Mrs. Henderson’s Ten Commandments for Academic Writing

1. “I am your topic, thy subject, and thou shalt chase no other rabbits in this paper…for I, your topic, thy subject, am a jealous topic.”

(Pick a topic, write a clear thesis statement, and organize your main points, which should all support and develop your thesis. You should only discuss one main point per paragraph.)

2. Thou shall not write long, rambling or short, choppy sentences.

3. Thou shall not use generic language in vain for thy instructor will not leave a paper unpunished which uses vague vocabulary.

4. Remember thy introduction and conclusion, to keep them effective.

5. Honor your father grammar and mother structure so that your grades may be increased on thy assignments, which the instructor, your judge, gives you.

6. Thou shall not write a skeletal paper.

(Fully develop each main point.)

1. Thou shall not use rigid, formulaic organization.

2. Thou shall not plagiarize.

3. Thou shall not be overly wordy or repetitive.

4. Thou shall not use an inappropriate tone or point of view.

(Always consider your audience when writing.)