• Technical content (40%): appropriate level; depth of discussion; correct science.

• Illustrations (20%): information content; clarity; fully described by captions.

• Organization (20%): sections and subsections; single idea paragraphs; clarity of sentences.

• Sources (10%): appropriate level and diversity of sources; proper crediting of sources.

• Writing mechanics (10%): lack of major grammatical and punctuation errors.

SOME WRITING TIPS

• Omit the word ``very'' and other similarly vague words. Strive to make your discussion quantitative.

• Avoid pronouns and avoid starting a sentence with ``It'' or ``There''.

• Most sentences will be clearer in an active voice; i.e., do not use the passive too often. Avoid complicated tenses; simple present tense is often the best.

• I can't emphasize enough the importance of writing clearly and concisely, particularly in an academic career. If you are looking for a textbook to help you improve your skills, I highly recommend Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace, by Joseph M. Williams.

• Provide a comprehensive figure caption for your illustrations. Nothing in the figure can be left unexplained, either by the caption or the text. A simple, pencil drawn figure may be the best way to illustrate a point in your paper. Please do not spend your valuable time producing a fancy graphic with the latest computer drawing tool if a simple hand-drawn illustration will convey the same amount of information.

• Do not quote directly from sources: paraphrase and then cite a reference. Since these papers will probably not contain a great deal of original work, a significant fraction of your sentences will require citations to your sources.

• Use short, single idea paragraphs.

• Include page numbers.

• Avoid using tables to present data. An x-y plot is usually a more efficient form of communication.

• Your papers should be as quantitative as you can make them. Most will require a few equations to explain the topic quantitatively.

• Keep your audience in mind. You should write the paper so that a classmate in MatSE 582 will understand your discussion completely with careful reading. But that same classmate should also learn something new from the effort.