Writing tipsWhat not to write in your paper

MLA Paper

Think nike – just do itDO NOT TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO

TELL ME ---JUST DO IT!!!!!

Ex. In this essay I am going to explain….I am going to tell you all about….

UGHH! ARGHHH! THIS IS TERRIBLE WRITING

NikeUGHH!ARGHHH!

This is the way to write it

In this essay I am going to tell you about the whole Nature vs. Nurture debate.

My essay is about nature vs. nurture personality and whether you are affected by your genes or your personality.

Are we born with our personalities or do we learn them or control them?

When you were born, you had a set of traits from your parents. But can you change those traits as you grow older?

NikeIf all else fails

This is the way to write it

Just start with your topic.

Nature vs. Nurture is a debate that has been going on around the world for quite some time.

Take out personal pronounsPersonal pronoun Formal style

When I first read about the debate on nature versus nurture, I must admit I was confused. I understood what the article was talking about; I just didn’t understand why people would argue over such a subject.

At first the nature versus nurture debate may seem trivial or pointless, but on further examination, the implications of the answers to this question become clear. If we are born with it, can we be held accountable? How much of our behavior do we control?

Take out personal pronounsPersonal pronoun Corrected

Nurture is when someone teaches you or you got it from where you grew up, but it’s not in your blood.

In nurture theory, leadership is taught or learned by experience, but leadership is not in your blood.

Avoid SlangSlang CorrectedNow a daysKindaKids‘All about’ meaning

interested in

TodaySimilar toChildrenInterested in –

committed to – devoted to

Grammar IssuesBad grammar CorrectedThe twins, they…Would ofCould ofShould of

Pick one!Would HAVECould HAVEShould HAVE

When referring to your authorNo matter how much time you have spent

‘getting to know’ an author through research – YOU ARE NOT ON A FIRST NAME BASIS. References to any author within you paper that do not include the author’s full name should be LAST NAME ONLY.

Referring to AuthorInformal – Incorrect

CorrectDavid found that the 10,000 hour rule was most helpful for people born with natural talent in athletics (Bregman).

Epstein found that the 10,000 hour rule was most helpful for people born with natural talent in athletics (Bregman).