The Basics

• Papers MUST be typed, using 12 pt. Times New Roman.  If the paper is not typed, it will not be graded.  Line spacing should be double-spaced unless otherwise specified in the assignment.  Papers must have one-inch margins on all sides.
• Papers must have a cover page including name of student and title of paper, as well as a bibliography.  These pages are not included in any assigned paper length.  If the body of the paper does not reach the minimum specified length, it will not be graded.
• Papers must be stapled.
• Except for page 1, pages are numbered.                                                                                         
• All quotations must use parenthetical MLA which is the standard citation format for all political science classes at Presbyterian College.  If you have a question, please ask the professor or see someone at the Writing Center.                            
• The Honor Code applies to all academic work – including papers.  Plagiarism will not be tolerated.                                                                                                              

General Tips on Writing

• Every paper has three elements – an introduction, a body and a conclusion.  No matter how short the paper, you should introduce the reader to your topic and tell them what you are trying to demonstrate.  
• Subheadings within the paper, such as 'Introduction', 'Analysis', 'Conclusion', etc., are acceptable and even encouraged on projects that are longer than 2 pages (This is my personal preference; other professors may differ on this one).
• Paragraphs should convey only one idea.  New idea, new paragraph.  With regard to length, paragraphs should be approximately 3-5 sentences.  They should not be one sentence, nor should they be two pages.
• Define your terms.  If you are writing about Federalist #10 and discussing the dangers of factions, tell me what a faction is.  Remember, you are trying to demonstrate to me that you've read the material, thought critically about it and understand it.
• Learn when to use affect vs. effect, its vs. it's,  two vs. to vs. too, their vs. there vs. they're.
• Invest in a good writing manual, such as the Hodges’ Harbrace Handbook that you use in your basic English classes at PC.  You will find this extremely valuable throughout your college career and beyond.
• Writing assignments that are being turned in for a grade should be professional in appearance.  That means that is looks and sounds like it has been polished.  Proof-read your paper.  Spell-check your paper (and make sure the computer’s spell-checking program didn’t select the wrong word).  The first draft should not be the final draft.

Discipline-Specific Tips

• Democrat refers to the political party, democracy to the political system of the people, by the people and for the people.  Same for Republican and republican, respectively.
• Italicize the names of Supreme Court cases and give the date in parentheses--e.g. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
• Supreme Court is capitalized; after that first mention, you may refer to it as "the Court" with court capitalized
• People elected to the House of Representatives are members or representatives (preferred), while those elected to the Senate are members or senators (preferred), and congressman or congresswoman are not preferred terms.
• Congress, the branch is capitalized while congressional is not.
• Capitalize president and administration in reference to a specific president, such as President Clinton or the Clinton administration, otherwise do not capitalize either.
• Capitalize senator and representative only when referring to a specific one: Senator Thurmond (R-SC) and Representative DeMint (R-SC).
• On first reference, give party and state of the representative or senator: "Senator Thurmond (R-SC) today voted against..."
• Acronyms (initials that form a name) do not need periods between the letters; you must first give the full name but thereafter may use the acronym as follows: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) found..."  The CIA investigated..."
• Use periods with the abbreviation U.S., and use U.S. or the United States rather than America, which could refer to the continent.

 

(Source: UT Knoxville Dept of Political Science)