This guide presents the style requirements for essays and assignments at Summit Pacific College and has been designed to assist SPC students to write clear, organized, and well-supported papers. This guide should be used by students in accordance with the instructions given by Faculty and course syllabi.

1. The Elements of Writing

   Writing is a recursive process and involves steps that build on each other. Writers will constantly ask themselves questions, and critically think about their thesis, support, and audience. Robert Graves said, “There is no such thing as good writing, only good rewriting”. Do not think that the first draft is the best draft, as revising and editing are important for clear and focused papers.

   1. The Process

      1. Planning: What is the purpose? Who is the audience? What is the main point? READ – be familiar with your topic, then create a thesis statement and draft an outline.

      2. Developing: Locate supporting evidence for the thesis [research]. Evaluate sources, think critically about support, analyze and synthesize evidence.

      3. Drafting: Just get it on paper! Structure the paper – Introduction, Main points, Supporting evidence, and Conclusion.

      4. Revising: Read through the paper, check for coherence, logical flow of ideas, consistency, topic sentences for each paragraph, and that the argument is made i.e. the conclusion is valid and flows from the evidence.

      5. Editing: Proof-Read, check for spelling, sentence structure and grammar. Check for formatting in the paper and references [see examples below].

   2. Academic Writing

      Most writing at the university level involves taking a position on an issue, making a clear claim in the thesis statement, and proving the position with evidence. It reveals what the writer believes, and why the writer believes it.

      1. Characteristics:

         1. The claim must be debatable, two distinct sides to the argument.

         2. The thesis works best if presented at the end of the introduction.

         3. The body of the paper contains clear supporting points. Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence, uses evidence to support the point being made, and includes examples that explain or support the point.

            Use P-E-E-P (Point – Explanation – Evidence/Examples – Point Restated) to organize each paragraph which helps to keep the paragraph focused.

         4. Quotation marks are required if evidence is quoted word-for-word from another source, as well as proper formatting (MLA, Chicago) for in-text citations and references. Quotation marks are not needed for paraphrased or summarized sources, but the author must be acknowledged by including in-text citations for the ideas of others.

      2. Argumentation:

         The process of making a claim, supporting it with evidence and proof, and drawing conclusions. The issue must be debatable, that is something about which people hold different opinions. Your evidence/research supports your points and presents reasons why the reader should agree with you.

         1. A claim – something that can be argued or disputed.

         2. Appeals – Logos, Ethos, Pathos. Most effective arguments work with appeals on all three levels.

         3. Avoid logical fallacies

         4. Acknowledge opposing points of view (it may be true that …, however, others may say …).

   3. Helpful Sources to Consult

      Fowler, H. Ramsey and Jane E. Aaron. The Little, Brown Handbook: The MLA Update Edition. 13th edition, Edinburgh, Pearson Education Ltd., 2016.

      MLA Handbook. 8th edition, MLA, 2016.

      The MLA Style Center. Modern Language Association, 2018, https://style.mla.org

      The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2018. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ for MLA and https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/01/ for Turabian.

      Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing). 9th edition, The University of Chicago Press, 2018.

   4. Plagiarism

      Plagiarism is stealing the ideas or words of others and presenting them as your own, without giving credit where it is due. One’s words and ideas are considered one’s intellectual property and so presenting those words or ideas as one’s own or without permission is a serious violation (used with permission from A. Deeley).

      To avoid this serious offence, give proper acknowledgement to the sources of the words and ideas used in your paper. When quoting verbatim, be sure to use quotation marks and parenthetical references or footnotes. When incorporating an idea from another source, even if using your own words and sentence structures, be sure to credit the original source.

      Plagiarism can have serious consequences at SPC from earning a score of zero on an essay to losing credit for the course entirely.

      When to cite?
      Ultimately, you must cite any idea that is not your own or is not common knowledge.

      What to site?
      Any research that informs an argument or presentation should be cited in a note and/or bibliography. This includes material from books, articles, journals, even websites (used with permission from A. Deeley)

   5. Evaluating Sources

      Evaluating sources is an important part of any research activity or project. Not all sources will be reliable, useful or accurate. It is important to think critically about each source, and to evaluate its worth. Not all material is credible or worthy research and so evaluating the source is an important step. Using the simple acronym CRAAP can be helpful when determining the accuracy and value of a source.

      C Currency: when was the work published, has it been updated?
      R Relevance: how important is the information to your paper?
      A Authority: who is the author, what are their credentials?
      A Accuracy: is it truthful/accurate, has it been peer reviewed?
      P Purpose: why does the information exist? Are the intentions clear?
      

   6. Summit Pacific College Online Research Databases

      The library subscribes to the EBSCOhost Religion and Philosophy Database and the EBSCOhost Atla Religious Database. These are excellent resources for finding journal articles and research material to help develop and/or support your own research topic when writing papers or assignments.

      Registered students will find log in information for Summit’s EBSCOhost account in the Summit Writing Guide which is accessible from within the Student Portal or from within Canvas.

      Individuals who wish to utilize Summit’s EBSCOhost subscription for their own research should contact the Librarian for information (librarian@summitpacific.ca).

2. Guidelines for Term Papers

   1. Documentation Formats

      Individual academic disciplines require specialized documentation formats. Most commonly used in religious studies and the humanities are the formats of the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the Turabian/Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). Be aware that instructors in other disciplines may require other formats, i.e., the American Psychological Association (APA) for the social sciences, etc.

   2. The General Sequence of the Paper

      1. Title Page – Formatting for the title page is specific for each style, please consult the style samples in the library link, the Turabian/Chicago style link listed below, or the sample included on page 6 at the end of this section. https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/dam/jcr:b7955915-8c3c-499f-a250-a6f03114c98c/Turabian-Tip-Sheet-2.pdf

      2. The Body – The body of the essay includes the Introduction (with thesis statement), Supporting points (fully developed and supported), Evidence to support points (cited in-text or with footnotes) and Conclusion (a summary of the argument).

      3. Bibliography (Turabian/Chicago) or Works Cited (MLA) or References (APA) - Appropriate documentation format for Bibliography or Works Cited or References must be followed. The bibliographic pages list sources used in writing the paper. Consult the library links or sources in this document for formatting.

   3. Checklist for Term Papers

      1. Thesis stated in one sentence?
      2. Thesis at the end of first paragraph?
      3. Thesis is clearly evident throughout the paper?
      4. Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence?
      5. Each paragraph with a transitional tag?
      6. Most paragraphs four or five sentences long?
      7. Your best point last?
      8. Generalizations and thesis free from fallacies?
      9. Sentences show some variety in structure?
      10. No passive sentences e.g. “Your bicycle has been damaged” versus the same sentence in active voice “I damaged your bicycle”. Other examples of passive voice: “Anita was driven to the theatre” or “the olives are crushed in this room”
      11. Colons and semicolons properly used?
      12. Commas before every "and" and "but" that needs them?
      13. A comma before every "which"?
      14. Every excess "of", "which", "that", "-tion", "to be", and "the use of" dropped?
      15. All contractions changed to long form
      (Adapted from Baker, Sheridan. The Practical Stylist. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1977.)

      Cover Page Template:

      

   4. Format

      For correct documentation and bibliographic format, follow instructions given in the ‘MLA Style Guide’ and/or ‘The Chicago Manual of Style’, or ‘APA’ Formatting in the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
      Additional information and links to some of the major works cited can be found at https://library.summitpacific.ca/tutorials_guides.php and also in the library stacks.

   5. MLA Parenthetical Documentation of Sources

      The MLA parenthetical documentation system requires in-text citations. In-text citations have two requirements:

      • Just enough information for reader to locate the appropriate source in the works cited list [bibliography].
      • Enough information for the reader to locate the place in the source where the borrowed material appears.

      1. Documentation of a Quotation

         1. Arthur C. Clarke suggests that the telephone could be mass produced quickly because it was "near the absolute zero of technological complexity" (87).

         2. A noted writer suggests that the telephone could be mass-produced quickly because it was "near the absolute zero of technological complexity" (Clarke 87).

      2. Documentation of a Paraphrase or Summary

         1. Payne stipulates that the connections between two paragraphs must be obvious (85-86).

         2. One author stipulates that the connections between two paragraphs must be obvious (Payne 85-96).

      3. Works Cited & Consulted

         1. All books and articles parenthetically referenced as well as other material used but not specifically cited must be listed alphabetically, without being numbered, at the end of the term paper. This is usually done by the author's surname.

         2. For current information please consult one of the sources listed in I. C. above ‘Helpful Sources’ or https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

      4. Samples of MLA bibliographic format:

         Please see consult the https://style.mla.org website or other sources and links listed in this document for additional samples.

6. Turabian/Chicago Manual of Style Documentation Format

   The Chicago Manual of Style requires a source-citation system of raised numerals in the text referring to footnotes (on the bottom of page) or endnotes (at the end of paper), along with a bibliographic section at the end of the paper.

   • The CMS format for the bibliographic pages is the same as the MLA system, except that entries are single rather than double-spaced.
   • However, a different documentation format is used for end or footnotes.

   Single-space the notes themselves and double space between notes. With footnotes, separate the notes from the text with a short line.

   1. Samples of Turabian/CMS foot or endnote format

      Detailed guidelines for formatting according to Turabian style can be found in Kate Turabian’s Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 9 th edition. Below are some examples of citations for common types of sources. Quoted or paraphrased material should be cited in footnotes (unless a teacher specifically asks for endnotes). Footnotes should be single-spaced.

1. 2. Repeated Citations

      Do not use “Ibid.” in repeated citations. If you delete or change sources, you can easily lose what “Ibid” refers to. Sources cited earlier can be referred to by the author or editor’s names, a shorter title, and page number.

      Example: ³Koester, Introduction, 42.

      When citing a previously used work by Ellen White, cite either in footnote as with other books, or else in text.

      Example: Ellen White also speaks about the Paradise Valley Sanitarium (1 SM 38).

   3. Turabian/Chicago Bibliography

      Most bibliography entries are arranged in alphabetical order. Unlike the note entries, which indent the first line, the first lines of bibliography entries are flush left, and all subsequent lines are indented five spaces. Bibliography entries also differ from footnotes in placing the family name before the first and in using periods rather than commas or parentheses to separate the main parts of the entry. Page numbers are only given when the item is a part of a whole work (e.g. a chapter in a book or an article in a periodical). The bibliography should be single-spaced with a double space between each entryr.

NOTE: Thanks to the University of Chicago’s “Turabian Quick Guide“ for some of the examples listed above. For more on Turabian style, visit http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html

Updated: August 2021