Synthesis Paper Guidelines (Page 3 of 3) in pdf

Synthesis Paper Guidelines Page 3

Each paragraph should have a topical sentence at the beginning; the remainder of the

paragraph should be an explication of that topic sentence.

Each sentence must precisely follow from the one before in a logical manner.

Each paragraph must precisely follow from the one before, and relate directly to the

thesis statement.

Read lots of well-written literature (i.e., required readings in the other Africa courses)

before bed each night.

Presto! You’re a good writer. Well, you’re an OK writer. That is, you’ll get by. But to

be a real writer, it will take something else...

Good basic advice: Write succinctly, choosing your words thoughtfully and carefully.

Remember the old adage: “If I had more time I’d have written it shorter!”

Extra words do not equal to extra quality. That’s why poetry is so hard to write!

Revisions: We all can improve upon our written presentation of information. The

problem with a poor initial submission is that the writer did not take sufficient time to

think about the material and how it would be presented best. Too often, it is assumed

that the development of a paper within 24 hours of it being due is sufficient time to look

intelligent. Its not. Therefore, you will see that there has been a concerted effort in the

evaluation of your synthesis, and you will have the opportunity to rewrite and resubmit

it for reconsideration.

! When you get your paper back, look over carefully all of the colored marks. There may

be more than one color on your paper. Don’t panic. Make sure that you understand

them. Ask me if you don’t.

! When you resubmit your paper (Version 2), please append to it Version 1 (colored

marks and all).

! Bold and underline the name of the Revisor in the first page of any revised version.

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Synthesis Paper Guidelines Page 3