SUPPLEMENT for Writing of Paper (RLST/EALC 287): A.

BEFORE: Before you start on your paper, here are a few things to check over and make sure you are doing. A.1 Topic: Choose the topic that you are more interested in. A paper on a topic you are interested in will be more interesting to the reader and get a better grade. A.2 Sources: It is only necessary to use class readings and lectures as sources and it should only be from class readings. The use of outside references is neither necessary nor recommended. Be careful about websites! Anyone can post anything on a website since websites are not edited or refereed; keep in mind it may not be academically sound or may be just plain wrongand that it is as likely to hurt your paper as it is to help it. At any rate, do NOT use a particular reference on-line unless you have cleared it with Professor Ruppert first, A.3 Reference preparations: Be sure to keep a bibliographic entry for any outside sources, and make sure to follow the explanation at the top of the mini-essay instructions regarding citation through use of the authors last name: page number(s) ). If the author is listed more than once on the e-reserves, simply make clear which one it is through adding a digit following the name (e.g., (Gethin: page number) ). Also see below in citations sub-section. B. DURING: While you are writing your paper, keep these things in mind: ( (O) = Correct; (X) = Incorrect) B.1 Dont use dont: Dont use contractions in academic papers: (O) Zen Buddhists did not believe.... (X) Zen Buddhists didnt believe... B.2 No abbreviations: (O) California (X) CA B.3 Conjunction misuse: Avoid starting a sentence with words such as But / And /So. B.4 And so on misuse: Dont use and so on unless the progression is clear. (O) She likes sweet things like cake, ice cream, and so on. (X) On weekends, she likes to read, boogie board, and so on.

B.5 Citations: Citations are important; you need to show where and how you found your information. Paraphrase in your own words, unless a direct quote is essential to making your point. Paraphrases and direct quotes both require internal citations. Direct quotes should be marked with quotation marks. Use ellipses marked by periods when omitting material from direct quotes, put brackets around any words added to quotes. B.6 Internal citations: Following the paraphrase or quote, the internal citation appears in parentheses, with the authors last name followed by the pages cited. B.7 What to reference: Reference and cite all information and ideas obtained from other sources whether they are paraphrases, direct quotations, or reproductions of data. Clearly indicate where the reference begins and ends (e.g., (Gethin: 47-48) ). B.8 Plagiarism: According to Section 33.D. of the Campus Administrative
Manual, plagiarism is defined as Representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic endeavor. Dont plagiarize.

Use your own words and ideas. When you do use another persons work, cite it. B.9 No footnotes or endnotes: Please use internal citations. B.10 Bibliography: The final section, on a separate page, is the REFERENCES CITED or BIBLIOGRAPHY. It is not required if all of your sources are class readings and lecture. If you are using outside sources, please include a bib which includes all sources cited in the text. This section is single-spaced with a line skipped between each entry. It should be extremely easy for any reader to find the original source and verify the information. The important thing is that all your citations follow the same form. If you are not sure, consult The Chicago Manual of Style. B.11 Introduction: The first paragraph should be the introduction. The introduction should be a short paragraph that presents a road map. This map will guide me (the reader) through the rest of the paper. If it is not on the map, it should not be in the paper. If it is on the map, it must be in the paper. The MAIN IDEA of the whole project should be stated in a simple thesis sentence. A good place for the thesis sentence is the last sentence of this paragraph; at any rate, it is necessary that you include the thesis somewhere in the first paragraph. B.12 Paragraphing: The body of the paper is a series of paragraphs, basically one paragraphone developed idea. Break to a new paragraph every time the theme or focus changes, often two or four breaks per page.

B.13 Conclusion: The last paragraph should be a short conclusion. A conclusion is several sentences which sum up the paper. A good conclusion can be hard to write; it is even harder to explain how to write one! A conclusion is neither too broad nor too narrow. I KNOW when I dont have a conclusion and I KNOW when I have a good conclusion. It is something to get a feeling for. B.14 Indenting: The first line in every paragraph should be indented.

B.15 Comparisons are invidious: Unless you have a specific point to make, omit gratuitous comparisons of Buddhism in India (etc.) to other cultures, including your own. B.16 Gender bias language: Be careful of gender bias language: (X) Every student should put his email address on his paper.

(O) Every student should put an e-mail address on his or her paper.
B.17 Avoid jargon: Do not use technical jargon, unless it is absolutely necessary and then explain what it means. B.18 Write out numbers: Beware of the improper use of Arabic numbers: (O) This was the first contact. (X) This was the 1st contact.

B.19 Use of pronouns: Avoid using you or we in an academic paper, use they someone or one or passive voice instead. (O) When examining Buddhism (X) When you examine Buddhism B.20 Pejoratives: Avoid words that have pejorative connotations.

(O) The locals sometimes allow tourists to observe their ceremonies.

(X) The locals sometimes allow tourists to gawk at their ceremonies. B.21 Its vs Its: Learn the proper uses of possessives and verb contractions: A noun becomes a possessive with an apostrophe, the pronoun it does not! (O) I took the dogs bone. (O) I took its bone. (X) I took its bone. Possessive: Verb contraction: (O) Its time has come. (O) Its on the shelf. (X) Its time has come. (X) Its on the shelf.

(Note that contractions are not to be used except in cases of quotation.)

Plural + possessive: the apostrophe FOLLOWS the s! The islanders livelihood is fishing. = (There was only one guy living on the whole island!)

The islanders livelihood is fishing. = (There are a bunch of people on the island and they fish.)

B.22 Their/there/theyre misuse: Learn the proper uses of their/there/theyre: Possessive: (O) They brought their car. (X) They brought there car. (X) They brought theyre car. Adverb: Verb contraction: (O) Its there under the table. (O) Theyre doing their homework.

B.23 Put words from a foreign language in italics.

(o) He talked about dukkha and dharma. (X) He talked about dukkha and dharma. B.24 Rhetorical questions: Avoid using too many rhetorical questions, rephrase as statements.
B.25 Spell it right: Use the spell check on your computer! B.26 Length: The paper should be between 1,360 and 1,650 words. If you are using Microsoft Word, check this by pulling down the Tools menu, and clicking on Word Count.

B.27 Margins: The margins are basic term paper margins (1.25 on the left, 1 on the top, right, and bottom). B.28 Form: Double space the body. Number the pages. Please do NOT justify the right margin.
B-29 No extra lines: Do not include an extra line between each paragraph. B.30 Font size: Please use 12-point font. B.31 Title page: The first page should contain these items: Your name Your papers title

Essay #1 Word count: xxx Art work is neat, too, but not required. B.32 Title: The paper should have a title. Titles are all in caps or in initial caps: NOBLES, SAMURAI AND RELIGION Nobles, Samurai and Religion C. AFTER: After finishing your paper, check over these points:

C.1 Re-read the instructions in the handout carefully. Does your paper satisfy all the requirements? Did you address all the questions posed by the assignment?
C.2 Is your thesis statement presented in one sentence? Is it easy to locate in the first paragraph? Is it a clear, direct, bold statement of your major idea, no more and no less? C.3 Does each paragraph develop one idea? Does each paragraph flow out of the previous one smoothly and logically? Will your transitions between paragraphs make the connections clear to the reader? C.4 -- Does your paper flow smoothly and logically? If not, reorganize it. - For each paragraph, will the reader know why you are introducing this information? Make sure your reasoning is clear! - Do you repeat ideas? Edit extra repeats out. - Is there a gap in your argument flow? Fill it in and tighten it up. - Are there serious digressions from your major idea? Edit them out. - Is your title accurate and appropriate? - Is the introduction a reliable road map to the rest of the paper? - Does the body of the paper fully develop the major idea in the introduction? - Does the conclusion give the reader a sense of closure? - Are your main points clear? - Have you developed your main points adequately?

- Have you supported your main points with: quotations, evidence, facts, examples, details? - Is your paper clear and easy to read? - Does the pace sometimes drag on too long? Tighten this part up. - Does the pace go too fast and get chopped off? Develop this part more fully. C.5 Balance - Does your paper have a balance of ideas that you are presenting and quotes and facts to back up those ideas? If it is all quotes and facts, it is not a paper but a list of quotes and facts. If it is all ideas and no quotes or facts, it is not an academic paper, as you are not offering supporting evidence for your ideas. C.6 - Read the paper out loud to determine rhythm and flow. Read the paper to a friend to get comments on clarity, rhythm, and flow. C.7 - Submission: Staple the paper once in the upper left hand corner. Do not use binders or folders.