Writing+Tips

This page will consist of two sections: Writing Tips, and Decoding Mr. Weaver. The first will cover general mistakes I see classes making. The second will help you decipher my comments on your papers. = **__WRITING TIPS__** = __**PLAGIARISM**__ Sigh. That siren of the essay. From time to time, you'll think to yourself, "I can get away with plagiarism." Maybe you can. But if you get caught, the consequences will be severe. To fight this problem, here are ten tips to avoid plagiarism:

//Check with your teacher to determine whether collaboration is permitted and what they expect of your bibliography. Remember that all ideas and words must be cited.// //Develop strategies such as note cards or spreadsheets that will help you keep track of sources, authors, URLs, and other important information as you work.// //Try not to use more than one or two important words from the original source when you paraphrase material (and remember to cite that source even if your material isn't in quotation marks).// //Ask teachers what citation format they prefer and learn the basics. For more difficult citations, use NoodleTools.// //Don't get caught behind a deadline -- most plagiarism occurs when students feel desperate or rushed.// //Ask questions in advance that will help you avoid the feeling of being "lost" or overwhelmed.// //Use your research skills for more than a quick Internet search -- learn how to use search engines and the library to find the best possible sources for your projects.// //Type your bibliography as you find sources rather than waiting until the final draft of your paper - there are many sites that can help you format a bibliography quickly and easily.// //Use a search engine or free plagiarism detection software to check your own papers before you hand them in.// //Try to make assignments important to you. Where possible, tweak topics or arguments to put your own spin on them. Look for what you can learn from the project, not just for the grade you'll receive.//
 * 1) KNOW THE DEFINITION OF PLAGIARISM AT YOUR SCHOOL**
 * 2) TAKE GOOD NOTES**
 * 3) PARAPHRASE CAREFULLY**
 * 4) LEARN TO ATTRIBUTE CORRECTLY**
 * 5) LEAVE PLENTY OF TIME**
 * 6) MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT**
 * 7) RESEARCH WISELY**
 * 8) MAKE YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY AS YOU WORK**
 * 9) DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR PAPERS**
 * 10) TAKE THE ASSIGNMENT PERSONALLY**

-Thanks to Barry Gilmore and Heinemann! **GENERAL AP TIPS (VERY helpful!) ** Miss O'Hara offers these writing tips for her DBQs and Free Response Questions. This is a very sharp, concise guide for completing AP-style writing assignments. Likewise, Mr. Mancini and Mr. Cox have thrown together a packet of AP samples and suggestions that you will get in class.

**WRITING A DBQ** Here is a pretty solid breakdown of what to look for when you're composing a DBQ.

**__DECODING MR. WEAVER__** (Circled Word) -- Spelling error AP -- Address the prompt (this is usually in tandem with a bad thesis that doesn't address the prompt). AWK -- The meaning sort of gets through, but this is a very awkward way of saying it BS -- Be specific. You're making vague statements that amount to a pile of...useless words. CYN -- Check your notes. The information here is wrong. EPIC -- Avoid the epic statements, especially in intros and conclusions. Too many people start with, "Throughout history..." or include things like, "It is truly one of the greatest events/movies/potatoes/etc. ever." Don't exaggerate or use hyperboles. Each time you do this, an angel loses its wings. Please, think of the angels. F7 -- Use a better synonym (F7 used to be the thesaurus key in Microsoft Word). FRAG -- Sentence fragment (we get these a LOT!). Usually this comes when you are making lists. Example: "They were making $400 a week. While also raising a family." The second part of this is a fragment. GRAF -- Short for "paragraph". IL -- Informal language. Aviod saying things like "Well" or "You see". ISO -- Usually used in DBQs. You used this in isolation and need to connect it to other documents. You've probably just randomly thrown it into the paper. L-L -- Usually used in DBQs. It stands for "laundry listing". You've just thrown documents in because you want to get the right number of documents in. There's really no point in having it, or you don't work to make it fit. It's just there. NC -- No contractions in an academic paper. NQ -- Not quite. You're close, but you're not using this information in the correct fashion. ? -- What on earth are you talking about? OT -- Off topic OW -- One word, not two RO -- Run-on RHET -- Rhetorical question or statement. Don't make these in papers. You should avoid asking questions in a paper, but if you must, you need to answer it immediately. RR -- Re-read this sentence; it doesn't make sense Slashed Letter -- Make this lowercase. TENSE -- You're either switching tenses or writing in the present tense. Keep it in past tense for history class. THESIS? -- Where is your thesis? TS -- Topic sentence TW -- Two words, not one Underlined Letter -- Capitalize this letter. WC -- Word choice. You've used a word incorrectly. WW -- Wasted words. Nothing makes you sound less intelligent than when you try to fluff your paper with big statements. Examples include "as you can see..." or "The author is trying to say..." or similar statements. You want your paper to resemble a sports car: sleek, aerodynamic, and designed to flow perfectly. When you write a paper with a bunch of empty words with the intent of making it longer or trying to sound more intelligent, you wind up with an armored car: bulky, awkward, and dense, not something you're looking to show off.