What’s That Jelly Stain Worth?
Teachers have to read a lot of papers and shouldn’t be faulted if, after
hundreds of pages, they come upon your wrinkled, coffee-stained,
pencil-written report and get a bit discouraged. Nor should you
be surprised if you get a lower grade than the content might merit
just because the presentation was so poor.
Granted, the content is what the teacher is looking for, and he should
be grading you on whatyou write. But presentation isimportant.
Teachers are only human (really!), and you can’t fault them for trying
to teach you to take pride in your work. So follow these suggestions:
■ Never handwrite your paper.
■ If you’re using a computer, check the toner cartridge of your
printer to ensure your printed pages are crisp and clear.
■ Unless otherwise instructed, always double-space your paper.
Leave adequate margins all around.
■ Use a simple typeface that is clear and easy to read; avoid
those that are too big—stretching a 5-page paper to 10—
or too small and hard to read.
■ Never use a fancy italic, gothic, modern, or other ornate or
hard-to-read typeface for the entire paper.Use Your Old Papers as Maps
There should be a number of helpful messages on your returned
papers, which is why it’s so important to retain them. What did your
teacher have to say? Are her comments applicable to the paper you’re
writing now—poor grammar, lack of organization, lack of research,
136 How to Study