J. Kelly Robison

Making It Look Good

For a more complete indication on how to write formal essays refer to Kate Turabian's A Manual of Style or the even more in-depth Chicago Manual of Style.

Essays should be:

• typed
• double-spaced
• one inch margins on all sides
• The font should be legible and 10 or 12 characters per inch.
• A cover sheet should contain the title, author, class, professor, and date.
• Do not put the essay in a plastic cover.

Common Errors

• Do not use the first person (I, we)
• Do not use contractions

Mechanics

• Make certain you know what a word means before you use it.
• Make sure each sentence has a subject and a verb.
• Make sure your verb and your subject agree in number and person.
• Make sure your verb tenses are consistent.
• Avoid fancy words, a breezy manner, figures of speech, etc.
• It sometimes helps to read each sentence aloud after you have written it.
• If you are unsure how to punctuate a sentence, then change it to a form the punctuation of which you do know. Suggestion: go easy on commas, avoid both colons and semi-colons. Consult a dictionary. Punctuation rules tend to be towards the back.

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