Guide to Short Papers
The purpose of the paper assignments is to give you an
opportunity for reflection on the sources.
Your grade on these papers depends on several things:
- Depth
of analysis: Your paper should show that you have carefully read the
source(s), and made worked through the questions to draw original
conclusions. By “original” I don’t
mean that you are the only person in the world to arrive at your response,
but that you have done so through your own thought process.
- Use
of examples: Obviously, you
can’t quote extensively from the sources in a short paper, but you must
include some specific examples drawn from the text. In general, direct citations are
preferable to paraphrase. The
format for such citations is as follows:
“Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death” (Lim,
40).
- Specificity: Avoid writing a paper that moves from
one generalization to another. You
obviously will be drawing conclusions, but these must come from a
discussion of the evidence; in other words, they must reflect more than
your own unexamined opinion.
- Quality
of writing: I want to see good
grammar, proper spelling, and an attention to style. Above all, your paper should tell a
story. If, for example, you have
several points to make, don’t simply list them, but make an attempt to
synthesize your ideas.