Saturday, November 16, 2013

Grammar And Citation

By Franklin Skribbit


One of the most challenging tasks for students of any discipline is to write a term paper or other important form of paper when it is assigned with a seemingly far off due date.

Laptop vs. Pen & Paper

Citation

When using a laptop, research various applications and programs which may assist you in your note taking. Programs like Evernote provide easy, instant access to your information regardless of whether you are viewing it from a phone, tablet, or computer. You can also scan your handwritten notes in for digital storage if you so prefer.

When you are working on citations, refer back frequently to your handbook to make sure you are using the correct format and style for citing. Your citations in-text and in the bibliography are important and even missing a simple thing like a period can cause you to miss points if your professor is feeling particularly pernicious. Be detailed in your study of the citation style noting things like line spacing, margins, page numbering, and font size.

The first thing that a student can do to make sure that they can complete their term papers in a timely manner and to work on them throughout the semester rather than the week before the paper is due is to take the time to organize and plan. Organizing a paper, at least at this step, is not so much about content as it is about rationing out the work and coming up with a general outline for the paper.

Here is where we get down to the nitty gritty details of where most points are missed or docked in a research paper. Most professors will be lenient with occasional mistakes, but if they catch too many of them, they'll start to dock points for every single one.

The outline of the paper will become the roadmap that the student can use to guild them through their paper. By having an outline, a student will be able to break up their paper into workable sections with each section being a specific idea or piece of information that they can present.

Now we come to the hardest part, what to write down and how. This is where personal preference and learning style really come in to play. Do some research and play around with various methods for documenting your notes. There are quite a few including mind mapping, charting, the Cornell method, and creating a rough outline. It is important for you to find one that works for you.

As you work to learn these rules and others, you will find yourself able to implement them without thinking about it rather than having to pour over some handbook to make sure you are following the rules. Persistence pays off and the professors at your college in National City will be pleased with your progress.




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