Guidelines for Writing Papers

Follow the criteria below when writing assignment answers or papers for this course.
Format

12-point Times Roman font 1" margins on all borders double-spaced new paragraphs indented five spaces (no extra lines between paragraphs or headings) headings underlined and italicized

Page layout

Position page numbers in top, right-hand corner of page; include only the number (i.e., 1, not p. 1). The title page is p. 1; text begins on p. 2. Continue page numbers throughout paper, including appendices and references. Use subheadings for introduction, topics, and conclusion.

Appendices

If used, appendices must always be discussed thoroughly in the body of the paper. Any long lists or statements are considered part of the appendices and should not be included in the body of your paper. Refer readers to an appendix in your paper as follows: "Please see Appendix A."

Referencing

You must cite all direct or indirect use of another authors work in your paper. Reference all resources that you have cited within the paper, including all electronic and course materials. All sources must be cited according to APA stylei.e., within the body of the paper and not listed numerically at the bottom of a page. When citing a direct quote from an outside resource, use quotation marks around the quote, and cite author, date of publication, and page number in parentheses after the quote, as in this example: Research "shows that the situation directly influences leadership style" (Mitchell, 2006, p. 345). In cases where the source has no date, the same reference would be (Mitchell, n.d., p. 345). When paraphrasing another author's work in your own words, do not use quotation marks; cite author and date of publication (but no page number) in parentheses after the paraphrase, as in (Mitchell, 2006). Use block quotes (separate paragraph; indented right and left) for direct quotes longer than 40 words. Do not use quotation marks, but reference block quotes appropriately with author, date and a page number. When citing a source in the body of your paper, use the form "p. 2" to refer to page numbers, not "page(s) 2."

Organization

Your introduction must clearly state your hypothesis and related sub-topics you plan to discuss in the body of your paper. A 10-page paper should include at least two related sub-topics. Your conclusion should highlight two or three key themes identified in the paper. It should not be a regurgitation of a list of topics.

Grammar

Style

One sentence does not equal a paragraph. A well-structured paragraph contains an introductory (or topic) sentence, supporting details, and a closing sentence. Watch verb tenses. In general, try to use one verb tense throughout the paper (usually past or present tense).

Use terms consistently throughout the paper; for example, use "workers" or "employees," but not both terms (the more formalized term is "employees"). Avoid using a term such as subordinates. Most researchers prefer to use the terms such as employees or stakeholders. Always use appropriate terminology; this is critical in developing your understanding of the content of the course and demonstrating this understanding to the marker. This is a formal paper, so avoid using terms such as I or writer. Use direct quotes sparingly. A key objective of your paper is to convey your knowledge and understanding of the topic; this objective is undermined when you use too many direct quotes in the paper. If you use direct quotes, ensure that you explain the meaning of the quotes and connect them to the point that you are trying to make. Do not use abbreviations. Avoid using acronyms, but if you must use an acronym (or if the acronym is the generally used term), ensure you indicate in parentheses, at its first use, the full term signified by the acronym; for example, Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Then, use the acronym for all subsequent references to the term. Try to enlist someone who is knowledgeable about technical, academic, or business writing to proof your paper.