Formal Writing Guidelines

1. Dont, I repeat, DO NOT use contractions in formal writing.

a. Cant = cannot or can not c. Couldnt = could not
b. Wont = will not d. Shouldnt = should not
2. nd D! "!# begin sentences with it, and, but, so or a $ague pronoun. %lease notice how I &ust bro'e m( own rule as an
e)ample in the pre$ious sentence. *ssentiall(, poorl( written, wea' and ineffecti$e sentences begin with+
a. It d. #his
b. nd e. So
c. ,ut
-. D! "!# use first person. I, me, we, us etc. should be remo$ed from formal writing. ./ou ha$e the authorit( to use I, me, or
we once (ou ha$e completed significant academic research, attained a graduate0le$el degree or de$eloped some le$el of
e)pertise in an academic field1.
2. D! "!# write li'e this is an email. n( written assignment for this course other than a reflecti$e &ournal is 3!456
writing. Slang, s(mbols and abbre$iations are not tolerated. %articularl( offensi$e items include the following7
a. 8 = and d. b9c = because
b. w9 = with e. lol : laugh out loud : ; &ust 4C<D a C=
c. w9out = without
>. If (our thesis or topic statement is some deri$ation of ____ and ____ are very unique/different but also very similar (ou
need to re$ise and rethin' (our thesis or topic statement significantl(. W?# characteristics are uni@ue9different, W?#
characteristics are similarA
,D : #he Bentlemans greement and Chinese *)clusion ct were $er( different but also similar.
B!!D : #he Bentlemans greement and Chinese *)clusion ct were similar in that the( were both caused b( racism and
fear that was directed toward restricting the rights of sian populations in the Western ;nited States, but uni@ue in which
groups were targeted.
C. While rhetorical @uestions are appropriate in some literar( genres a formal essa( or response is not one of them. In this case,
I pro$ide the @uestions, (ou pro$ide the answers.
D. *liminate %assi$e <oice=== B4444=== 4B?=== /es (ou S%*E this wa( but this is not the most effecti$e wa( to W4I#*.
?ow do (ou pre$ent thisA 5a'e sure the sub&ect of (our sentence is acti$el( completing the $erb. Writing acti$el( also
eliminates wordiness.
a. %assi$e : #he paper was graded b( the teacher
b. C#I<* : #he teacher graded the paper
c. %assi$e : #he rubric was re$iewed e)tensi$el( b( the student
d. C#I<* : #he student e)tensi$el( re$iewed the rubric
F. When the assignment calls for a PARAGRAPH the following do not @ualif(
a. #hree to four unrelated sentences
b. bullet pointed list
c. n assortment of words that lac' a topic sentence and supporting e$idence and in the most egregious cases no
sub&ects or $erbs .for shame1
d. short essa( mas@uerading as a paragraph
G. When the assignment calls for a C0F page paper .t(ped, double0spaced, 10inch margins, #imes 12 pt. font1 the following do
not @ualif(
a. 2 page paper presented as a C page paper with triple space between paragraphs, 1.> in margins and #imes 1- or
<erdana 12 font.
b. n( other random combinations that represent a shortage of thought and information or the inabilit( to organiHe and
distinguish between good information that supports an argument and an outright in$entor( of all information,
rele$ant or not, that (ou can regurgitate on a topic.
1I. D! "!# o$eruse direct @uotes and paraphrased material.
11. D! "!# in$ent (our own means of source citations : 56 and % formats were de$eloped with (ou in mind .