Matthew Pratt: The American School, 1765.
Matthew Pratt: The American School, 1765.

Sociology 235: Writing Instructions

Preparation

 Please follow these instructions carefully. Points will be deducted from your written assignments for failure to do so.

Format
  • The papers should be no more than 5 pages in length.
  • Papers should have 1" margins all around.
  • The type font should be Times New Roman, size 12.
  • All text other than references should be double-spaced; type references in single space.
  • All pages except the first page should be numbered (center, bottom).
  • The references should be listed on a separate page from the text. These can be listed on Page #6.
  • Be aware that some professional publications will not allow the use of personal pronouns. Almost all sociology journals do allow the use of personal pronouns. Because the written assignments here ask for your personal opinions, feel free to use the pronouns "I" and "me."
Citations and References

Use this style for citations placed within the text:
  • For one or two authors use all names.
    • Sapp (2001) found that....
    • A recent study (Sapp and Korsching, 2004) suggested that...
  • For more than two authors, use the name of the first author and "et al."
    • Smith et al. (2003) found that....
    • A recent study (Smith et al., 2003) suggested that...
Use this style for references:
  • Sapp, S.G. and P.F. Korsching. 2004. This Is a Book. Ames, IA: Vanity Press.
  • Smith, I.M., S.G. Sapp, P.F. Korsching, and U.R. Stuck. 2003. This is a research article in a magazine or journal. Name of Journal, 10: 23-46. [The first number is the volume, followed by the page numbers.]
  • Sapp, S.G. 2001. This is a chapter in a book. Pp. 132-167 in, Smith, I.M., Title of the Book. New York, NY: Free Press.
  • Sapp, S.G. 2003. This is an article posted on a web site. Title or Name of the Web Site. http://www.webpage.html.
Plagiarism

Be careful to avoid plagiarism. Direct quotations should be placed in quotation marks; ndent lengthy quotations. All text that paraphrases the work of someone else should list the source as a citation. Ask Dr. Sapp for advice if you have questions.

Technical Writing

You will receive significant point deductions on your papers for poor quality writing. I suggest learning the basics of good technical writing by visiting Iowa State University's Writing and Media Help Center or use the online resources listed below. I strongly suggest following the directions provided on the Tips for Technical Writing web page.

Helpful Web Sites

These web sites provide extensive on-line lessons in technical writing: These sites provide quick references to common mistakes made in technical writing:

Submission

 Please submit your written assignments as paper copies and in electronic format.

Paper Submission
  • Submit paper copies of your assignments by giving them to Ms. Nielsen or placing them in her mailbox in Room 101 East Hall.
  • Written assignments should be submitted prior to the due date. Late submissions will be penalized according to the time overdue. Expect a minimum of 5 points deduction for a late paper.
  • There is no need to package your papers in covers or folders. Simply staple them in the upper left corner.
Electronic Submission
  • Submit your papers to Ms. Nielsen in Microsoft Word format for the IBM-compatible computer (pc).
  • The file name for the electronic submission should be in the form: LastName.Assignment. For example, for Paper #1, Dr. Sapp would name his file: Sapp.Paper1.
  • The electronic version of your written assignments should be submitted by email to Ms. Nielsen (jrenae@iastate.edu).