Writing Style

Project paper Writing Style


Begin writing as soon as possible, even before you finish all your research. The very act of writing will help keep you focused and aware of what you are still lacking. If you have a gap or need more research to finish a point, leave a "flag" of some sort in your text and continue with what you have.

Avoid run-on sentences and awkward constructions. A sentence that exceeds more than three typed lines without punctuation will be difficult to read and follow. A good idea is to read your work aloud to check for length and smoothness of construction. It is also helpful to vary your sentence length for ease and interest of reading.

The construction of your paragraphs is also important. Each paragraph should address a single point. The first sentence tells the reader the topic of the paragraph. The rest of the paragraph provides all of the detail necessary to clarify the topic introduced in the first sentence. If the point requires much clarification, such as in more than six sentences or so, then you are probably dealing with several distinct points and should break the paragraph into several paragraphs, each with topic sentences. Each paragraph follows logically from the previous one in the text in order to build a coherent argument. At times you may need a transition paragraph to make the connections between one paragraph or point to another. At other times the final sentence in a paragraph or the initial sentence in the next may serve this purpose.

Write simply and directly. Avoid jargon (a professional hazard) whenever possible and always avoid common clich‚s such as "last but not least" or "in the general scheme of things." Remember that you are not writing a literary essay and that "flowery" language adds nothing to your argument or to your clarity. Be careful of which adjectives, qualifiers, and intensifiers you choose and be as precise as possible. A common mistake made by students is inappropriate word use. Make sure you know the precise meaning of the words you choose. If you are not sure, use a different word or look it up in a dictionary. Do not repeat the same word continuously. A thesaurus can be helpful in this regard. At the same time, guard against pretentiousness in your writing by using overly large or obscure words when a simpler one will do. Avoid the general use of the passive tense. I encourage you to write direct sentences and to use the word "I" when it is appropriate.

When you have finished your first draft, read through it and eliminate any unnecessary words or phrases. Check for brevity. Check for clarity and accuracy of your argument. Check for extraneous comments that do not add to your argument or which are not then developed. Check for unsupported or "opinion" statements. Editorial page comments have no place in a research paper, unless that is your topic. Check for smooth transitions from one point to another. Rearrange your paragraphs, if necessary. Check your spelling and grammar. After you finish editing your work, do it again. Be happy that you live in the computer age. Read it aloud. Have a friend edit your work for you. If you do this on a regular basis, both you and your friend will benefit by learning how to pick out flaws before they occur and by receiving better grades.