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 ? Put down the bottle of correction fluid, and forget about masking that grease stain. Lose that dog-eared look while you're at it. As a matter of fact, you'd better just reprint the whole thing. What do you think this is--high school?! That may sound extreme, but what you may think is acceptable in high school could be considered wastebasket lining in college.

Words of a Wise Man
"We sort of make high school students slaves to form," says Chris Matarazzo, high school English teacher at St. Joseph Prep, Hammonton, NJ, and college English prof at both Rutgers University and Camden County community college of New Jersey. "We teach them the five-paragraph essay, and they spend the majority of their high school career writing stilted but [ideally] clear essays."

Okay, Mr. M., we get it ... in high school, we're slaves. But what about in college? "On the college level, I try to evaluate, early on, if individual students understand the basic five-paragraph form," says Matarazzo. "Most should. The ones who don't are usually recommended for remedial writing, or they spend a lot of time in my office getting extra help."

On the other hand, he explains, "for those who understand what an essay is, I then begin to expect a departure from the strict five-paragraph structure." That means going beyond high school rules. "A good college writer can write essays that have an introduction, body, and conclusion, but that don't reek of structure--they are gracefully coherent, and they flow from one idea to another and from one sentence to another," says Matarazzo.

What Makes an A Paper?
"An A paper usually distinguishes itself with originality and strong independent thought," says Dr. Laurie Sterling, a professor at King's College, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

It's a paper that sparkles, agrees Matarazzo. "Not only is it clear, economical, and precise, but the ideas are original and logically organized. A papers show mastery of tone, and words are chosen with attention to perfect connotation."

Dr. Sterling agrees. "An A paper has a striking central idea, its generalizations are carefully supported, and it has a style that shows its ideas were thoroughly analyzed," she says. But, take heart--a B+ is nothing to frown about. "Perfect clarity, brevity, and precision are the elements of a high-B essay," says Matarazzo, "especially if that essay shows grace in the above respects."

Show genuine concern for your topic. "I want to see a real interest in the topic--one that gives life to the paper. We read a lot of papers, and there's something to be said about not boring the pants off the person who is grading you," says Matarazzo.

Mind your language, be grammatically correct. "Grammar should no longer be a difficulty for college students," he says. If you have a problem with subject-verb agreement, consult your campus writing center or talk with an English professor at your college.

Stop showing off! "Big words are for fools, and writing professors are not impressed by them," says Matarazzo. Don't search for a 26-letter word for 'happiness'; go with a word that gets your point across but doesn't look like you're trying too hard. (Chances are your professor knows a 27- and a 28-letter word for it anyway!)

In short, says Matarazzo, think before you write. "Be complex and clear, not complicated."

Physical appearance is one of the more overlooked aspects of college paper production. It's a topic the inexperienced student may often neglect, but one many professors, like Gloria Galante, who also teaches English at King's College, pay attention to. "If I can tell by looking [at the paper]--and it's very easy to do--that absolutely no time was put into it, it's an insult to me," she says.

Don't be offensive to profs like Galante--pay attention to everything, including headings, titles, fonts, page numbering, and line spacing. Take that extra minute to ensure your paper is neat and meets the teacher's specifications. Professors like to see things done their way. That includes the main body of your paper, too. It should be double-spaced (unless otherwise instructed), and started no more than two lines below your title. "I don't like midway," says Galante. "Text should start no more than a quarter of the way down the page."

Cheaters Never Win
Oftentimes, students will adjust font sizes and styles, margins, and line spacing to meet page requirements. This is a big no-no. Professors aren't as tolerant when it comes to catching these length-stretching cheats. "My students are told the first day: 'No tinkering.' [That's an] automatic F," says Galante.

Play the Bodyguard
Once you have these concepts down, you still have one aesthetic obligation: protect your paper from environmental factors that may hamper its attractive look. How can you prevent the grease stain, the ever-popular crease, the dog-ear, heck--the doggy drool mark? Here's a hint: Buy folders; they're cheap! These inexpensive little security guards can protect your prized possession from all life can throw at it: wind, rain, sleet, snow, ketchup, mustard, pizza sauce, cat urine (don't ask--it's happened to me!), even the residue from your little sister's retainer. A clean paper shows your professor respect.

Remember, your paper is more than an assignment, it's a representation of you. Picture it as your own little paper-based son. Make sure he's well-mannered, clean-shaven, and fresh-looking. Don't let him meet your professor with wrinkled clothes, unkempt hair, and a five o'clock shadow, screaming double negatives. Make him presentable. Be a proud parent, and you'll bring home a grade of which you can truly be proud!

Little Things Can Mean Big Points
The Heading
Headings should be kept simple, yet they should stand out from the report itself. To achieve this effect, single-space and boldface them. Remember to include your name, your professor's name, the date, and the name of the course.

The Title
One way to distinguish your paper from your classmates' is to include a memorable title. For instance, let's say you're writing a paper on George Washington. Instead of just labeling it "George Washington," add some flair. Title it "A Man Who Couldn't Lie Through His Wooden Teeth." See the difference?

Page Numbers
Always number each page with your last name, a comma, and the page number. This information should be placed in the top right-hand corner starting with your paper's second page, so each is identifiable.

Free Help
Worried about grammar and word usage? Your campus writing center can help. Peer assistants and professionals can assist you and solve your problems with dangling participles, comma splices, transitions, subject-verb agreement, structure, and so on. Reach out!

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