In an effort to solidify essay writing at Lakes, these rules are being put forth for your consideration.  This is just a partial list of rules composed from a list of errors that are prevalent in the majority of the students’ essay writing.

RULES FOR ESSAY WRITING

1. Do not write essays in first person.  This will cause an automatic failure for the assignment.

2.   All essays must have a title.   

3. Do not use the title of the book as the title of the essay.

4. Do not underline your own title.

5. Do not address the reader.

6. Do not refer to the essay. 

7. Do not ask questions.

8. If a question must be asked in the introduction, the writer must answer the question in the body paragraph.

9. Quotes must be used to support every major point.

10. All quotes must be cited.  (Act & line, or Pg.)

11. Quotes of three lines or more should be indented and cited at end of sentence.

12. Topic sentences should emphasize the thesis.

13. The conclusion should restate the thesis yet take the thesis up one more level by expanding with points from body paragraphs.

14. Do not use contractions.

15. Do not end a sentence with a preposition.

16. Do not switch person.  Do not start in third person and switch to second.

17. Use ‘one’ sparingly. 

18. Do not give your opinion on the merit of the book.  Do not begin with extraneous sentences that say nothing.  Do get to the guts of your thesis quickly!