When citing electronic sources (such as articles from websites and databases), keep in mind that MLA, like all other style guides, was designed for books and journals (the paper versions!) Sometimes, making the entries for electronic sources feels like you are putting a square peg in a round hole
is means MLA was made for book and print sources, so sometimes its hard to fit online sources into the same format
This material must always be cited: A direct quote A statistic An idea that is not your own Someone else’s opinion Concrete facts, not considered “common knowledge” Knowledge not considered “common”
any time you use someone else's words, ideas, or research, you must give credit to the source
Each topic has so many facets that it would be impossible to cover them all in a college research paper
Each topic is broad and cannot be covered in a single investigation.
thesis statement must concentrate on a specific area of a general topic. As you may recall, the creation of a thesis statement begins when you choose a broad subject and then narrow down its parts until you pinpoint a specific aspect of that topic.
A thesis is a main idea or central statement that is defended or demonstrated in a text, essay, or research.
Finally, a third key reason for proofreading is because you likely have errors you typically make and proofreading gives you a chance to correct those errors.
It is important to understand that making mistakes is okay, because even professionals do it.
When you are ready to write your introduction, there are multiple strategies available to help you craft a great first paragraph. Ideally the end of your first paragraph will clarify the thesis statement you will support in the rest of your paper.
The introduction consists of talking about the topic you are going to talk about in your project, in a general way, to give the reader a clear idea of what it will deal with.
Once you begin narrowing down your topic, depending on the type of paper, you may be ready to start drafting. The best point to begin writing your draft also depends on the genre of essay you are writing. If you are writing a research paper, then you will need to follow more steps, which are covered in detail later in this book.
Once you know what your theme will be, everything will flow more easily.
When using flashback, the writer usually concludes by returning to the present and reflecting on the flashback or its resolution
It is important to provide details that help to better understand the narrative, and in this way, the reader will be caught up in the plot of the story they are reading.
When you begin prewriting consider why you are writing (to inform, to explain, or some other purpose) and for whom you are writing. With your narrowed focus in mind, answer the bulleted questions in the checklist for developing a good topic. If you can answer “yes” to all the questions, then you have a good topic. If you answer “no” to any of the questions below, think about another topic or adjust the one you have and try the prewriting strategies again.
We must always keep our audience in mind, and take their interests into account.
Each one of these processes is perfectly acceptable–your job as a college writer is to determine which process works best for you
Every process is different, and each piece of writing improves over time, but not at the same rate as others, and that's okay.
Vary your verb choices to create descriptive and engaging writing.
Varying verbs helps our writings to have a more dynamic language, and to have a greater impact on the audience.
certain assignments teach you how to meet the expectations for professional writing in a given field. Depending on the class, you might be asked to write a lab report, a case study, a literary analysis, a business plan, or an account of a personal interview. You will need to learn and follow the standard conventions for those types of written products.
It is important that we know the different forms of writing, otherwise, we can make mistakes.
Ask yourself, What do I already know about this topic? Hint: Look at the title to learn the topic. Asking yourself what you already know about a topic activates your prior knowledge about it. Doing this helps your brain wake up its dendrites where that prior knowledge is stored so that it knows where the new knowledge will connect. Flip through the pages, reading the captions found under any pictures, tables, and other graphics. Pay attention to italicized or bolded Are these words defined for you in the margin or in a glossary? Read the comprehension questions you find in the margins or at the end of the chapter.
Asking yourself this question about what you think the meaning of something is, and then complementing it with the information that the reading provides you, is an excellent way to learn and clarify your doubts, because in this way you can realize in what area you are making mistakes, thus improving your learning.
You decide to join a gym and consult with a personal trainer who uses specialized vocabulary to describe different types of exercise: aerobic, anaerobic, reps, plyometrics, and isometrics. You discover other gym members who share that same goal of becoming healthier, more flexible, and stronger. You become versed in a new language of fitness.
It's important to be prepared for different life situations. You can't go to a job interview using colloquial language, which we normally use to talk to our friends and family, just as you can't go to a fast food restaurant using overly formal language and complicated words when all you want is to order a hamburger. We must always be aware and prepared about what words to use, depending on the place.
Some courses encourage students to share their research and writing with each other, and even offer workshops where students can present their own writing and offer constructive comments to their classmates.
For a while I felt embarrassed to share what I wrote in a poetry workshop, but after listening to my classmates and their criticism and advice to improve my writing, I gained more confidence when it came to presenting it.