Essays are to be written using the following format:

  • 12-point font (use only a standard font such as Times New Roman, Arial, etc.)
  • 1 inch margins on all sides.
  • essay format: 5 paragraphs (each paragraph should be at least 3 sentences)
    • introduction (1 paragraph)
    • body (3 paragraphs)
    • conclusion (1 paragraph)
  • Template and Guidlines for 5 Paragraph Essay (Doc)
  • Essays should focus on a clear and well-developed topic. Topics should pertain to a question or summary issue related to the text chapter or article assigned for that weeks reading.
  • Grading of subsequent essays will be based on your response to that feedback.
  • See the following Powerpoint presentation for Essay Writing Tips.ppt

Instructors will be focusing on one (1) major and one (1) minor point of feedback.

Essays are to be delivered in class on the due date. Each must include a URL corresponding to a soft copy (text file such as Word) so that instructors can download the file when needed.

The following Writing Rules must be respected.


These are rules that will a) improve your writing and b) help you get full credit on writing assignments in 3604. These are not the simple rules you learned in 6th grade English--you won't find anything here about staying in the same verb tense or starting a sentence with the word "and". Instead, these are more subtle rules that are difficult to keep in mind unless you practice correcting them. Once you do, however, you'll find that your writing looks more professional and you can say more with fewer words.

For each of these common yet subtle mistakes, there is a general rule, an example of poor writing, an improved version of the example, and a "hard and fast" version of the rule as it applies to writing in this class. Note that I have overused the word "is" in this paragraph (see first rule) and should rewrite it if I want credit for 3604.

  1. Minimize use of the word 'is'.
    • Example of poor writing: Music piracy is an important ethical issue for consumers, the music industry, and the government.
    • Example of improved writing: Music piracy impacts consumers, the music industry, and the government.
    • Hard, fast rule: Use only one "to be" verb per essay. This applies to all forms of the verb:
      • is
      • are
      • am
      • were
      • will be
      • etc.
    • Note that you CAN use the present continuous verb tense -- the phrase "I am walking up the stairs" does NOT violate the rule. "To be" acts as an auxiliary verb in this instance.
  2. Qualify ambiguous words.
    • Example of poor writing: The Challenger disaster changed the face of the US space program. It continues to affect the way we perceive NASA even today. (What affects the way who perceives NASA?)
    • Example of improved writing: The Challenger disaster changed the face of the US space program. The tragedy continues to affect the way Americans perceive NASA even today.
    • Hard, fast rule: The following words must always be qualified:
      • this
      • that
      • these
      • those
      • it
      • they (OK, sometimes you can get away with this one)
  3. Eliminate content-free phrases.
    • Example of poor writing: In order to control costs, the committee must vote against implementing the new policy.
    • Example of improved writing: To control costs, the committee must vote against implementing the new policy.
    • Hard, fast rule: For the most part, your essays will be limited to one page. Eliminate meaningless phrases like "in order to".
  4. Avoid passive voice.
    • Example of poor writing: The new code of ethics was drafted by the ACM.
    • Example of improved writing: The ACM drafted a new code of ethics.
    • Hard, fast rule: There are occasions where the passive voice sounds better or suits the situation, but they are few and far between. Make sure that in your sentences, the subject "operates on" the object. The object should not be "operated on by" the subject.
    • (For some of you who find connections between CS and the real world, this might be difficult to internalize. Consider a canonical Object-Oriented statement in C++ or Java: someObjectInstance.someMethod(someArgument); -- the Object receiving the action comes first, and that Object has the action "performed on it". Deception lurks: certain other OO languages make it more clear that you are asking the Object to perform an action on an argument -- and if that changes the internal state of the Object itself, so be it. [I have capitalized the word "Object" in this bullet to signify the difference between "object" as a part of a sentence and "Object" as a computer science concept.])
  5. Eliminate misplaced modifiers.
    • Example of poor writing: Put modifiers as close as you possibly can to the word being modified.
    • Example of improved writing: Put modifiers as close to the word being modified as you possibly can.
    • Hard, fast rule: Put modifiers as close to the word being modified as you possibly can.
    • Sometimes this is a judgement call: "Put modifiers as close as possible to the word being modified" changes the sentence slightly but looks even more professional than just moving the modifier.

There are certainly other subtle grammar problems that should be avoided (or, "Other common grammar problems exist and should also be avoided" if we follow our own advice). Also, don't concentrate so hard on these rules that you let basic grammar problems creep in: verb tense must still match subject tense, comma splices are still verboten, and so on.