Are you looking for an easy way to format your academic drafts? Have you ever tried to write an essay, and found the process stressful? Did you know there is an easy way to format your academic work?
Yes, there is an easy way to format your writing sample for academic purposes. You might be wondering how you can format a writing sample when you are under such tight deadlines. Wondering what software you need to format your essays? Search no more. Here is a quick tutorial on how to format your writing sample efficiently and effectively.
The Most Common Mistakes
Most students make the same mistakes when formatting their writing samples. Here is a short list of the most common ones.
All Caps
Use of all caps is quite common when formatting writing samples. Although all caps can add some flair to your text, it is best used for emphasis. For example, if you want to present the main idea of your paper in bold, you should use all caps. The same goes for italics or underlining.
One of the major problems with all-caps text is that it makes your paper harder to read. Also, it takes up more space. If you want to reduce the size of your paper, remove all caps. You will not regret it.
Excess Parentheses
Too many parenthesis is another common mistake made by students. Did you ever notice that the papers you read seem to have more parenthesis than you can handle?
You should always keep in mind that your paper needs to be well-formatted and easy to read. You should never put additional parenthesis or brackets. It makes your paper seem sloppy and ineffective. Whenever you find yourself adding unnecessary parentheses, take a step back and ask yourself, does this make my paper easier to understand?
If you really want to show off your knowledge, you can take this opportunity to add some originality. Instead of just quoting the textbook, why not spice it up a little bit and provide your readers with some fresh material?
Wrong Font
Another common mistake made by students is using the wrong font. Did you ever read an academic paper and wonder, “What font is that?” or “Is that italicized text?” Using the wrong font can make your paper look awful. For example, if you are writing in Times New Roman, you should not use Verdana or Palatino – those are mainly designed for computer screens. Times New Roman is the best choice for headings and titles, and it looks wonderful on every platform. If you wonder about the font, you can always check the paper’s style guide for guidance.
Besides, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to fonts. Different fonts suit different situations. For example, if you are presenting data, Verdana is your best choice. However, if you are writing in an informal fashion, you should not use a font that is too formal. A wonderful source of fonts is the Google Fonts site. There, you can find a variety of fonts that you can incorporate into your papers. Just remember: good fonts are essential to the proper formatting of your paper.
Margin From Paper To Wall
When you are writing an academic paper, you need to leave a certain amount of space between the text and the paper’s edge. This is called the margin. Did you ever wonder why there is a margin in the first place? To allow for a bit of wiggle room for the typesetter!
When you are putting your text in the paper, you need to leave room for the reader to read it comfortably. If you do not leave enough space, the text will be cut off awkwardly. Do not write your paper directly on the wall. Even if you do not have a room divider, leave enough space so that the paper does not touch the wall. Remember: a good-quality paper with wide margins is more pleasant to read!
The Correct Way To Do It
Now that you are armed with the basics, it’s time to learn how to format your writing sample correctly. Start by identifying the objective of your paper. Is it an assignment for class? Is it a case study for an experiment? Or is it simply an op-ed for the school newspaper? Once you know the purpose of your paper, you can set about formulating the skeleton of the document. From there, you can flesh out the rest.
Choose a style that is appropriate for your paper’s purpose. A case study usually requires a more formal tone, while an opinion piece generally needs a lighter touch. Regardless of the type of paper, make sure you stick to a singular narrative voice through the entire piece. Your opening lines should also reflect your style and put you into the right frame of mind. For example, if you are writing to inform the reader of an issue concerning your campus, start your essay with, “As a concerned student of….”
Once you have established your paper’s objective, you can begin to lay out the structure. The first paragraph should introduce the issue and give the reader a good feeling for what is to come. The next few paragraphs should lay out the main arguments in favor of your stance on the issue and also refute the claims of your opponents. Your paper’s last paragraph should offer some summary of the main takeaways from the entire paper and include your stance on the issue. You can use these four steps to effectively format any academic paper.