Virtuous+Writing

Virtuous Writing Check your writing against these guidelines before you hand it in to me. · Follow all directions. · Contractions have no place in formal academic writing. · Place your thesis at the end of your introduction. · Refrain from using first or second person pronouns in formal, academic writing. · NEVER compliment the author as a way to begin or conclude. This is phony. · Avoid all trite, clichéd, banal vocabulary. Never use “a lot,” “thing(s),” “stuff,” “nice,” or “nowadays.” · Begin your introduction with engaging commentary that prompts the reader to continue and captures his or her attention. · Do not introduce a new topic in the conclusion. · Never use et cetera (etc.) in a formal essay. If you have something else to say, say it. · Pay attention to pronouns. Each must have a proper antecedent. “One” agrees with “he” or “she,” not “they.” Ex: “one should consult his or her (NOT THEIR) grammar book for more information on pronouns.” · Vary sentence structure. · Use elevated language when appropriate. · Commit to a battle with your writing. Spill your ideas onto the page, then prepare to wrestle with your diction and syntax until your essay is both insightful and clear. · TITLE: o Compose a thoughtful title. o <span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Do not use the title of the work you are analyzing—somebody else already has. o <span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Use MLA rules of format: no italics, no quotes, no bold, no larger font, no underline (unless you are using the title of the work in your title) <span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Submit your essay for a grade only AFTER you have analyzed it using this list.