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Question about university writing...

DesolateDesolate
edited July 2009 in General
I know I'll have to write a ton of essays now that I'm entering university, but I'm just curious, for my first term, if they go over basics of writing an essay. I mean, I know how to write and such, but I don't know how profs want you to cite information (MLA, etc.) and how to properly do that since we never had to do so in high school.

I'm just worried that I won't know what I'm doing and fail a term paper or something and destroy my overall mark. Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Comments

  • icerider
    edited June 2009
    No, professors don't go over the basics. If it's a class with a TA, then they may go over citations quickly, but it's definitely not enough. Things like citation can be found on their paper guidelines, you can go ask the librarians for help, or talk to the prof or TA during their office hours (or email them). It's up to you to figure out how to cite properly.
  • Lixie
    edited June 2009
    1. Go on SFU website.
    2. Type in "Citation help" in the search bar.
    3. It will provide you links to a website that lists all the styles of citation.
    4. Certain links will lead you to pdf. files which you can download and print out if you need a reference.
  • DesolateDesolate
    edited June 2009
    Okay, thanks.

    I also heard there's a book that is recommended to purchase that goes over some of this stuff, like citations and other writing information. Does anyone know the title of it?
  • EricJ
    edited June 2009
    We spent forever on the basics, but that was TECH 101, which probably only techone students at surrey take
  • Simon604
    edited June 2009
    The number of essays you have to write varies according to what faculty your in and what classes you take, so don't be too worried. You'll be able to ask questions from your TA's and they usually do go over the basic format as well as show you sample essays in tutorial. The rest you have to kind of learn on your own through trial and error, but that's what university is about!
  • BSang
    edited June 2009
    Profs are usually fairly lenient in first your courses when it comes to MLA formatting. In ENGL 101, we were introduced (very rapidly) to MLA formatting in tutorial.

    Here's the English departments style guide:
    http://www.sfu.ca/uploads/page/13/styleguide.May06.pdf

    Also, there are sites that you can find that will actually do the citations for you (you just have to fill out the information in a form).
  • icerider
    edited June 2009
    I wouldn't buy a book for citations, theres enough resources at the library's site and on the internet to know the proper way. You could also use RefWorks (which you can find on the library site) to help you input references directly into your essay. All you do is input all the resources into RefWorks, and then use their program to put references into your paper, and it'll automatically reformat your paper to the proper citation style at the end.
  • rkn2
    edited June 2009
    The library's overview on citation was throughout enough to get a paper done. Then when it wasn't enough I would just give a quick search online and found that the Owl at Purdue site covered everything.
  • clsfu09
    edited July 2009
    I would NOT use refworks, not saying it doesn't work it probably does, wouldn't trust my grades on a computer. Try "A Canadian Writer's Reference", Diana Hacker, it seems to be the accepted authority
  • eja11
    edited July 2009
    As far as I know, there're three versions of reference books at the SFU bookstore that help you with the styles (MLA, Chicago etc.) and citation in academic writing straightforwardly. The professors in the two 100-level courses I've taken all required MLA.

    And Yes to BSang, the format and other necessary stuff will be introduced in class, unless you unluckily encounter irresponsible profs and TAs. BTW I highly recommend you to take ENGL 101, 105, 199 into consideration.

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