The primary source for writing all papers in my courses and for the Management Department is the American Psychological Association (APA) Style Manual (2001, fifth edition). It will answer most of your questions regarding format, style, and other writing conventions, especially those related to electronic citations. However, it is designed primarily for preparing manuscripts for publication, not term papers for courses. Therefore, there are some modifications in style that are noted below. In addition, I have listed suggestions for writing based on the most frequently occurring errors that students make in written assignments. Please check these carefully...

Although you may consider some of these points to be picky and minor (and some may be), you will be writing many papers in all of your courses and the sooner you learn a consistent writing style, the easier it will be. Also recognize that your writing reflects your thinking--you will be better able to understanding what you are thinking and how you can get it across more effectively by reflecting on your writing. Be sure to go over comments your instructors make on papers, and meet with them when you have questions (--and you should always have questions!). Please check your papers for the points noted on this page before you turn the papers in.

• The title page should have a descriptive title (centered), your name (and how you can be contacted for questions: e-mail, fax, phone), the course number & title, Instructor's name and title, course location (e.g., Duluth campus, Brainerd campus, etc.) and date. There is no page number for a title page. The title should be a declarative statement including key words, not phrased as a question.  Avoid  figurative or metaphorical titles-- clearly let the reader know what the paper is about.
  
• If you are submitting a draft paper and expect feedback, be sure to include information for its return: your name, phone number (work and/or home), e-mail, and FAX number. Indicate it is a DRAFT. Include the specific questions you have to be answered.
• Outline your paper before you begin writing. This will help you keep focus on your purpose and not derail onto tangential topics. If it does not fit your detailed outline, drop it.
• Write for your audience. Assume that your audience is that of general managers who may not be very familiar with your specific topic or specialty. Keep explaining new terms and practices to the reader, use appropriate vocabulary and examples, and especially keep reminding the reader why your points are important and how the reader can use them. Occasionally summarize what you have said to given the reader a breather from following your argument.
• State the purpose for the paper very early-- within the first page and preferably at the beginning. Then overview what you are going to do to help the reader set reasonable expectations for studying the paper.
  
• The intention for writing your paper is to demonstrate what you have learned in the course. Be sure to use terms appropriately, explain concepts, and show clear application of principles. If you are writing a case from work experience, it is usually obvious that you can describe the situation-- what is important for the paper is that you then use terms and concepts to explain it thoroughly.
  
• Check spelling, grammar, punctuation, active voice, and word limits (if any). Use a proofreader, computer spelling checker, or grammar checking program. Consider reading it aloud or into a tape recorder to catch errors your computer did not catch.
• Spell the whole word rather than using contractions (e.g., don't, wouldn't, can't) in formal or technical writing. Also, spell out numbers less than 10.
• Be accurate in using person and number: "Each person has their own ideas," improperly combines singular (each person) with plural (their). Be consistent.
• Avoid gender-biased language such as "his, her, she, mailman," etc. The CSS, Barnes & Noble, and UMD bookstores have good gender-free style manuals to help you revise your writing.
• The paper should have a thesis paragraph or controlling idea around which the paper is focused. This paragraph should be stated very early in the paper, usually at the beginning, and may be as simple as, "the purpose of this paper is to...." The paragraphs that follow the thesis paragraph should be logically related to and build support for the thesis. Each paragraph usually has its own thesis sentence at the beginning. Use the thesis sentence to give the reader an overview of what to expect in that paragraph or following paragraphs.
• Use figures and tables (do not label them as graphics, pictures, etc.) to clarify what has been presented in text. When possible, include the graphic in text rather than be appended. Make sure they are formatted in APA style.  Place them close to where they are cited in text, following the citation, and not in an appendix. Do not leave blank space if possible between text and a graphic.
• Be sure to distinguish tables (columns and rows of data) from figures (diagrams, models, pictures, etc.).
• Each paragraph should logically follow from the last and lead to the next. Keep a sequential line of reasoning when writing, and avoid tangential topics unrelated to your thesis idea.
• Have at least two sentences in a paragraph. Otherwise, attach it as a transitional sentence to the previous or next paragraph, or elaborate on it.
• Minimize quotes. Use them only when another author uses an especially clear or impactful way of stating something. Although you should cite other authors to document sources for your argument, don't let other authors speak for you--you are the author of this paper. Indent and single space quotes of 40 or more words. Be sure to reference the page number of the source at the end of the quote.
• Cite original sources rather than text books that are secondary references to sources. See who the text author's cite, then go to that source and cite it directly whenever possible.
• Carefully follow the APA manual (6th ed.) format for your references, and cite all sources as completely as possible. Check and recheck for accuracy, punctuation, and spacing between characters.
• References (not "bibliography" or "works cited") is the proper title for the last section of your paper where you list the sources you cited in text. List ONLY those you cited in text (excluding personal communications such as letters and interviews). References are intended to help the reader be able to refer to them for further information. Start the references section on a new page.
• The format for citing online are shown in examples  in the  APA guide. Be sure you have a complete URL (address) and that the information is reliable and valid and from a legitimate source. If you can't find the author, date, sponsoring organization, or source perhaps you should not use it. Do not rely on web pages per se; find good journals or other peer reviewed materials on the web, not just opinions. If you have a full citation of a journal, there is no need to also cite "retrieved from..."
• Use the correct term for an expression: For example, "I feel that..." does not express a feeling. It is more appropriately expressed as "I think" or "I believe."
• Distinguish i.e., and e.g. When you rephrase something differently to clarify it, use i.e. ("that is..."). When you are giving an example, use e.g. ("for example...").
  
• DO NOT use a running head (short title appearing at the top of each page), table of contents, or abstract (overview). These features are usually used only for submitting manuscripts for publication.
• Make sure each page (starting with the first text page following the cover page) is sequentially numbered. Do not include abstracts, tables of contents, or appendices for course papers. Start numbering after the title/cover page with page 2.
• Use headings and subheadings to make transitions clear to the reader. Use bullets and enumerations to highlight main points (but do not overdo). Use titles and subheads that are descriptive short phrases, not just single words. The level 1 header is the paper title which should be centered. The level 2 header should be left justified and underlined (or italicized); text starts on the next line. Level 3 is indented,  italicized, period at the end, and text starts after the period on the same line.
• Use a standard font (e.g., Courier, Times Roman, Arial) and pitch of 11 or 12. Do not use italics (except in headers and references), bold, or all caps. Do not use fancy fonts and do not vary fonts..
• Do not leave single lines at the bottom or top of pages ("widow" and "orphan" lines); have at least two lines together.
• Leave a 1.25" margin all around the page to provide room for comments and feedback. For a thesis project, the left margin is 1.5" on the left for binding, but this is not necessary for classroom papers.
• Practice using terms and concepts introduced in the course. Avoid trite words or phrases, jargon, colloquialisms, idioms, or cliches. Keep the vocabulary consistent, avoiding a combination of vernacular and technical.
• Use your own words! Do not use the exact wording or phrasing of an author without quoting and citing. Plagiarism is a serious ethical violation! You can put the authors ideas into your own words so long as you cite the author.
• Don't let other authors "speak for you." For example, "According to...," "Smith and Jones found..." and "Blake and Mouton stated that..." take the reader from your argument to someone else. It is better writing for you to make your assertion, and then acknowledge by citation other authors who provide evidence for or who initially proposed that component of your argument.
• Secure pages with a staple in the upper left hand corner of the document. DO NOT use paper clips, folders, or plastic edge binders and covers.
• When making lists, do not capitalize or end with a period if it is not a complete sentence. Keep lists to a minimum and generally not more than a page unless necessary. Also consider that you may need to explain contents of a list, not merely use single words.
• Do not rely on a single source even if it is a good one. Better to use multiple sources for a citation to show broader support for your ideas.
• Avoid using the phrases, "in fact," "as a matter of fact," "it's obvious," and "without a doubt."
• If you have a "conclusion" section, do not introduce new information. Rather, use it to summarize your findings and highlight the key points you want to leave the reader with.
• Make sentence length slightly varied. Avoid short, choppy sentences, and those that are long, complex, or compound. Remember you purpose is to help the reader understand, not do dazzle him/her with your tortuous logic.
• Use language at the professional or technical level, rather than mundane language: "figure out" ~ "conclude," "put together" ~ "assembled," "talked about"~ "discussed," "bail out" ~ "withdraw."
• Have specific referents for terms such as, "this, that these, him, her, it's," etc. If you have complex or compound sentences, "it" or "this" could refer to several things.
• Be consistent in referring to "the reader," "you" or "one."
• If you use abbreviations, write the full phrase or title out the first time, then use an abbreviation in later references to it.
• Always keep a backup copy of your paper in case your original is misplaced, lost, or kept by the instructor. Be safe and backup your disk often.
• You might also check the APA style cribsheet for a fast reference.

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If you have any questions or comments on these guidelines, please contact me