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Essay Structure
Essay Structure Unless otherwise specified, all essays that you submit electronically should be formatted as follows:
- 12 – 14 point Times New Roman or Courier font
- double-spaced
- five paragraphs
- a minimum of 500 words
- paginated in accordance with MLA format guidelines (see chapter 39 of your Harbrace)
- a heading, such as on page 605 of your Harbrace
- a “Works Cited” page,listing bibliographic information for all secondary sources (see the MLA format guide linked from the JSCC library webpage)
- appropriately titled
Please see chapter 33 of your Harbrace for planning and effectively drafting your essay.
See chapter 34 of your Harbrace for editing and revising your essay.
Please edit careless mistakes out of your rough draft prior to submitting it to me to critique. If you know you have trouble with spelling, consult a dictionary (you cannot always rely on spell check); if you have difficulty with basic grammar, consult the appropriate chapter of the Harbrace Handbook. I will be glad to offer suggestions about how you may improve your paper for grammar, rhetoric, and content. You must then re-submit a final draft, for grade, by the date indicated on the course calendar.
DO NOT PLAGIARIZE, EVER, OR YOU WILL FAIL THIS CLASS. PLAGIARISM IS THE THEFT OF SOMEONE ELSE’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT TO PURPORT IT TO BE YOUR OWN. IF YOU BUY, BORROW, OR STEAL IDEAS FROM ANY SECONDARY SOURCE WITHOUT PROPERLY CITING THEM, YOU WILL FAIL THIS CLASS. IF YOU CUT AND PASTE PAPERS FROM THE INTERNET, AND THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF WEBSITES ONLINE THAT OFFER ESSAYS TO THE WAYWARD WRITER, YOU WILL FAIL THIS CLASS. IF YOU SUBMIT ANYTHING T0 ME OTHER THAN YOUR OWN IDEAS AND ASSERTIONS, YOU WILL FAIL THIS CLASS. PLEASE REVIEW CHAPTER 38, ESPECIALLY SECTION E OF YOUR HARBRACE HANDBOOK.