of puctuation in a sentence containing quotation marks. All periods and commas are placed inside all quotation marks. All semicolons and colons are placed outside quotation marks. Example:

  The teacher said, "periods and commas go inside quotation marks, semicolons outside." But the student said, "I don't care"; he did not write a good paper.

Last updated: 8/24/2004

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