This is a description of the format your papers for this class must have:

(1) All papers must be typed and in 11 or 12 point font.

(2) Papers must be double spaced (NOT single spaced, NOT 1.5 spaced, DOUBLE spaced).

(3) Each page should have exactly 1 inch margins on the left, right, top and bottom.

(4) Pages must be numbered.

(5) Have a separate title page with the title of your paper, your name, your section number and discussion section leader's name, and the number of the topic you chose.

(6) Your name should appear only on the title page. This allows us to grade your papers "blind". You can put your student number on the other pages if you wish.

(7) Papers must be stapled together. Loose pages get lost, folded corners do not work at all, paper clips work poorly, and those plastic binders are silly.

(8) Spell check your papers. I can't tell you how annoying it is to receive a paper full of typos. It shouts "I don't care about this class!" Even if you don't care, don't shout it at the person grading your paper. Equally annoying is getting a paper full of "random" inappropriate or incorrect words offered by a spell-checker. Look at the words carefully before accepting them.

Here are some of my policies regarding papers:

(1) Papers full of grammatical errors (such as frequent incomplete sentences) are unacceptable. Errors in basic grammar should not occur in a college paper. Any paper of this sort will be returned to be corrected, and the late clock will begin ticking.

(2) Papers submitted late without prior arrangement (made before the day the paper is due--a call on the morning of the due date is too late) will be subject to a grade reduction according to the following schedule: late during the day due (i.e., any time after the beginning of class)--1/3 of a grade off; the next day (day, not class)--2/3 off; two days late--one full letter grade off. A third of a grade more is deducted for each additional day.

(3) Always print out two copies of your papers and keep one for yourself. You are responsible for making sure your discussion section leader gets a copy of your paper, so if for some reason he or she does not, you must be prepared to hand in a copy on a moment's notice. Also, while writing your paper always have the most recent version backed up externally on at least one floppy disk. You are responsible for covering the possibility of computer or disk failure. The claim "my computer crashed" is like "my dog ate my homework"--even if it is true it is not an excuse. You must be prepared for such a contingency.

(4) Papers must be on the specific topics assigned unless prior alternative arrangments have been made.

(5) Plagiarism is grounds for failure of the assignment, if not the whole course. It also can be (and, in fact, has been) grounds for complete expulsion from college. Plagiarism is not just handing in a whole paper written by someone else. It also includes using someone else's exact wording (his sentences) without putting them in quotation marks and citing the source. It is also plagiarism to use a point or an idea created by someone else without giving him credit for it. So paraphrasing what someone says and not citing your source is also plagiarism. Finally, as should be obvious, cutting and pasting material from internet sites into your paper is also plagiarism (as well as not too smart--if you can find it, we can find it; in fact, we probably already have).