Apa Style Writing Assignment Text

Jonathan Friesen - Writing Coach

This resource describes some steps you can take to better understand the requirements of your writing assignments. This resource works for either in class, teacher led discussion or for personal use. last edited: 2011 06 28 0:56

how to decipher the paper assignment

many instructors write their assignment prompts differently.

By following a few steps, you can better understand the requirements for the assignment.

    read the prompt the entire way through once. this gives you an overall view of what is going on. underline or circle the portions that you absolutely must know. this information may include due date, research source requirements, page length, and format mla, apa, cms. underline or circle important phrases. you should know your instructor at least a little by now what phrases does she use in class? does he repeatedly say a specific word? if these are in the prompt, you know the instructor wants you to use them in the assignment.

    Best Thesis Topics for Psychology

    think about how you will address the prompt. the prompt contains clues on how to write the assignment. Your instructor will often describe the ideas she wants discussed either in questions, in bullet points, or in the text of the prompt. Think about each of these sentences and number them so that you can write a paragraph or section of your essay on that portion if necessary. rank ideas in descending order, from most important to least important. instructors may include more questions or talking points than you can cover in your assignment, so rank them in the order you think is more important.

    To systematically consider the rhetorical choices made in either a poster or a song. Things to consider: ah talking points how the poster addresses its audience and is affected by context i'll do this first 1. The point of view the viewer is invited to take, poses of figures in the poster, etc.

    Any text that may be present possible cultural ramifications or social issues that have bearing i'll cover this second 2. Ethical implications how the poster affects us emotionally, or what mood it evokes the poster's implicit argument and its effectiveness said that was important in class, so i'll discuss this last 4. How the song addresses its audience lyrics: how they rhyme, repeat, what they say use of music, tempo, different instruments possible cultural ramifications or social issues that have bearing ethical implications emotional effects the implicit argument and its effectiveness these thinking points are not a step by step guideline on how to write your paper instead, they are various means through which you can approach the subject. I do expect to see at least a few of them addressed, and there are other aspects that may be pertinent to your choice that have not been included in these lists. Additionally, you must include a copy of the poster or song that you are working with. Length: 4 pages format: typed, double spaced, 10 12 point times new roman, 1 inch margins i need to remember the format stuff. Minimum of five cited sources: 3 must be from academic journals or books design plan due: thurs.

    11/9 remember this! i missed the deadline last time the design plan is simply a statement of purpose, as described on pages 40 41 of the book, and an outline. The outline may be formal, as we discussed in class, or a printout of an open mind project. While you should avoid repeating any of your exact phrases from project 2, you may reuse some of the same ideas. You must use research to support your position, and you must also demonstrate a fairly thorough knowledge of any opposing position s. Your essay should begin with an introduction that encapsulates your topic and indicates 1 the general trajectory of your argument.

    Your conclusion should restate the thesis in different words, 2 and then draw some additional meaningful analysis out of the developments of your argument. What are some implications for the future, relating to your topic? what does all this what you have argued mean for society, or for the section of it to which your argument pertains? a good conclusion moves outside the topic in the paper and deals with a larger issue. You should spend at least one paragraph acknowledging and describing the opposing position in a manner that is respectful and honestly representative of the opposition rsquo s 3 views. The counterargument does not need to occur in a certain area, but generally begins or ends your argument.

    Asserting and attempting to prove each aspect of your argument rsquo s structure should comprise the majority of your paper. Ask yourself what your argument assumes and what must be proven in order to validate your claims. Then go step by step, paragraph by paragraph, addressing each facet of your position. Your audience is generally the academic community and specifically me, as a representative of that community. Ok, she wants this to be easy to read, to contain examples i find, and she wants it to be grammatically correct.

    Process of Doing a Research Paper