Details make a better paper (and a better grade!)

How to write a research paper

MOST COMMON ERRORS WHEN GRADING PAPERS

• random capitalization (don't capitalize words in the middle of a sentence unless they are a proper noun).
• random bolding (do not use bolding for emphasis)
• Proofreading--BE SURE to have a friend read the paper when you are done. These errors cost you one point each.
• Random thoughts--put in the paper with no organization. Can I tell what is the main point from the article?
• Run-ons and fragments - write in complete sentences.
• Use parallelism--especially in bullets.
• Do not include expectations in the abstract.
• Forgot to explicitly list recommendations for each article.

 

 

Paper Checklist

Use this as a guide for checking your work before you submit it.

1. General

ABSTRACT is no more than 150 words. It also describes what the paper is about. Don't confuse an abstract and the introduction.

All margins are 1" (Left margin should be 1.5".)

Font for text and page numbers matches throughout (font within figures, equations, etc., may vary). Titles may be no larger than 14 pt.; text must be 12 pt., Times Roman.

ALL text except block quotations is double-spaced for projects and theses (1.5 space for class papers).

Figure captions are placed below figures and table titles are placed above tables. Figures and tables are also discussed in the text of the paper. (The reference to the figure MUST precede the graphic). Do NOT break tables across pages.

Introduction describes what you expected to read after scanning the papers.

			Don't use vis, etc. i.e., these are just lazy expressions. Tell me exactly what you want to say.
			Don't use we, us, or I. Write like an engineer.

			Entries in BIBLIOGRAPHY/REFERENCES are complete and correctly and consistently formatted. Double check quotes and spelling of names (if I find out these are wrong, it will cost you significant points). Use APA format. Details below:
			References are entered in web database.
			Turn in copies of articles (you will not get them back). Do not turn in copies of articles I already have.
			Explicit recommendation on each article (don't say, I recommend all the articles). Tell me individually about each article.
			Is the paper pleasant to read or is it a bunch of random observations?
			Is each summary individual and approximately 1 page?
			Did I email an electronic copy of the paper (word document name = lastnameN.doc - where lastname is my last name and n is the number of the paper)?

Other nitpicky (but necessary for maximum points) details

Numbers. In scientific and statistical material, all numbers are expressed in numerals. In nonscientific material, numbers are sometimes spelled out and sometimes expressed in numerals.

• The general rule is to spell out ALL numbers through one hundred and any of the whole numbers followed by hundred, thousand, hundred thousand, million, and so on. For all other numbers, numerals are used.
• Spell out and hyphenate fractions (e.g., one-sixth).
• Insert commas in numbers beginning with 1,000. No comma is used, however, in page numbers, street addresses, telephone numbers, ZIP codes, four-digit year dates, decimal fractions, chapter numbers of fraternal organizations, and so forth.

Percentages and Decimals. Numerals should be used to express decimal fractions and percentages. The word percent should be written out except in scientific and statistical writing, where the symbol % may be used.

• Use the symbol for percent (%) only when it is preceded by a number. Note that percentage, not percent or %, is the correct expression when no number is given. The number preceding either percent or % is never spelled out, except when it begins a sentence).
• In scientific contexts decimal fractions of less than 1.00 must be preceded by a zero if the quantity expressed is capable of equaling or exceeding 1.00: For example: "a mean of 0.73"; "the ratio 0.85".

Terminal punctuation. As typewriters are eclipsed by word processing and desktop publishing, the old convention of two spaces following a period at the end of a sentence is also falling by the wayside in favor of a typeset look. The convention has become to use one space, not two, following all terminal punctuation--periods, question marks, colons, and quotation marks.

Quotation marks. Commas and periods go inside (whether they are part of the quoted matter or not); semicolons and colons go outside; question marks can go inside or outside depending on meaning.

Conjunctions (and, or, but, however) should not be used to begin sentences; they are more effective when used within the sentence.

Dates: Use 1980s, not 1980's (and never '80s). Use 1985-90 instead of 1985-1990. Alternatively, "between 1985 and 1990"; "from 1985 to 1990". When month and year alone are mentioned, omit punctuation between them: "December 1995."

• References to particular centuries should be spelled out, in lower case: "the eighteenth century"

Parts of Works. References in the text to figures, tables, chapters, sections, appendices, and bibliographies should not be capitalized.

Bolding. Please do not use bolding for emphasis. For headings this is okay, otherwise do not bold.

Abbreviations. Common abbreviations such as etc., e.g., and i.e. should be confined to parenthetical references within the text. Do not abbreviate months or American states. Do not use & unless it is part of a formal title. "and others" is punctuated, et al. et is for and, and al. is the abbreviation for others.

Voice. Insofar as possible, use active rather than passive voice.

Money. Round dollar amounts greater than one million and should be rendered with the word: "$3.5 million."

*Voice. Do not write in first (or second) person. Do not say, "We found that..." or "I did..." or "... helps us understand" .. or "your company."

*"of the". This is many times redundant. Do not say, "Most of the companies..." or "Some of the companies..." delete the "of the."

*til. In American English, use 'until.'

*Codes - the plural of code is code (do not use the 's')

*the table 1, the figure 2 - do not put 'the' preceding a specific figure or title reference.

Spelling I expect US, not British spelling, i.e. color not colour; behavior not behaviour; program not programme; practices not practises; center not centre; organization not organisation; analyze not analyse, learned, not learnt, etc.

Miscellaneous reminders:

• Criteria is a plural (criterion is the singular).
• Data is a plural (datum is the singular).

Spelling reminders:

• feedback (one word)
• wherein (one word)
• whereas (one word)
• thereby (one word)
• forthcoming (one word)
• wide-spread (hyphenated)

As another reference that these are not just silly rules, here are the requirements for the International Journal of Production Research

APA Format rules (summary)

Citations should strictly follow American Psychological Association (APA) style guide. Examples of references cited within the texts of articles are as follows: (Whitman, Malzahn, & Ramachandran, 2003) or (Sinha, 2002; Presley, 1998) or Ketkar (2001). In citations, "et al." can only be used after all authors have been cited or referenced with the exception of six or more authors. As per APA all citations must match the reference list and vice versa. Over use of references and especially quotations is discouraged.  Quotations Copy all quoted material exactly as it appears in the original, indicating any omissions by three spaced periods. At the close of the quotation, give the complete source including page numbers. A block quote must be a minimum of 40 words or four lines, single spaced.

References should strictly follow the APA style guide. References must be checked with great care. All references should be in alphabetical order by author (unnumbered), as shown below. In the references there are no spaces between the author’s initials. Use the following style when referencing a book or an article in a periodical:

Hopp, W., & Spearman, M. (2000). Factory physics. Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Whitman, L., Liles, D., Huff, B., & Rogers, K. J. (2001). A manufacturing reference model for the enterprise engineer. The Journal Of Engineering Valuation And Cost Analysis: Special Issue On Enterprise Engineering, 4(1), 15-36.

 

 

Last modified: 11/30/2005