The document provides tips for improving formal writing. It distinguishes between topics and thesis statements, advising that a thesis is a specific opinion about a topic. It recommends not summarizing unless instructed, and focusing on an argument to prove to the reader. The document also suggests avoiding self-reference and using titles correctly, with longer works underlined and shorter works in quotation marks. When quoting, the tips say to integrate quotes and use ellipses for omitted text. Verb tenses, capitalization, and avoiding mistakes are also addressed.
2. Topic Vs. Thesis A thesis is a specific opinion about a topic. Topic: Are movies too violent? Thesis: Even popular, PG-rated movies such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire use themes of violent competitiveness and images of murder to tell their stories. Topic: Joy can be found in everyday life. Thesis: Although his life had started with sorrow, Babe grew to love his place on the farm and his relationships with those around him.
3. Do Not Summarize Unless the topic says so, do not summarize! Assume your readers have already read the text and now want to hear your opinion on it Effective formal writing is centered around an argument—something that you must prove to your reader
4. Avoid Self-Reference Unless you have been asked to write a personal narrative or editorial, do not say “I” (or me, my, myself) Why? Because it presents your idea as an opinion—which is easy to argue with. Instead, present it as factual, so that it doesn’t invite argument Example: NO: I believe that polar bears are cute. YES: Polar bears are cute.
5. Titles Underline titles of longer works—things normally published or produced on their own Novels, movies, TV series, music albums, etc. E.g. The Cat in the Hat, The Simpsons, Thriller Use quotation marks for shorter works—things normally published or produced in an anthology or collection Short stories, poems, TV series episodes, songs, etc. E.g. “Little Red Riding Hood”, “O Canada”
6. Titles & Names Spell them right! If you mess up something this important, your reader will wonder what else you overlooked
7. Introducing Texts Avoid summary—but still clearly introduce the title(s), character(s), and situation(s) Tip: Assume your readers read the text a long time ago and need a refresher before you begin In the introduction, state the text and/or character you will be talking about, but leave the details for later. Example: NO: Bilbo Baggins in J.R.R. Tolkein’sThe Hobbit, written in 1937… YES: Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit…
8. Using Quotes Have at least one long, or two short, quotes (or other evidence) per point. Don’t pick quotes that are very similar—you will sound repetitive Integrate quotes into your own sentences NO: “Water, water, everywhere,/Nor any drop to drink.” This is ironic. YES: The narrator ironically states, “[w]ater, water, everywhere,/[n]or any drop to drink.” Use [ ] to change the tense of the quote to match your writing NO: While we cringe at toilet humor, “they laughed for hours.” YES: While we cringe at toilet humor, “they [laugh] for hours.” Use an ellipsis (…) to take something out of the middle of a quote (usually when the quote is too long). But be careful not to take out too much, or the meaning can change! Example: As one critic pointed out, “Macbeth is guilty for two reasons: because of the deeds he actually committed…and because of his desire to commit them.” Give long quotations (3+ lines of poetry or 4 lines of prose) their own indented paragraphs When quoting poetry, use a slash (/) to show the original line break Example: Hopkins describes it as gathering “to a greatness, like the ooze of oil/crushed.”
9. Capitalization Always capitalize names, titles, and the first letter of every sentence Missing this is a sign of lazy writing and poor proofreading
10. Verb Tenses Be careful not to shift between: pastpresentfuture When writing about fictional events, write in the present tense NO: In Chapter Three, Montaglearned that Beatty knew all along. YES: In Chapter Three, Montaglearns that Beatty knew all along.
11. Oops—I Made a Mistake! If you make more than one draft, your final draft should have NO mistakes or typos. However, if you notice an error two seconds before handing in your work, neatly use “white-out” or cross out the mistake and, just as neatly, fix it If you are only making one draft (e.g. in-class essay): Small mistakes (like a misspelled word) can be “whited out” or crossed out neatly and fixed Large mistakes (like taking out a whole paragraph) should be crossed out neatly—once—through each line to be ignored If you need to add a section, write it at the end of your draft and indicate with an asterisk (*) where it goes
