Paper Tips

These tips are intended to be strategies to guide you as you write. They are not intended to
suggest that there is only one formula for writing. Rather, they are designed to assist you in
clear, effective writing and help you address the assignment with grading criteria in mind.

Introduction and thesis statement

 The thesis statement identifies your paper’s argument in one sentence.

 This argument must respond to the paper topic/question. Avoid simply restating the
question. Your thesis should present your own unique ideas and arguments based on the
evidence you have identified in the texts.
 The introductory paragraph should introduce your topic and state your main idea. You
may also introduce what sources you will be using to support your argument. However,
you should wait to introduce your evidence in the body of the paper.
 After you have completed your first draft, try writing out your thesis on a separate piece
of paper to see if you have addressed your original concern. Don’t be afraid to revise
your thesis statement if, in the course of writing, you gain new insights.

Topic sentences

 The first and last sentence of each paragraph should act as a guide for your reader. The
first sentence (topic sentence) should give the main idea of that paragraph. The last
sentence should summarize what you have just presented and/or bridge the idea you will
present in the next paragraph.
 Each paragraph should only contain one main idea. Focus on that one idea and begin a
new paragraph when you are ready to introduce a new idea.
 For a paper of this length, a full page paragraph is a good indication that you may have
too many ideas going on at once. Breaking up long paragraphs into individual ideas will
help your reader follow your argument and strengthen the impact of the point you are
making.

Use of sources

 All of the paper topics ask you to deal with primary resources. This gives you the
opportunity to present your own engagement with the texts. Although secondary
resources can supplement your argument, you want to avoid simply summarizing ideas
that have already been argued in the texts or in lecture.
 Remember to take time to unpack each quote for your audience. Do not leave quotes to
speak on their own, but, rather, spell out for your audience what is important within the
quote and how it connects to the overarching point you are trying to make. Focus on the
words and/or ideas that are interesting to you and most relevant to your point.
 Cite all sources you employ in your paper with parenthetical documentation. This
applies to direct quotes as well as paraphrasing. You need to indicate whom you are
quoting either in the sentence or in the citation. Citation should also note the title of the
text in short form and the page (or the date if you are referring to a class lecture).
  End the paper with a list of works cited. Include separate entries for each of the extracts
cited.
o Ricomboni, Luigi. “Riccomboni’s Advce to Actors,” in Actors on Acting, ed.
Toby Cole and Helen Krich Chinoy. New York: Crown Publishers, 1970.

Concluding paragraph

 Avoid using your final paragraph to restate the ideas from introductory paragraph. Try to
conclude by discussing your topic in light of the evidence you have just presented.
 Avoid introducing new information in your conclusion. You may find it useful to point to
new directions that have been opened through your argument. However, you don’t want
to detract from the points you have just made. Try to discuss the implications of the
argument you have already presented instead.

Other suggestions

 Ask Professor me to give you feedback on your ideas. I can help direct you if you need
help getting started or if you if you get stuck during the writing process. Try to approach
me for help sooner rather than later. Giving yourself sufficient time to implement
feedback can prevent anxiety and allow you to think through your strategies.
 Read your introductory paragraph and topic sentences to a friend. Afterwards, ask them
to repeat your ideas back to you to see if you have communicated them effectively.
 “When in doubt, spell it out!” If you are not sure if you are getting your ideas across, try
simplifying your language. Complex sentences or wordiness are not always the most
effective strategies to convey your point. Try to employ sentence variety that allows you
to build your argument while guiding your reader through your ideas.
 Make sure to proof-read your paper. Use spell check when using word processing
programs and try reading your paper out loud to catch any undetected spelling or
grammatical errors. Numbering the pages will avoid confusion, especially in the event
your paper is inadvertently stapled in the wrong order.

Other resources

 NYU Writing Center, 411 Lafayette, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10003
Telephone: 212 998-8866 Email: writingcenter@nyu.edu
Individual appointments and handouts are available. Please note that they are not
available for proofreading.
 Purdue’s Online Writing Lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
This website contains tips and strategies for effective writing. Topics include: general
writing concerns, coping with writing anxiety, developing an outline, strategies for
improving sentence clarity, etc.
 Writing Centers Online: http://iwca.syr.edu/IWCA/IWCAOWLS.html
This website provides an alphabetized list of university-affiliated writing centers.