Good written expression is the
key to success in Thomas Edison State College courses.
The following information is meant to help you work to
the required standards. The suggestions on writing style
and structure and the advice on answering questions can
be applied to both your written assignments and your
examinations.
Format
Please
type (double-spaced) all work submitted for written
assignments. Identify the question number and restate
each assignment question before giving your answer. Be
sure that you identify each assignment with the
appropriate course name and number as well. Review the
information provided in the
Handbook about preparing and
submitting assignments.
Writing Style
Written
work—including papers, assignments, class
discussions, and examinations—should be presented
clearly and concisely in a formal expository style. Clear
writing originates with clear thinking. Observe the basic
rules of grammar and punctuation. If you have problems
with your writing, get help. Four useful references are
listed in the Introduction of the Handbook and are available from
our materials supplier.
Structure
A well-structured
essay has a minimum of three components: introduction,
body, and conclusion. Carefully review each of your
essays before submitting to ensure that you have included
each component.
Research
Papers
and lesson activities may require that you conduct
research. You may use libraries convenient to your
location. Keep in mind also that the New Jersey State
Library and the Library for the Blind and Handicapped
offer services and resources to Thomas Edison State
College students. Students may visit, call, or fax the
library, located on West State Street in Trenton, New
Jersey. Also, an interactive Web site is available that
includes full text journals online, databases, access to
the catalog, interlibrary loan, request for photocopies,
and a range of subject-specific information for Thomas
Edison State College students. The site also offers
brochures explaining services and a library card
application, among other services. You may reach the New
Jersey State Library at
Telephone: (609) 292-6220
Fax: (609) 984-7900
Internet: www.njstatelib.org
Professional library staff can assist you with research
questions, interlibrary loan, and document delivery.
Citing Sources
You
must acknowledge the source of all expressions and ideas
that do not originate with you. If you have questions
about a standard format for references (citations), refer
to Writing Research Papers by James D.
Lester or to A Manual for Writers of Term Papers,
Theses, and Dissertations by Kate Turabian. When
using another's written ideas, quote the passage exactly
and cite the source, or paraphrase and cite the source.
Failure to cite sources is plagiarism. (See Academic
Integrity.)
When you use
Internet sources, please do so with caution. Choose
reputable sites; for example, look for the credentials of
the author. In your citation, give as much pertinent
information about the site as possible. For example,
include the author's name, the title of the article, the
date on which the article was created, and the Web
address (the URL). For samples of how to cite Internet
sources, refer to the latest edition of the MLA Handbook
for Writers of Research Papers or to online sources such
as:
www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/cgos/basic.html
www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Style.html
Relevance to the Question
Answer
the question asked. Identify the main verb in the
question that says what you are expected to do. For
example, if you are asked to analyze a problem, do not
describe the situation. Select the subtopics implied by
the question and deal with each in turn in order to be
sure that you answer the whole question.
Coherent Argument
The
development of the argument and the supporting facts in
an essay should be like the ribs on a skeleton—all
clearly related to the backbone of the question. It is
always a good idea—whether responding to an
assignment or to an essay question on an exam—to
sketch an outline of your arguments before you start
writing. Then you can see the most logical way to arrange
the elements of your essay.
Implications of the Question
Many
essay questions require that you consider at least two (often
opposing) points of view. When this is the case, you
should choose one approach from the following:
- State a
preference for one view rather than another.
- Show that
both views are equally valid, given the evidence.
- Demonstrate
that neither is particularly impressive.
Also remember:
- Questions
beginning "How far . . ." often expect
you to discuss limitations as well.
- Questions
beginning "Would you agree that . . ."
often expect you to show that you are aware of
the arguments that could be used to oppose your
point of view.
- Essay
questions that make a statement or pose a problem
and then ask you to discuss the statement or
problem might require more than one point of view
and also some resolution of the problem.
- A question
starting with the phrase "What use is . .
." expects you to state why the study of X
is useful in understanding problem Y and in what
ways it is not useful. Sometimes you might
illuminate your main argument by citing an
approach that you think is more useful than the
one specified in the question.
- Your
answers should always provide evidence for your
assertions.
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